A new study has revealed which airline is the best to upgrade with, as search interest for ‘how to upgrade flight’ and ‘flight upgrade’ has spiked 207% and 146% in the last year
Google Trends analysis has shown a significant increase in searches for ‘how to upgrade flight’ and ‘flight upgrade’, with a rise of 207% and 146% respectively this year. This surge is the highest seen in the past two decades.
In response, lifestyle magazine Dailybase examined 49 international airlines that offer business class cabins to determine which are most worth the additional cost of upgrading. The study compared the experience of flyers in economy cabins.
The researchers developed an index based on several factors impacting the flyer experience, including seat size and type, the difference in seat size between economy and business class for each airline, in-flight entertainment and food reviews, Wi-Fi availability onboard, and each airline’s overall Tripadvisor review score. Each factor was given an index score, weighted, and compiled to create the ultimate ranking of the airlines most worth upgrading your ticket with.
The study revealed that Singapore Airlines is the top airline to upgrade on, achieving an impressive 87.46% in the index, equating to a total index score of 61.23 out of 70. The standout difference between Singapore Airlines’ economy and business class cabins is the comfort provided by seats that convert into flat beds and the extra 9.5-inch width the seats have on average.
This is the highest of any of the 49 airlines considered. In addition to its four out of five-star rating, the airline’s in-flight entertainment, food, and overall customer experience have received positive reviews, according to SKYTRAX and Tripadvisor, reports the Express.
Spanish carrier Iberia was ranked as the second-best airline most worth upgrading a ticket on, with an overall index score of 57.82 out of 70 across all factors considered, totalling 82.59% in the study. The findings suggest that business class passengers with the airline can enjoy some of the most legroom of any business passenger across all the airlines analysed.
The study found an average of 40 inches more legroom in business compared to the airline’s economy cabins, as identified on Tripadvisor’s Seat Guru comparison charts. Delta Air Lines ranked first among US-based airlines analysed in the study and took third place overall, achieving 81.64% in the index.
With a total score of 57.15 out of 70, Delta is also the only North American airline to place in the top 10. Matching first place airline Singapore Airlines, Delta Air Lines has also received an overall Tripadvisor review score of four out of five stars, having won the website’s Travellers’ Choice Awards numerous times and gaining more than 25,000 ‘excellent’ reviews by customers.
Top 10 airlines most worth upgrading:
1. Singapore Airlines – 87.46%
2. Iberia – 82.59%
3. Delta Air Lines – 81.64%
4. Qatar Airways – 81%
5. Air New Zealand – 80.87%
6. Virgin Atlantic – 78.72%
7. Japan Airlines – 78.18%
8. Korean Air – 78.18%
9. SAS Airlines – 77.61%
10. Hong Kong Airlines – 77.42%