In search of the "cheap" upgrade...
 

The seat room in economy is killing me. From the moment I sit down my knees are against the seat in front and if that person recline fully (as most do) I am in pure hell for all ten hours of my flight.

So alas I am in search of a relatively cheap upgrade. I just want leg room... But a normal upgrade is just insane...

e.g.
Normal Economy Seat = £415.00
First/Business Seat = £2,528.85

Almost 620% higher! That's on Delta from the UK to US.

I have read that you can ask for a last minute upgrade either at the gate or over the phone but I am not clear on how much that might cost. I also know you can do upgrades via Air Miles but am unclear how that works.

So I have two big questions:
1) How much does a last minute upgrade cost roughly?
2) If you do an Air Miles upgrade are you bottom of the pile (e.g. Do you only get it if there are free upgrade seats)?

Thanks.

Airline upgrade offers vary among airlines. If you're looking at a specific one, the best advice will be found in that airline's FlyerTalk forum.

In general -- and this is highly general -- (may not apply to each airline), there are four ways to upgrade besides purchasing a ticket in the upper class:

1) Use of miles. Airlines allot certain seats for the use of these. Your place on the list will be below the number expected for purchase and may be below those of higher status.

2) By status. Airlines may offer complimentary, space-available or confirmable-in-advance upgrades to psgrs. of highest status with the airline. These might not clear far in advance of the flight and won't clear depending on the number who pay for a revenue ticket.

3) Space-available upgrades at the airport or gate for purchase on day of departure. This varies highly as to whether airlines offer these and at what price.

4) Operational upgrades. Again, some airlines may not offer them or will seek to give them to passengers of higher status first. These occur when coach is oversold but space exists in business or first class cabins.

In addition, certain travel agencies, called "consolidators" often sell discounted premium tickets when the airline believes it can't sell enough at full-fare but want to get more revenue than by simply selling the upgrade itself.

I'm not sure where you are in the USA, but out of Canada, flying to the UK, a lot of the 'charter' carriers offer pseudo-business class at a deep discount - Often at a cost of only a couple of hundred dollars above a regular ticket. Perhaps similar companies operate out of the UK to the USA?

For example:

http://www.airtransat.ca/en/4_3.asp

Also, United Airlines offers "Economy Plus", referred to here as E+. I'm 6'2, so I find the few extra inches of legroom that comes with E+ well worth it. You can often purchase an upgrade to E+ as part of your ticket for not a lot of money. Details are here:

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1314,00.html

British Airways also has a "deluxe economy" product that is cheaper than business class, however it's quite a bit more money than United's E+.

Exit rows maybe
 

If what you need is leg room, then pick an exit row seat. Most airlines will let you pick them for a few extra bucks.

Since you mention Delta, the options are rather limited for more legroom:

- Buy the business class fare
- Upgrade using miles from economy - BUT with Delta it needs to be on a near full fare coach ticket - probably in the range of $1500-2000
- Get an exit row. In advance, anyone can (unfortunately for us elites) book them on a 767-300 ER, which is used on the CVG-LGW flight. On the other Delta/Northwest US-UK flights, it's all 767-400s, 757-200s or A330s, all of which only limit exit rows to elites until you check-in. At check-in, if you're on one of these planes you can ask to be seated there if seats are still available.