Flying First Class Gets Tougher: Why Upgrades Are Hard to Come By

Since the pandemic, folks have been willing to pay more for the extra space in first class. This means fewer free upgrades for frequent flyers. The competition is fierce, with more people vying for those coveted seats. Even during the off-season in early 2025, demand is expected to stay strong. Airlines are making changes to their loyalty programs, focusing more on how much you spend rather than just how often you fly. United, for instance, is raising the spending requirements for elite status next year. But American Airlines is keeping its requirements the same for now. Delta's Glen Hauenstein shared that about 15 years ago, only 12% of Delta's domestic first-class seats were paid for, but now it's closer to 75%. Airlines like JetBlue and Alaska are also adding more premium seats to their planes. The trend is clear: passengers are ready to pay for better seats. Airlines are now redesigning their cabins to include more first-class sections and bigger international business classes. They're adding features like bigger screens and closing doors to the flatbed seats. Southwest Airlines is taking a different approach, planning to add extra-legroom seats in 2026 but keeping their no-first-class policy. CEO Bob Jordan explained that it's a generational shift, with younger customers willing to spend more on travel. But adding first class is a big investment, and Southwest isn't ready to make that leap yet.