The Story Every Flyer Needs to Read: How to Get Upgraded on a Plane (It's Not as Hard as You Think!)

Loyalty Has Its Rewards

Be Loyal. Be elite. Airline’s most loyal customers stand a better chance of getting upgraded. If you’re in an elite program with an airline, then might even automatically bump you—even after you’ve been sat (story about being moved to business when there was a no show)

Source: Yahoo Travel