Though free upgrades aren’t as common as they may have been in decades gone by, airline workers say there are still some occasions in which a traveller may be bumped up a class, or at the very least given some free nuts.
Here are five ways passengers could enjoy some special treatment onboard.
Be nice to gate staff and cabin crew
Being polite to staff may seem like common sense but according to crew members, it can make all of the difference.
According to US flight attendant Cierra Mistt, a small gift could be the key to an upgrade.
In a TikTok video, she explained: “There are a lot of ways you can get upgrades to first class.
“One of the easiest ways to get free upgrades is literally just being nice to your gate agent and your flight attendant.
“The miracles we can work when we’re given some Starbucks or a bag of chocolates.
“Especially on those long days when we have back to back flights and don’t even have time to go and get some food.”
Fellow flight attendant Kat Kalami was in agreement, claiming that something as simple as a “Starbucks gift card” could see travellers enjoying the “royal treatment”.
She said: “It means the world to us when customers give us this”.
Ms Kalami continued: “If you don’t have gift cards you can just pick up candy bars, lip balm, anything and give them to your flight attendants.
“We will know where you’re sitting and we will know what you look like and the whole crew will make sure that you’re taken care of.”
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