Seeing These Sneaky Letters On Your Boarding Pass Means You're More Likely To Get Upgraded

As airline seats get smaller and more uncomfortable, those of us who generally fly economy often end up with stiff necks and aching backs after a flight. If you fall into this category, you likely dream of an upgrade to a seat with room to actually move. However, it's gotten harder over the years to get upgraded. When you do manage to snag a better seat, it's cause for celebration. So while it's rare, there is a sneaky letter that may appear on your boarding pass that means you're more likely to receive an upgrade. Look out for the letter "B" somewhere by itself on your pass, signaling that it's possible you won't have to keep your elbows smashed against your sides for several hours.

That said, airline codes can vary, and this lucky letter isn't always "B." In fact, it could be an "A" or an "F" if you're flying first class, in which case, you're already good to go. If you see a "Q" or a "Y," you've likely paid for a basic economy ticket and would be less likely to be bumped to a better class. However, if you have a "B," it means you probably paid a full economy fare and are therefore higher up on the list for a free upgrade.

If you do see a "B" on your boarding pass and the flight isn't full, you can ask the gate agent about an upgrade. It's important to be as polite as possible, even if your attempt doesn't work. A lot of the upgrade process is out of the gate agents' hands, but even if they can't move you to a superior cabin, there is the possibility that they might be able to find you a better seat — like a window or aisle seat if you're in the middle, or something with more legroom — if it's available.

A single letter indicating your seat class isn't the only code you might find on your boarding pass; there are others that may affect your flight experience, too. If you see "SSSS" on your boarding pass, you could end up being delayed a bit. This code means you've been selected for a secondary screening (it stands for "Secondary Security Screening Selection") at the airport. Generally, this won't take long, but you might want to get to the security line without stopping for coffee or a snack on the way.

Another boarding pass code is "SEQ," which stands for "sequence number." This indicates the order in which you checked in for your flight, and it's followed by a number. Though it may not matter for most flights, the higher the number, the more likely it is that you'll be bumped if a plane is overbooked. If you get the lucky "SEQ 001," you probably checked in first, granting you bragging rights. Finally, regardless of what codes you were given, make sure you know what to do if you lose your boarding pass before your flight.