Flight upgrades much harder to secure, even for elite travellers

[NEW YORK] Paul Dougherty flies more than 100,000 miles each year on United Airlines, which places him in one of the top tiers of the airline's frequent-flyer programme. This entitles Mr Dougherty to early boarding, free checked baggage and spiffy luggage tags.

What his special status as a Premier 1K member does not always do these days, though, is provide him with a favourite perk for frequent flyers: a complimentary upgrade to first or business class. Instead, United first tries to sell him the upgrade, for several hundred dollars.

"I kind of feel like it's something they should comp me on," said Mr Dougherty, a la…