Flight attendant says buying Toblerone is 'easiest way to get a free upgrade'

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The flight attendant suggested buying a Toblerone (Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The flight attendant suggested buying a Toblerone (Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In the latest of flight attendant secrets to be revealed, it turns out that a Toblerone could help you bag a coveted upgrade.

When heading off on holiday the flight can be fun or exhausting. Whether you enjoy yourself or arrive on holiday feeling exhausted is to do with your mindset, but also how premium you seat is. A spot in business class, or even premium economy, can make all the difference thanks to wider seats, room to stretch out and better food and drink - but with a hefty price tag.

However, you may not need to splash the cash as one flight attendant claims there's a trick to getting a free upgrade. He says that one item from Duty Free always makes him feel generous towards a passenger. Flight attendant Miguel Muñoz told Express.co.uk that he will always upgrade or give better treatment to those passengers who bring "Toblerone or Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons" from the terminal.

He explained: "I am automatically nicer to the person who had that nice gesture. The cabin chief would always offer them free coffee and tea and if there are better seats available, we will move them!" The cabin crew members argued that it is always better to be upfront about your intentions when angling for an upgrade.

Flight attendant says buying Toblerone is 'easiest way to get a free upgrade' rridzziqddidqrinvThe flight attendant suggested being nice was key (stock photo) (Getty Images)

Miguel said passengers often ask for water because they feel dizzy, but he knows this is just a ploy to get into a better seat. Instead, he said it's much better to be 'nice and honest' as you are much more likely to get bumped up, and if there's an upgrade to be given he will always give it to the passengers he likes the most.

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"Sometimes people come to me asking for an orange juice or a snack because they say they are dizzy or have low blood sugar. We automatically think they are lying just to get something for free. And probably some people lie," the aviation ace continued.

In terms of upgrades, Miguel said "it's about being nice and honest" and explained what passengers should and shouldn't say to get better seats on board. The flight attendant explained: "If passengers come to me and say they need more space for some reason I move them to the overwings [seats by the emergency exit with extra legroom].

"But you have to be careful with what you say! Because if you say you have a bad knee, for example, I have to be careful with these people as passengers seating by emergency exits are the ones who have to assist the crew in case of an emergency.

"If you can't operate the emergency exit because you have a bad knee I can't move you to the overwings. So it won't work. My advice is to be honest, don't try to be dramatic. If it's true that you have a bad leg, fair enough, but don't lie about it because probably you don't know it but it won't benefit you.

"The other day a passenger said he had hip pain and he wanted to have extra legroom. Unfortunately, because of that, I couldn't move him to the emergency exit but I moved him to the last row which was completely empty.

Andrea Blazquez

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