Free upgrades are more likely to be given out at a specific time BEFORE boarding, reveals travel expert
Paying hundreds, often thousands, for a business class or better seat is unattainable for most of us - but the occasional surprise upgrade can happen.
If you're dreaming of turning left instead of right on your next trip, then taking heed of an expert tip could see mission accomplished.
While it's rare to be one of those lucky souls upgraded for logistical reasons such as overbooked economy cabins, says Julian Kheel, founder and CEO at Points Path, it does happen, and timing is apparently everything.
The expert told Travel + Leisure that making the approach at just the right moment could see your date with a fancy lunch and a flat-bed happen.
He said: 'It's nearly impossible for the average traveler to get a free upgrade to business or first-class today. [It's] extremely rare, but it does happen once in a while.'
The secret is all about not making the approach at the wrong time, such as when airline staff who make the decisions on last-gasp upgrades look harassed.
He says mentioning it as fellow passengers are queuing to board is almost certain to fail, and piping up just as the doors are closing is also an unwise move - but go in early with the request instead.
If you have a special reason - such as a birthday or anniversary, you might be able to charm your way into an elevated cabin.
Those in the know say waiting to get on the plane is one way to kill your chances - because airborne cabin crew rarely make the decisions on upgrades, even if you can see empty rows in business or first.
One airline cabin crew worker shared on Reddit recently: 'At my airline, [flight attendants] are not allowed to upgrade [passengers] to first class.
'Talk to [the] gate agent or ticket agent when you check your bags. They are the ones who assign seats and can upgrade you.'
They did reveal a tip that might bring out the mile-high vandal in you though, saying one of the only ways to get moved up when you're in economy is if the seat you've been sold is broken or doesn't work.
The cabin crew employee wrote: 'If you're on the plane and there's something physically wrong with your seat, like a broken armrest or tray table, that can also be a reason to ask if you might be moved to a better seat up front.'
Earlier this year, Dawn Morwood, co-director of Cheap Deals Away UK, revealed her top tips too, advising passengers on 'how to position yourself as a prime candidate' for a free of charge upgrade.
The first tip from Dawn is simply just to ask.
She told the Express: 'When you check in, smile warmly and simply ask, 'Are there any upgrade opportunities available today?'
'This phrasing is important - it's polite, direct, and shows you understand upgrades aren't guaranteed.'
But the timing of this question is also just as important, says Dawn.
She explains: 'Check in early, when more premium seats are likely available, but not during peak busy periods when staff are rushed.
'And always ask discreetly - never demand an upgrade in front of other passengers.'
Even your clothes could also make all the difference, so Dawn recommends choosing your airport outfit very wisely – and making a bit of an effort with your appearance.
She says: 'Smart-casual clothing sends a signal that you'll 'fit in' with the premium cabin environment.
'Think neat jeans or trousers, a collared shirt or nice top, and clean, decent shoes.'
Telling the staff you're celebrating something like a honeymoon or big birthday could also lead to cabin crew giving you special treatment.
Dawn adds: 'I've seen couples get upgraded because they mentioned their anniversary. One pair even received complimentary champagne in business class.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
TSA issues important clarification about ID cards
Published: Updated: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been forced to issue a hilarious statement about which ID cards qualify as official identification while traveling. It came after a user on X, formerly known as Twitter , posted a picture of a bright yellow Waffle House customer card with the caption, 'TSA might want REAL ID, but I have the realest ID.' It read 'Matthew Cappucci, Meteorologist,' with an American flag in the right corner. Other comments read: 'This is an outrage. Waffle House trumps TSA all day every day,' and, 'This is your best tweet yet, @TSA.' One X user replied by posting an image of a Blockbuster membership card, writing, 'Will this do?' Cappucci followed up his post by writing: 'One of my greatest life accomplishments is being one of the only 90 people in this world that Waffle House follows.' It comes after the TSA responded to travelers who attempted to use their Costco cards as valid ID at the airport. US travelers are now required to have a federally approved REAL ID or passport to board a domestic flight , with a standard driver's license no longer cutting it. Still, some hopeful vacationers believed their trusty Costco membership cards would be their golden ticket through security. The TSA made it clear in a Facebook post this week that the membership card cannot act as a substitute.
Telegraph
26 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Labour's industrial strategy is a corporatist, state-led agenda
Within the strategy, the talk is of competitiveness, the answer is intervention. The document acknowledges that firms are concerned about high electricity prices and lengthy waits for grid connections, and the answer is that the current policy is right but can be tweaked. The burden of regulation and the speed of planning are noted as barriers, so let's see if the government's actions back their words in trying to address these. I doubt it on regulation, but I am more hopeful of planning reform, which would indeed make a profound, welcome difference to growth prospects. At their core, industrial policies reflect scepticism about markets and an aversion to supply-side reform. Instead of removing hurdles to growth as supply-side policies would, industrial policies often reflect the lethal combination of politicians driven by a belief that the state drives growth, academics who think they know best and lobbyists. This new strategy is unlikely to improve underlying business conditions. Industrial policy is sometimes presented as a complement to supply-side reform, but more often, it becomes a substitute. One criticism has been that government spending crowds out the private sector, but this strategy hopes that funds directed to the IS-8 will crowd it in. Let's see. There is also something amiss about these eight sectors in that they reinforce the imbalanced nature of the economy. The UK is a low wage economy because half the population work in low paid jobs. Outside London and the South East the numbers employed in these eight sectors is very limited. The UK's approach to such strategies often leans towards tax credits. That remains a focus. This new strategy explicitly mentions the role tax plays in incentivising investment, innovation and growth. It then argues our current approach is competitive. Really? In the 2024 International Tax Competitiveness Index, the UK ranked 30th out of 38 OECD countries and looks more likely to fall, than rise. The last 12 months have been turbulent for the world economy and difficult for the UK. But instead of tax, spend and borrow, what we need is for the UK to save, invest and compete. Gerard Lyons is a research fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The common question that will make people dislike you, according to to a body language expert
An expert in body language and people skills has revealed one question you shouldn't ask in social situations - as it is likely to make people dislike you. Vanessa Van Edwards is the founder of Science of People, an organisation which 'gives people science-backed skills to improve communication and leadership'. She is also the author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People and Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication. She recently appeared on an episode of Steven Bartlett 's podcast Diary of a CEO, where she spoke about a range of topic - including why you shouldn't fake smile, how to be more charismatic, and the question you shouldn't ask people in social situations. While discussing which questions you should ask people if you want to 'level up' your connection with them, Vanessa also highlighted the one query which she believes is a conversational no-no. She said: 'Stop asking "what do you do?" [...]. That is telling them their brain can stay on autopilot. Asking someone that question is really asking "what are you worth?". 'And if someone's not defined by what they do, it's actually a rude question.' Moving on to what to ask in place of that question, she said: 'You can replace it with "working on anything exciting these days?" or "working on anything exciting recently?" Vanessa explained: 'This is permission connection. You ask someone that question, you are giving them permission if they want to tell you about what they do. "If they are not defined by what they do, they'll tell you something better. 'And that also gives you really good nuggets for the next time you see them, when you can say, "hey, how was that thing you were working on?".' Moving onto how people can follow up that question, she suggested asking 'what's your biggest goal right now?'. She continued: 'When you ask this question, you're gonna get one of two responses. One, someone shuts you down [...] or, they're going to tell you about goals. 'That's also a great thing you can follow up on, because then when you see them a month later, or a week later, or a year later, you can be like, "hey, how did that go?".' Discussing how you can get to know someone better, Vanessa suggested another question you can ask them. She said: '[The question] sounds innocuous, but it's not. 'It's "what book, movie or TV character is most like you and why?". It's kind of a silly, dinner party question that sounds casual, but the answer to this question is so incredibly important. 'How someone relates to characters, their values or personality is how they see themselves, and people's answers will shock you.' Vanessa then gave an example, explaining: 'I was friends with someone for six years. [She was] one of my closest friends, I saw them all the time. 'We went on a weekend trip together [...] and I asked her this question. I hypothesised that she's a mom of three, super funny, super savvy. I was like, "she's going to pick a great TV mom character that's super savvy and funny. 'I asked her, she thinks about it for maybe one second, and says "Katniss from The Hunger Games". 'I was like "the one who's fighting for her life?". 'She replied "yes, that's how I feel every day. And we, for the first time in six years, had a conversation about how she feels about her day that was totally different than anything I had ever known - that she feels scared and lonely, and that she's fighting for survival. 'And it was the first time that I truly connected with her. 'This question [has changed my relationship with so many people] based on how they see themselves, not how I see them, but how they see themselves.'
