I won a business class seat in the auction on plusgrade

When I first booked my flight to California, I had decided to try Alitalia's Classica+, or premium economy, for the first time, enticed by the price, which was a few tens of euros higher than the economy fare.

Attracted by the offer and especially by the multiplier that in class P allows you to earn 150% of the miles flown, I did not let this opportunity pass me by.

However, Alitalia, like many other airlines, offers the opportunity to participate in an auction through the Plusgrade service to win upgrades to business at a discounted price.

The way it works is simple: once you have completed the ticket purchase, you can go to the dedicated section of Alitalia's website and make your bid, the minimum chip depends on the type of flight and a small thermometer informs us what the chance of winning is based on our bid.

Obviously in order for us to win the auction, it is necessary that there are vacancies and that our bid as at any auction turns out to be the best.

Within 24 hours of the flight we receive an email from Alitalia informing us of the outcome of the auction. In this case my bid of 340€ was successful and I was thus able to sit in the Frau leather seat in Alitalia's Magnifica class at a cost of about 690€, since the ticket in Classica+ had cost me only 350€.

By getting the upgrade you are entitled to everything a business passenger is entitled to, lounge access, extra baggage, etc. However, the number of miles you earn does not change; those remain at the same class as the original ticket.

Note that the system is not only used by airlines, but also by cruise lines, where unsold suites can be tried to win at auction.

• auction
• plusgrade