How upgrades work on Defera
There are three kinds of upgrade on Defera, and they work quite differently. Two of them cost you nothing. The third is a better cabin that you ask for, paid or with Defera Miles.
Here's how they compare:
| Upgrade | What you get | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Free Flight Upgrade | A faster route, in the same cabin | Nothing |
| Complimentary cabin upgrade | A better cabin, when our team can arrange one | Nothing |
| Cabin upgrade you request | A better cabin | Paid, or with Defera Miles |
In short, a better cabin either comes as a thank-you from our team, or it's something you ask for. The Free Flight Upgrade is about a faster route, not a better cabin.
Free Flight Upgrade: a faster route, same cabin
Every booking answers a required question at checkout: if our team spots a faster route to your destination, with a shorter total trip time or a shorter layover, may we move you to it? If you say yes, you also choose whether the new route can be on any airline or only on the airline you booked.
"No" is a perfectly normal answer, and there's no downside to it. The Free Flight Upgrade question at checkout has more.
If you say yes, here's what we promise:
- Same cabin. Despite the name, it isn't a cabin upgrade. Economy stays economy, and you keep the same fare. It's called an upgrade because the route is better, not the class of service.
- Same travel dates, with a departure near your original time.
- No extra cost, ever. If a faster route costs more, you don't pay the difference.
- Only for a real improvement: a shorter total trip time or a shorter layover.
- We email you if we make a change. You're never moved without being told.
Will my flight change if I said yes?
Not unless we find a real improvement. Saying yes is permission to look, not a plan to move you. Most bookings are never changed, and it may never come up.
Saying yes doesn't change your fare rules, refundability, seats you've paid for, or your payment plan. If a change ever affected seats you'd paid for, we'd sort that out with you first.
Can I change my answer?
Yes, either way. Ask the Defera Concierge, our AI concierge, and it sends the change to our team.
Complimentary cabin upgrades
When our team can, it arranges a complimentary cabin upgrade on a booking, as a thank-you for booking with Defera. Upgrades are subject to availability, and eligibility is assessed per booking. They're never guaranteed and aren't offered on every trip, and there's nothing to apply for or claim.
When one is arranged, you'll hear about it in two ways:
- A card on your trip page. It says "Complimentary Upgrade" and which cabin you've been upgraded to. You'll find it below your trip's progress bar.
- An email. A "You've been upgraded" email arrives as soon as it's arranged.
The upgrade is reflected on your boarding pass at check-in. There's nothing to do and no cost, and it doesn't change your fare, refundability or payment plan.
How do I ask for a better cabin?
If you'd like a better cabin, you can request a cabin upgrade, paid or with Defera Miles. Ask the Defera Concierge, and it sends the request to our team. The answer appears on your trip page and comes to you by email.
To use Miles, you can also tap the Cabin Upgrade tile in the "Redeem on this trip" panel on your trip page, beside or below your Payment Schedule. It starts from 8,000 Miles. Tapping it opens a chat with the Defera Concierge with your request already written.
The tile works while your trip is still being paid off and you have enough Miles. Once a trip is completed (paid in full), the panel reads "Save for future trips", because the Miles a trip earns go toward your next one. Can I use Miles for seats or bags? covers the tiles in more detail.