The aeroplane upgrade is the holy grail of frequent flyers. Turning left instead of right at the top of those stairs, swishing behind the mysterious curtain and settling into a level of comfort that you would like to become accustomed to – absolute heaven.
For mere mortals more familiar with short breaks in Scotland than first class travel it might seem as if an upgrade is completely out of the question, but hey – if you don’t ask you don’t get. Follow these tips and you never know, it just might happen to you…
- Dress the part. Make an effort with your appearance and you have ticked the first box; they are not going to let you hob-nob with the rich and famous in manky old jeans and an un-ironed t-shirt.
- Travel on a single ticket. One person is far easier to upgrade than two or more so even if you are not alone approach the check-in desk one at a time.
- Pick your time. Peak periods will be busier and you are less likely to get a result so avoid holidays in August and other busy times such as Christmas.
- Smile and be polite. I’m not suggesting you win a smarm award but a genuine smile and a friendly manner will definitely do you no harm in your quest.
- Check in early. If they say no to start with but they’ll keep you on the list in case a space opens up then you want to be at the top of that list by asking first.
- Don’t give up once you’re on the plane. If all else fails then ask a flight attendant once you get on the plane – especially if you can see an available seat in the next class up from you. It never hurts to ask!
