In the airline industry, the available business or first class seat is often used to upgrade an economy class passenger. This is typically done because the freed up economy class seat can be re-sold to someone who is willing to pay a higher fare for that seat.
The person receiving the upgrade is chosen from amongst many factors, namely, frequent flyer status, the ticket class and how sold out that flight is.
In my experience, I've been upgraded because I am a frequent flyer. I've also used stickers for upgrades.
Now this needs an explanation. Different airlines have different methods that they utilize to define their upgrades. American Airlines uses stickers. After you fly a certain number of miles, you are awarded 4 upgrade stickers. Each sticker is worth 500 miles and so a trip of 1600 miles would need 4 stickers. You can also buy stickers and use them for an upgrade, if seats are available. Even there, it depends on the ticket class.
On other airlines such as NorthWest and Continental, so long as seats are available and you are a frequent flyer with status, you get upgraded for free.
Automatic and complimentary upgrades on international flights don't happen. This is mostly because international travel is generally more expensive, less competitive than the domestic market and not really open to scrutiny by the general public.
There is, however, the option of spending miles on upgrades. This, however, required you to hold a Y or H class ticket, meaning that it's a full fare refundable ticket. In this case, capacity allowing, you can spend some of your hard flown frequent flyer miles to move up a class, and the reward is worth it.
Let's think about this - a complimentary upgrade on a 4 hour flight feels good. Business class in a bed you can actually sleep on over a 15 hour flight - good sense. The only thing is the cost. That, unfortunately, boils down to your wallet.
Hence the dilemma ... To upgrade or not.
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