Upgrades
 

I am only beginning to belong to different airlines frequent flier programs, when is it possible to get upgrades for free?

Read the airline's website. Usually the information is all right in front of your face if you look for it.

And read the FlyerTalk forum for the airline or airlines you're interested in, asking more specific questions in them after you've done more homework. Policies (and practices, which start with policies but may diverge from them) vary widely. There is no general answer to your question.

US/DL/NW/CO give unlimited North American upgrades (non-Hawaii) to elite members, though the policies differ slightly by airline. You'll have to read through the terms and conditions of each airline for more data.

UA and AA require all but the top elite members to earn and burn upgrade certificates.

WN and B6 have no upgrade. I can't speak to the terms about FL's program, or TZ's new program that's coming out, but those are really more niche markets that don't apply to a Boston flier.

I'm not really sure what this has to do with the "Latest frequent flyer Program Buzz".

If you have a specific question, I suggest you ask in that particular airlines forum.

Regards,

Flipside