Any secrets on how to upgrade seats on a flight ?

We're going to be traveling to Raleigh Durham international 8 times over the next 2-3 months. Coach seating is a beating for me, I can't get comfortable no matter what I do. Medical issues such as neuropathy, makes it very unpleasant.. I'm not a world traveler, never have been, but I thought I'd reach out to see if anyone knew any way to upgrade that doesn't involve great amounts of money.
Thanks in advance.

It’s difficult to upgrade, without paying cash, out of DFW and flying to another hub unless your a top tier loyalty program member. At least on American Airlines.
It might be easier if you’re flying on Delta or United. Maybe someone else knows...

Show some cleavage?

Fly with your emotional support peacock

Pony up for better seats?

I don't know of any secrets. Seems like every seat on American has become a premium seat and requires extra money unless it is a middle seat. I just pay extra and do exit row.

You may try getting a mileage rewards credit card from Chase, or Capital One, and using the points to get better seats. Also, look to see the configuration of the airplane and find one with the most room.

That's just good advice for every situation.

Consider looking into an AA credit card and using it for bookings. I know with United you can pay alittle bit of an annual fee to upgrade your flying status and then you accumulate points faster.

I have found that getting bumped up to business class just doesn't happen unless you are flying really really late at night. There is a large contingent of folks who travel for their jobs and have a huge amount of miles/status with their airlines. For someone who only flies occasionally you might be inline for an upgrade but you are 15th on the list and there are only three unbooked.

The only other suggestion is try doing some research at flyertalk.com, they seem to have experts on every rewards program possible.

If by upgrade you mean moved to first class it is not going to happen unless you have many miles with that airline.

Which airline are you flying? If they offer online check-in, you can sometimes purchase a seat upgrade if you do it at the earliest check-in time available (with Alaska airlines, their online check-in is 24 hours before the flight).

The other option for you, since this is just regular domestic flying, is to do an expedia search for the best available first class airfare. If you're not buying at the last minute, you may be able to lock in decently priced first class seats.

If you’re going to Raleigh/Durham for what I think you are, I hope everything goes well.

I’m no help on getting upgraded for free. I can barely get a seat in the first two thirds of the plane and I’m gold status.

As a frequent flyer for work, it is pretty difficult to get upgrades these days. I am gold status on American, and I am usually #14-17 on the list to upgrade on domestic flights...even further down on international. In 3.5 years in this job, I have gotten upgraded once on a work flight. I have been upgraded twice on personal trips at Christmas time. Without status, your best bet is to just fork out the cash for the seat or use any miles you might have.

Ask for the mile high club and you'll get bumped up.

So far all flights have been on AA.
Thanks DuckHunter, you are correct. I'm very fortunate to be chosen for a trial using Car-T cells..
Exciting, new technology, I'm # 17, a little history being made so my doctor tells me..

Fly at off times such as middle of the day or very late at night. Usually if there are any seats open in 1st and few people on the upgrade list they will sell the upgrade seat for about 75.00. You have to use the electronic kiosk checking at the airport to get this.
That is about the only way and it has to be on a very off time flight where there are lots of open seats. Get to cjeck in early

Prayers up, sir.

First off- I hope that the treatment you receive works. Prayers for you and the Doctors.

There are several ways to make your flights more tolerable. Coach has turned into Coach minus and seats that are around 31"pitch. Main Cabin Extra on AA (MCE) is basically what coach use to be like 10 years ago. Unless a person is Concierge Key or Executive Plat, there should be no reasonable expectation to get a computer upgrade.

Suggestions;
Try to get exit row, if legroom is most important , but the compromise is a narrower seat because the tray table is in the arm rest and some seats won't recline.
If you don't care about inflight entertainment, try to book on a MD80, coach seats have more space than 738, 319, 320, 321.
Fly at off peak times if possible, mid week late at night, Saturday or Sunday Mornings
Airlines have dropped the price of 1st class tiks, they would rather sell them at a discount vs. upgrading passengers. Good deals are out there if booking far enough in advance or willing to connect.
There is a website, Expertflyer If you pay to join (I think its a small fee), a person can see the seat inventory on a given flight. 1st class seats have a bunch of different fare classes so you could pick a flight that would allow a milage upgrade at time of booking.

Good luck

without purchasing a first class seat, as others have stated your chances of an upgrade are minimal unless you are Platinum or above. even at platinum, you'd be doing well to bat .350. half the people on the plane will be gold level which don't get you much these days.

For a DFW/RDU round trip, with advance purchase, main cabin runs typically $300-$380, if you want to purchase a first class seat it is typically about double that - $700-$800.

Take a pair of your drawers that have been to outer space (with documentation), you never know when someone is willing to deal.

This is good advice, especially choosing flights that are not at peak times, if possible with your schedule. With regional airports, like RDU, you might be able to get on less than full flights where you can move around after boarding because there are a lot of empty seats.

I have had good success with being the first at the counter when the flight staff arrive and just ask. It works about 80% of the time I can get an exit row or isle seat in most cases. Even after the plane has boarded the stewardess has re seated me based on a vacancy and a simple request. Prayers and Good luck RedSkeeter in all things.

Praying for you Billy

I guess it depends on what you mean by upgraded. If you mean just getting a more desireable coach seat (aisle, exit row, bulkhead and such) the best trick is to be at the gate when the flight staff gets there and just ask. However, make sure you give them a few minutes to get settled in and logged on. As for upgrading to a premium class (first or business), as stated above it's really all but impossible unless you're paying for it in some way (cash, points, loyalty, VIP). The reason being if the airline upgrades a person to a premium class they must be able to justify to the other people in coach why that person was upgraded when others weren't. So even in the event of a flight that is over sold in coach the airline will not bump customers from coach to a premium class unless they pay for the upgrade.

That's a good point. on American you can choose an exit row or bulkhead for just a little more cash at the time of booking - i don't recall exactly what they charge but it seems like $20-$30 depending on the seat. The earlier you book the better in terms of seat availability.

1st class seats are less if join the airlines frequent flyer program.

Also, you may not need to upgrade to 1st class. Instead maybe pay a few $$ more for a coach seat that has more leg room etc.

Use https://www.seatguru.com to find the better seats in coach class.

Get your doctor to say the first class seat is medically necessary and bill your insurance the difference in price. You're welcome and good luck!