Have you ever walked by the first class seats on a flight and wished there was a way to get a free upgrade? Well, there are. The best way to get free upgrades to first class is to earn elite airline status with your preferred airline. This is when an airline offers complimentary upgrades to its frequent fliers. When you have this status, you can request an upgrade when booking your flight or checking in. If you don’t have elite airline status, you can also get an upgrade through the airline’s website. Airlines often have upgrade deals that can be paid with money or miles. If you pay for your upgrade with miles, then it will be free. Free upgrades for long-haul flights are very rare and typically only offered to those with top-tier elite airline status.