I Flew Economy (But I Bid for Business): How to Travel Smarter, Not Richer
I’m not a millionaire. I’ve paid a lot to get to Gold on Qantas (Sapphire in OneWorld). But I believe travel should be for everyone — and with the right tools, it can be.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how I booked an economy seat on a long-haul international flight — and placed a bid for Business Class using just a few smart hacks and free tools. Spoiler: I didn’t get the upgrade, but I got a great seat, a stress-free trip, and the satisfaction of flying smarter.
Why I Believe in Democratising Travel
Travel isn’t just about luxury — it’s about access, experience, and freedom.
A Business Class seat shouldn’t be a status symbol — it can be a strategy.
My mission through Ministays is to make travel more transparent, accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Step 1: Booking Smart — Not Fancy
Flight Details:
Route: Sydney (SYD) to Colombo (CMB) via Hong Kong (HKG).
Airline: Qantas (QF127).
Travel day: Thursday morning (quieter mid-week flights = better upgrade odds).
Why it matters:
The quieter the flight, the higher the chances of snagging an upgrade — even with a low bid.
Step 2: Bidding for Business Class
How upgrade bidding works (with Qantas):
After booking, eligible passengers receive an email inviting them to bid.
How you bid depends on whether it’s with points only or a ‘Points Plus Pay’ option where you can use a mix of points and cash to outbid other passengers.
If your bid wins, you’re upgraded and charged.
If not, you stay in economy and pay nothing - no real change or loss.
My bid:
Since I only had the option to bid using points, I bid 54,500 points per passenger.
Tip:
Use the bid slider’s “fair” range as a guide — but always double-check the cabin load.
Step 3: Tools That Give You an Edge
SeatGuru
Helps you choose the best seat in economy.
Shows detailed aircraft layout, legroom, recline, in-seat power.
The popular seats are reviewed by actual flyers and it gives you some insight into what you can expect.
I chose a bulkhead window seat with extra space and no seat in front.
ExpertFlyer
Tracks seat availability in Business Class.
Helps gauge whether your upgrade bid stands a chance.
Great for frequent flyers and one-off adventurers alike.
There’s a Pro plan with extra features, but if you fly pretty infrequently the Free plan should be more than enough.
There’s also the option to sign up for a trial of the Pro plan, useful for when you’re first planning your trip.
Use Any Benefits or Status to Elevate Your Flight
Some credit cards give you lounge passes (experience the business class lounge before you fly).
You might find a generous redditor that is willing to either swap a lounge pass or give them away.
Call Customer Service and see if they can unblock a seat for you (I scored a bulkhead seat that was blocked and was a paid option).
I’ve written another article with a list of other websites you could use to track and plan your next Ministay.
Step 4: Travel Day — Always Be Ready
Dressed appropriately for Business — just in case.
Checked the app repeatedly (you usually find out at check-in or gate but if you’re a higher status you should find out within 24 hours of your flight but if you’re like me you’ll refresh it daily).
Packed light, moved fast.
Tip:
Travel with optimism — but plan for economy. Be cautiously optimistic.
The Result
I didn’t get upgraded. But here’s what I did get:
One of the best economy seats on the plane.
A smooth journey with less crowding.
The satisfaction of sticking to my budget while flying with confidence.
Flying better doesn’t mean spending more — it means knowing more.
Final Thoughts: Travel Is for Everyone
You don’t need elite status to travel well.
You just need curiosity, strategy, and the right tools.
Whether you fly economy or first class, you deserve a good experience.