Which Airlines Have the Highest Upcharge for Domestic First?
Joe Cortez August 14, 2023
However, a recent study by Upgraded Points shows that some airlines offer an even worse value for the price, depending on who you’re flying.
Delta, Alaska, and United Have Highest Upcharge to Domestic First
To determine which airline had the most expensive upcharge from domestic economy to domestic first, the Upgraded Points team analyzed Google Flights data on one-way flights across the four major airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. In going through the data, the group discovered that the average price difference to move up from economy to first in the U.S. is $262.97 one way, or more than $525 round trip.
Among the four major airlines with domestic two-cabin aircraft configurations, Delta charged the most to move up to first class. With an average first-class price of $419.62 on a one-way flight, flyers will pay just under $300 more to drink from a glass and have a meal.
Coming in second was Alaska Airlines, with an average first-class price of $478.99 one way. The average Is around $3 under Delta’s upcharge to move up. United came in third, with an average of $250.23 price difference one-way between economy and first, while American airlines was the cheapest at an upcharge of $235.
The amount you will pay to move up also depends on where you’re flying from and to. Across all four surveyed carriers, Los Angeles held the distinction of the most expensive airport to upgrade through. The most expensive upgrade is between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), with an upcharge of $647.71. Other routes involving LAX include outbound to Maui Kahului Airport (OGG), and outbound to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
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Back in the regulated era. the cost differential to fly in First was far less than today. Looking at a 1968 summer timetable on Northwest, to fly First out of Seattle or Portland OR to New York was 15$ more than coach each way. Other arilines were similar as the government (CAB) set fares rather than the individual airlines. Also fares were based on mileage flown rather than market popularity like today which is why back then the fare from either Portland or Seattle to NYC was the same 160$ F/145$ Y. These days there is a significant difference for flying out of either city (fares are lower out of SEA than from PDX).
Neat to know. Thank you for this perspective.
That $145 for that Y flight in 1968 has the same buying power as $1,270 today. Meanwhile, the next flight out for PDX-JFK (at 1:30p) is $374 on Alaska, and it's not basic economy either. Similarly, there's a 2pm JetBlue SEA-JFK for $364; no carry-on included, though. For domestic F, United has PDX-EWR at $784 this evening, and $1,119 for SEA-EWR. Needless to say, both routes in both classes would be cheaper if you planned ahead. And yet, all of these are cheaper than the $145/$1270 Y flight. How's that for perspective?
Perhaps LAX and JFK have the highest upgrade fare difference is due to AA and DL flying their Uber-premium domestic F vs the standard product on other routes?
Clickbait, for reasons already stated. Stop playing the upgrade game: fly less, buy F.
Statistically, this is absolutely meaningless. Unless the average fares are normalized for distance, a percentage premium would be a much more suitable comparison. For example, on the route I usually fly a first class fare is only $209 (on AS) to start with.
And with no link to the study, we can't even see if the group's methodology is valid. Very poor reporting.
Totally agree. Super lazy reporting; done at 1st grade level. Sad because this could have been very interesting and insightful.
Upgrade comparisons should have done as percentage increase over Coach not $'s and compared various routes.
Agree that this is not really meaningful for the reason stated.
In a way this is kind of good for us elites (even me as a lowly Silver Medallion on Delta), because it keeps first class availability for more seats to upgrade to. I almost always get upgraded to either Comfort+ or First on my short commuter flight to Oakland, which is nice.
Not necessarily, because this "study" doesn't consider upsell offers where the upgrade price isn't linked to the fare difference.