Picking the right aircraft can be as important as picking the right fare.

We all know how the law of supply and demand works and most premium travelers also know that when it comes to upgrades, the law works against them. The reason is simple: The
for them.

One way to improve your odds is to plan your itinerary around the aircraft. The various models have Business and First Class cabins that differ in size, so choosing the one with the most premium seats can be a key move if you’re hoping for an elite upgrade to open up — or waiting for the “waitlist” to clear for a mileage upgrade!

Another thing working in your favor here is that most airlines do not overbook First or Business Class. As business travelers often change their plans, the plane with more seats has more seats that can open up.

Here’s a look at some of the considerations for both domestic and international travel.

Domestic Differences

On its Los Angeles-New York/Newark route, Continental operates B737-800s (14 First Class seats), 757-200s (8), and 757-300s (12). If you’re a OnePass Elite member, it makes a lot of sense to book one of the two flights operated with 737-800s.

Hawaii: United operates 757s (24 First Class seats), 767s (34), and 777s (34) to Hawaii. It offers three flights daily from San Francisco to Maui — one with each of these three aircraft. American serves Hawaii from the West Coast using mostly 757s (22 First Class seats), but the savvy traveler will book AA255 or AA283 from LAX to Honolulu because it’s operated with a 767-300, which has 36 First Class seats — they also offer much better legroom and recline than on the other aircraft.

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STEP 1: Use the Internet to view aircrafttypes and seat configurations.

Orbitz.com and other online booking engines allow you to look at a specific flight’s seat map by clicking on “View Seats.” Here you’ll be able to see exactly how many seats there are in Business and First Class

STEP 2: Use the View Seats link to see how full a flight is.

Go with the flight that has the most seats available, but keep in mind that the seat map doesn’t reflect those passengers who have booked but haven’t requested seat assignments yet. But, if a seat map is filled, you can be sure the flight is full, so there’s no sense trying for an upgrade on that flight.

STEP 3: Check the number of premium seats still left for sale with a reservationist.

Specifically ask the person to check the “availability screen,” which shows how many “deeply discounted” seats are still unsold. (These are usually A, D, I, and Z class fares.) If an airline has many of these seats left on a given flight, your chances of getting an upgrade are much higher.

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The Best International Flights to Upgrade

Here’s the golden rule: Boeing 747s trump Boeing 777s. And Boeing usually trumps Airbus. That’s right: On almost every route I’ve looked at, the 747 carries more Business Class seats than the 777, and offers more premium seats than Airbus’ long-haul models (this can vary by airline).

Take British Airways, for example. It uses both Boeing aircraft on its NY-London route. The B- 777 has 48 Business Class seats, while the B-747 has 68 seats. Lufthansa’s Boeing 747s on the New York-Frankfurt route have many more premium seats than the carrier’s Airbus flights: The A-333 and A-343 are equipped with 48 Business Class and eight First Class seats, while the Boeing 747 has 64 Business Class seats (52% more than the A-343) and 16 First Class seats (twice as many as the Airbus models).

The same rule can apply across the Pacific. On the Los Angeles-Tokyo route, United 747s carry 87 Business Class seats while its 777s have only 49.

Make better connections: Have your reservationist determine which city offers the most advantageous connection, based on seat availability as indicated by seat maps.