Trapped in coach without elite status? You might be surprised at how affordable that upgrade could be

Unless you're a frequent flyer who travels every week, achieving elite status with airlines like American, Delta, or United can feel out of reach. Moreover, the value of that status has diminished significantly. The days of free upgrades for elite members and other perks are largely gone.

After exiting the airline status rollercoaster, buying an economy-class ticket might make you feel resigned to coach — but there could still be a chance for an upgrade.

What has changed? Airlines have become more proactive in offering upgrades, even for international flights. In some cases, you can even use your airline miles for these enhancements.

Here’s how to explore budget-friendly upgrade options using miles or cash on your upcoming flights with major airlines around the globe.

Upgrades with American Airlines

American Airlines has consistently provided the option to purchase upgrades using miles, which often require a cash copayment as well.

American offers a chart detailing the fees associated with upgrading using miles (including the cash component). Unless you're purchasing a relatively pricey economy-class ticket, expect a copayment on nearly all flights. However, even with this copayment, using your miles for upgrades on select routes can represent a highly beneficial use of AAdvantage miles.

Unfortunately, if you don't have a systemwide upgrade in your account, upgrade availability won't be visible on American Airlines' website. The most effective method to search for one is through ExpertFlyer (a service operated by Red Ventures, the parent company of TPG).

Recently, American Airlines has begun offering significantly reduced cash upgrades, including on international and award flights. However, obtaining one of these upgrades isn't as straightforward as one might hope. The most dependable way to find an upgrade is to review your reservation post-ticketing on the AA website or app. You will often find cash upgrade options listed under your flight information.

The costs for these upgrades can vary and change daily. So, if the first upgrade offer doesn't appeal to you, make sure to check back later.

Upgrades on Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines makes it easy to use your miles for flight upgrades. Whether you're looking to upgrade during booking or after you've made your reservation, Delta clearly shows the cash and miles rates for upgrading your flight. Unlike American Airlines, they do not require a cash copay when you use your miles for an upgrade.

Unfortunately, you typically won't find a better value using miles compared to cash. Generally, Delta prices upgrades at about 1 cent per mile, as illustrated in the example below.

You can usually discover these offers on both Delta's website and their app. NOTE: If you see an upgrade option after choosing a TakeOff 15% discounted award flight, it's simply Delta's way of encouraging you to spend more miles. The total cost of that premium seat remains the same whether you book it directly or select the "buy-up" option after picking a lower fare cabin.

Similar to American Airlines, Delta often presents some fantastic cash upgrade opportunities. These offers are usually available closer to your booking date, so you might need to invest some time to uncover the best deal.

Upgrades on United Airlines

Among the three major domestic airlines with premium cabins, United Airlines currently has the least favorable reputation for providing cheap upgrades — reports of affordable upgrades on United are notably rarer compared to American and Delta. This is a sharp contrast to previous years when United often sold upgrades to non-elite members at unbeatable prices, sometimes even cheaper than what elite members received.

In contrast to American and Delta, United Airlines may occasionally present a worthwhile cash upgrade offer immediately after you book a flight. Sometimes, a pop-up appears with absurdly priced cash upgrade options on the final confirmation screen. We call them "absurd" because, on rare occasions, the upgrade price exceeds the outright cost of purchasing the upgraded cabin. At other times, the price difference aligns with the gap between your purchased ticket and the upgraded cabin's fare. However, there are instances where you might snag a genuinely good deal.

Here's the catch (there's always a catch, right?): This offer vanishes the moment you leave the page and usually never comes back.

United's process for using miles to upgrade is more complex compared to its rivals. Additionally, if you're utilizing United's mileage pooling feature, pooled miles cannot be applied towards upgrades.

Many routes necessitate a cash copay in addition to miles, and this copay varies depending on the fare class of your ticket. United provides a page on its website where you can check the applicable fees.

United Premier members generally avoid copays — but not always. It's a bit intricate, so United has created a chart to help clarify:

United simplifies the process of viewing upgrade options for a flight you’ve already booked. Go to "My Trips" on their website or app (it's more efficient on the website) and select your flight. Look for the "Upgrade Cabin" option in the upper left corner. Click it, and United will show you all available upgrade choices in one location.

If United MileagePlus or PlusPoint upgrades aren’t available, be sure to check this page frequently for any changes in availability.

One final note: If you're a Premier member with United Airlines, there are certain routes where you can snag a complimentary upgrade to a Premium Plus seat.

Upgrades on JetBlue

JetBlue features an exceptional premium cabin known as Mint on select routes. The Mint experience includes lie-flat seats, enhanced meal options, on-demand movies, and various other amenities. You’ll usually find Mint cabins on flights heading to Europe and select transcontinental destinations.

Sadly, JetBlue doesn’t provide a direct method for upgrading to Mint using your points. While you can use your TrueBlue points to purchase a Mint seat outright, there’s no option for a Mint upgrade.

Nonetheless, there’s a potential way to snag a reasonably priced cash upgrade to Mint. On the day of your flight, approach an agent at check-in or your gate to inquire about a cash upgrade to Mint. Last-minute cash upgrades to Mint typically range around $500, which can be a fantastic bargain!

Upgrades on other airlines

A few other airlines (some more desirable than others) offer great opportunities to upgrade your next flight using miles or cash. Air France is a standout example, as it already presents amazing deals on premium flights. Recently, the airline has reduced the minimum miles required for booking business-class award tickets. You can upgrade your flights with miles, but you’ll need to contact their customer service to arrange it.

Lufthansa, a member of the Star Alliance, permits upgrades using miles from other Star Alliance airlines. Although the process is somewhat complex, it is still doable. There’s no waitlist feature, so frequently checking their website is your best chance for snagging an upgrade.

Lufthansa also participates in a trend allowing passengers to place a cash bid for an upgrade. This approach helps airlines maximize revenue from seats that might otherwise go unsold while offering customers a chance to secure an upgrade for significantly less than the full price of a premium ticket. The key to a successful upgrade bid is to identify that sweet spot just above what others are willing to pay, which can be quite tricky.

Virgin Atlantic and Etihad Airways also allow you to place bids for upgrades. However, a less glamorous airline known for its budget-friendly upgrade options through bidding is Spirit Airlines. Spirit is upfront about its offering, promoting the Big Front Seat, which is literally a larger seat located at the front of the aircraft. This option does not include complimentary drinks, checked bags, or any extra perks. You simply get a spacious seat at the front of the plane, and similar to larger international airlines, you can bid for an affordable upgrade to secure one of these seats.

Bottom line

Airlines are increasingly striving to capitalize on every empty seat available on their flights. While this poses challenges for elite travelers aiming for complimentary upgrades, spending some of your hard-earned cash (or miles) can be an effective strategy for securing a more comfortable seat. Knowledgeable travelers can still discover valuable opportunities to upgrade their flights using either miles or cash.

That said, not all upgrades are worthwhile, whether due to outdated technology or algorithms that might not favor you. If your travel plans allow for some flexibility, a bit of research and effort can lead to better deals. With American, Delta, and United having largely removed cancellation and change fees, you might find it beneficial to consider alternative departure dates if the upgrade costs appear exorbitant.

Finally, the practice of bidding for upgrades has quietly gained traction among airlines. Don’t overlook the chance to take a gamble for a better seat on your flight, and may fortune favor you in this endeavor.