SAN DIEGO -- The benefits of flying first class are clear -- bigger seats, more leg room and food.

The biggest drawback may seem clear, too -- the price.

So, how would you like to sit in the front but pay less than someone way in the back?

Krista Rosenberg said she always tries to fly first class.

"Having a more comfortable seat, getting on the plane faster, getting off the plane faster -- anything to make it more easy is nice," said Rosenberg.

But she said flying up front is sometimes too pricey -- that is until Rosenberg uncovered a first class secret.

"I was getting to pay the same amount as someone in coach, or maybe a little bit more, but at the same time, I was able to fly in first class," Rosenberg.

What's the travel trick? While booking a flight, ask the agent about a special type of fare. It's most commonly called a YUPP. But some airlines also use codes like QUPP and Z.

"I think most travelers do not realize that these fares are out there," said Matthew Bennett with FirstClassFlyer.com.

The leading airlines all confirmed they offer this kind of fare, describing it as either a coach seat with an automatic upgrade or deeply discounted first class.

Bennett said it can amount to some big bargains.

"Full-first class can be double or more what a YUPP fare can be," said Bennett.

Rick Seaney, president of FareCompare, helped 10News see how the deals work.

For a round trip flight from Dallas to St. Louis on American Airlines, the YUPP fare is $278 -- that's nearly $1,500 cheaper than a regular seat in first class and more than a $1,000 less than the most expensive seat in coach.

"A lot of times the YUPPs are matching some sort of low-cost carrier in a particular market," said Seaney.

On a round trip Delta flight from Baltimore to Atlanta the QUPP fare was $638 -- that's $750 less than regular first class and nearly half the price of full-fare coach. That's a surprise to traveler Bill Griffith, who rarely flies up front.

"I had no idea you could actually find a reasonably priced first-class ticket," said Griffith.

Experts said it's easy. Ask a booking agent on the phone specifically for a YUPP, or if you buy online, all you have to do is search for a first-class seat. If a YUPP is available, the fare will automatically show up as the lowest rate. You can confirm that by checking the fare class.

"I would never have thought of even trying to go first class," said Griffith.

Once the flyer knew how to look, he found a YUPP in just minutes.

"My days of flying coach may be over," said Griffith.

In addition to sitting in the front of the plane, the YUPP seats offer even more benefits.

Experts said they're generally fully refundable seats, and you may get extra frequent flier miles for being in first.