Flight attendants' tips for getting free upgrades including booking middle seats
Flying in style and the luxury of first class needn't be the preserve of the mega-rich, according to flight attendants and travel experts.
In recent years air travel has become more and more affordable in the West, with many Ryanair and easyJet flights on sale for the price of a light city centre lunch.
At the same time ultra-luxury air travel has been getting fancier.
Among those pushing the envelope is Singapore Airlines, which has a first class suite comparable to on-land hotel room.
TikTok user Travel Hacking Mum recently posted a video of her mum in the room, which has a sizeable double bed, a desk and two windows.
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It's always good to be polite to airline, whether angling for something or not (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Unfortunately for those without unlimited cash, a return trip from New York to Singapore in the suite is likely to cost you well in excess of £10,000.
The dream is to get a free upgrade to a business or first class seat – which, while rare, does happen.
Happily there are lots of ways you can try and get an upgrade and some actions that will rule you out for one all together.
Check out these flight attendants' tips for getting an upgrade on your next flight...
Avoid being drunk, smelling bad or looking scruffy
Flight attendant Miguel Muñoz, who has been flying the skies for more than 10 years, previously explained that there are outfits which are sure to keep you firmly in economy.
Miguel said: "I would say dirty clothes 100%. Sometimes passengers come on board looking scruffy, smelly, with stains on their T-shirts, etc.
"You can tell when they come straight from the beach and they haven't changed. I've even seen passengers boarding the plane in flip-flops and sandy feet!
"It's obviously not nice to have passengers like these and I would never upgrade them to the first class if I could.
"I also wouldn't upgrade smelly people or drunk passengers, or passengers who give me the impression that they are going to cause trouble."
Looking fresh is a good idea (Getty Images)Wear the right clothes
One travel expert at ForbesAdvisor said that your outfit can be the key to bagging that coveted First Class seat.
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They said: "While dressing in your finest clothes is no guarantee for an upgrade, a smart outfit will certainly enhance your chances of being chosen.
"Top paying customers will often be dressed sharper, and airlines will want to ensure anyone they bump to first-class looks the part.
"Don’t feel the need to dress in anything extravagant. However, just make sure you avoid items that are too casual like flip flops and cargo shorts."
Complain about a recliner
A passenger reclining their seat is always frustrating - but if you struggle with certain health issues, you could end up being moved somewhere more comfortable.
An anonymous flight attendant revealed that a medical reason why someone needs the extra leg room could be a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
If you tell the staff you suffer with this health issue they’ll insist the person in front of you puts up their seat - although they'd likely need proof.
The flight attendant added: “We may even move you to a seat at the front of the row, or maybe even upgrade you, so you have more room to stretch your legs, or so you won't have to deal with a recliner."
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)Pick the middle seat
If you don’t like the uncertainty of waiting until a few hours before your flight to check in, then make sure to select the middle seat.
Airlines are more likely to upgrade passengers who are sitting in the middle seat as this is generally considered the least desirable place to sit, according to CEO of travel company Stasher, Jacob Wedderburn-Day.
So, if you don’t mind being wedged between two other people, it might pay off to book those seats, although it is a bit of a gamble.
Just ask
Sometimes, just asking could be the simple solution.
When you check in, tell the attendant that you’re interested in an upgrade. You can always ask again at the gate if they say there’s no chance; the worst they can say is no.
The key is to be polite and humble.
This won't always result in an upgrade, but you may possibly get a free glass of champagne and some special in-flight treatment.
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