Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The best ways to get an upgrade on a flight

No 1: be polite

Serina Sandhu
Tuesday 29 September 2015 14:18 BST
Comments
Passengers have been offering advice on how to get a free upgrade on flights
Passengers have been offering advice on how to get a free upgrade on flights (Rex Features)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The excitement of flying somewhere new is often overshadowed by fears of a busy flight with limited leg room.

But users of question-and-answer wesbite Quora have shared their tips on the best ways to get a free flight upgrade.

One user advises others to get intentionally “overbooked” and to “intentionally travel on holidays and other high-volume times” because this tactic sometimes results in airlines having to bump you up a flight class.

Another user says travelling on a Saturday - popular with families but less so with lone passengers - results in a greater chance of receiving an upgrade.

Glyn Williams said checking-in late and dressing smart have proved successful.

"Airlines routinely sell more economy tickets than they have seats. Sometimes the economy cabin is overfull... If you arrive early, you are not going to be reassigned. You'll be assigned the economy seat you paid for - no matter how sweetly you ask," he said.

But for many, being polite to the check-in staff iskey.

Jon White says: “I have found a hack that I have had some success with.”

“Firstly, be extremely polite and chatty to the desk staff… Laugh and joke with them – they will probably appreciate a nice customer for once. [Then, ask] if there are any upgrades available for purchase."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in