How to Upgrade Your Seat with Miles: a 2025 Guide

Want to experience premium cabin comfort without paying full price? Upgrading an airline seat with miles involves redeeming your frequent flyer miles to move from your original cabin class (e.g., economy) to a higher class (e.g., business or first class). 

The process and eligibility vary by airline, fare class, and route, but the key steps are generally similar across major carriers.

Using airline miles to upgrade your ticket can be a smart strategy – if you know the rules. While elite status and cash upgrades are common ways to move to the front of the plane, using your miles for upgrades offers a valuable option for most travelers, if you plan ahead.

Let’s get started!

Airline Miles Basics 101

First, let’s clarify what seats you can’t upgrade with miles. If you booked your ticket using points or miles (e.g., an award ticket), you typically can’t upgrade it further using additional miles. The same goes for basic economy tickets – these deeply discounted fares are designed to be restrictive and don’t allow for upgrades of any kind. 

To be eligible for a miles upgrade, you must start with a regular cash ticket in the main cabin or higher.

Before you set your heart on using miles for an upgrade, consider this key point: upgrade availability can be limited, especially on popular routes. Sometimes, booking your desired cabin directly with miles or cash might make more sense than hoping for an upgrade. The only way to guarantee you’ll fly in a premium cabin is by reserving it when you book, but you have options after booking if you know how.

Rules specific to US Carriers

Each major US airline handles miles upgrades differently, and knowing these distinctions can help you plan more effectively. Here’s what you need to know about each carrier:

American Airlines

• Upgrades are available one cabin level up, pending availability
• The published upgrade award calculator makes costs predictable
• Example: Domestic upgrades typically start at 15,000 miles plus a $75-175 co-pay

Pro tip: Check AA.com’s upgrade calculator before booking to see exact costs.

Delta Air Lines

• No published award chart – Delta has a dynamic pricing system
• Check upgrade availability through the My Trips section after booking
• Upgrade offers vary based on route and demand
• Check Delta’s Upgrades and More information online

Pro tip: Delta sometimes offers discounted upgrade rates closer to departure.

United Airlines

• Regional pricing based on route and fare class
• Upgrade costs are typically displayed during booking but you can also check My Trips later to see yoru options
• Most domestic upgrades range from 20,000-30,000 miles, plus a possible co-pay

Pro tip: United’s app shows upgrade availability in real-time – here’s their info page on upgrading.

Alaska Airlines

• Currently does not offer miles upgrades
• Alternative: Book first class directly with miles
• Consider using cash upgrades when available
• See Alaska’s upgrade FAQs for more details

Pro tip: Join Alaska’s mileage program for potential upgrade sales notifications. 

In fact, joining each of the loyalty programs is a good idea—even if you don’t have a lot of miles, the loyalty gives you access to marketing emails and a quicker route to customer service when you call.

Typical Steps to Upgrade with Miles

Knowing when and how to request your miles upgrade can significantly improve your chances of success. Here are the key strategies that experienced travelers use:Purchase an eligible airline ticket (not an award ticket – those can’t be upgraded with miles).Log in to your frequent flyer account on the airline’s site.Locate your reservation – it’s usually under My Trips or something similar.If your ticket is eligible and upgrade space is available, you may see an option to upgrade, like this:

I’m using an upcoming trip on United to demo, but most major carriers have a similar setup. If you click that button, you’ll see the option to upgrade with cash or miles, like this:

5. Select the Mile upgrade option, confirm the number of miles (and any co-pay), and complete the transaction. 6. If upgrades are not available immediately, you may be placed on a waitlist. If the upgrade clears, you are notified before departure. Pro tip: Want to skip the DIY version? If you have loyalty with the airline, just call them directly and ask what the upgrade options are. They’ll be happy to explain it.

Smart Strategies for Successful Upgrades

Knowing when and how to request your miles upgrade can significantly improve your chances of success. Here are the key strategies that experienced travelers use:

Timing Is Everything

1. Book your ticket at least 2-3 months in advance for the best upgrade availability.
2. Most airlines release unsold premium seats 7-14 days before departure, and you may receive an email giving you the chance to upgrade around that time.

Pro tip: Mid-week flights typically have better upgrade availability than weekends.