Upgrading to first class can be cheaper than you think

FRIDAY, MAY 25: So what’s it worth to you?

The airlines are trying to keep the base fares of their flights as low as possible while they try to wrest every dollar out of you from other fees and add-ons.

US Airways has PreferredAccess on some of its flights.

For $10 you can skip the line and get priority check in, like you were travelling First Class.

You will also be able to use a shorter security line and be among the first to board the plane.

For those who hate all the added hassles of air travel since 9/11, the $10 may be worth it, for others, it’s just another way for the airlines to get their hands in your pockets.

One of the better deals is upgrading your economy class ticket on AirTran to first class. You get all the above benefits from the PreferredAccess, plus you get to a bigger seat, meal and get to take an extra bag.

I’ve done it twice now and both times the upgrade was $69.

If you have an extra bag that you would have to pay for, then the upgrade becomes even more reasonable as the real cost to you would be $42.

I could have used it the last time I flew AirTran in April when I had my fiasco of booking the wrong date for my Delta flight (my fault, not Delta’s).

My wife and I booked the first class tickets as they were only a bit more than economy class, but after we purchased them she asked if it would have been cheaper to book the economy class ticket then upgrade.

The answer was ‘yes’, which seems a bit silly to make the agent book one set of tickets, then upgrade, making them do more work.

Crown and Anchor

Many people are not aware that cruise lines have loyalty reward programmes that offer benefits to members.

The past two cruises we took, my wife and I moved up a level in Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society as we went from Gold to Platinum. If we had only done all our cruises with Royal, we’d be at Diamond level, but we have tried out several lines first to find the ones we like.

So what are some of the rewards available to loyal members?

A big one for us in moving up a level is the priority check-in.

If you’ve cruised before and have had to stand in the cattle line waiting to get your documents checked, then you know that can be a long process.

It also entitles us to a private departure lounge with continental breakfast. That’s normally one of the dining rooms, so that’s a big advantage over sitting in the theatre.

The other onboard benefits, which aren’t as significant to me, are an invitation to an exclusive top tier event, special robes for use on board, and a signature label pin.

Because we were already Gold members, we were already entitled to SeaPass card recognition, an exclusive invitation to a welcome back party, a value booklet for onboard offers (this gets upgraded every time you go up a level) and an onboard booking bonus.

The Platinum level will also get us discounts on balconies and suites and gets us upgraded to Select level on Celebrity Cruises and upgraded on Azamara cruise line as well.

On our last cruise on the Liberty of the Seas we met some of Royal Caribbean’s top Crown & Anchor members, who had achieved Pinnacle Club status (700 points — for comparison, I only have 42 points and if I had done all my 13 cruises on Royal, I would only have 96 points).