If you’re dreaming of sipping champagne in the higher tiers of air travel on your next flight, there’s one golden rule that could boost your chances of an upgrade.
While some travellers might slip into their finest threads or kick up a fuss to catch the eye of cabin crew, seasoned jet-setters know these tactics are often futile when it comes to securing a coveted spot in first or business class, reports the Express.
A travel guru has spilled the beans, advising passengers to ditch the charm offensive with the flight attendants, who apparently have no sway in the matter. Instead, those in the know head straight for the check-in desk, armed with the insider knowledge: “Us flight attendants have no control.”
This nugget of wisdom was revealed on the Velloy website by a British Airways crew member, who divulged: “The people checking you in are the ones who can see the space’s availability and have all the control. Even if there’s not a free upgrade they may be able to get you a discounted rate.”
Echoing this sentiment, a Virgin Atlantic staffer offered another pro tip: “If you’re scared to ask, it’s always worth checking your flight online before you head to check-in.”
They added: “A quick airline search can tell you if business/first class has already sold out, so you know not to ask. That being said, don’t rely on this solely as people always forget to turn up.”
Timing, as ever, is everything. Arriving early when the check-in desk opens might just put you at the front of the queue for any available upgrades.
One discreet flight attendant, opting to keep their airline affiliation private, disclosed: “Sometimes with upgrades, it’s all about the early bird getting the worm – so it can be worth checking in as soon as you can before you fly. But this isn’t always the case.”
Travelling solo or being flexible about not sitting together could work to your advantage.
A seasoned long-haul worker for Virgin Atlantic imparted: “If you’re travelling in a couple you’ve got more of a chance of both being bumped, however, there’s still the likelihood you won’t be sitting together once your seat has been moved.”
For passengers bold enough to request an upgrade at check-in, the opportunity may arise, but due to modern practices, many airlines likely fill up spare seats through apps and rewarding frequent flyers well before boarding begins.
Echoing this, a British Airways attendant summarised, stressing that “ultimately if you don’t ask, you don’t get”.