17 November 2023 , 10:55
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A flight attendant has spilled the beans on the sneaky tricks passengers use to try and bag a First Class upgrade - and why they never work.
Destanie, a cabin crew member who often shares her insider knowledge on TikTok, revealed what it really takes to score a coveted upgrade and the tactics passengers use that crew members can spot a mile off.
When asked by a follower how often people try to sneak into Business or First Class and if staff ever let it slide, the flight attendant had some interesting insights to share. Sadly, while there are rare occasions where you might get bumped up once you're on the plane, according to Destanie, by the time you've boarded, it's too late to try your luck, the Daily Star reported.
She explained: "Number one, we never allow that. If someone wants to switch cabins or even get an upgrade, that's to be dealt with the gate agents. Flight attendants do not deal with any of that. And you can also get in a lot of trouble for doing that - like, giving out upgrades. Some people at my airline have told me that our airline considers it as stealing because the passenger didn't pay for the ticket, or to get the upgrade."
The flight attendant said sneaking into First Class was unlikely to work (Getty Images/iStockphoto)If you're hoping for an upgrade, it's a good idea to chat with the check-in staff, especially if you're part of their loyalty schemes or linked with their partners like credit card companies. But remember, free upgrades are rare and usual tactics rarely work, according to Destanie.
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She often sees passengers 'jokingly' asking for any spare First Class seats, only to be met with polite laughter from the cabin crew. Another common ploy is showering flight attendants with compliments in hopes of getting bumped up to better cabins.
"There have been multiple times that men have hit on me thinking that I might move them to First Class because they told me I was pretty!" Destanie shared.
While most passengers would simply ask for permission to move to better seats, there are of course some people who just assume if a seat is free they can take it. For Destanie, the issue often arises with exit row seats, which are known for having extra leg room, with the caveat being that you have to be willing and able to assist in an emergency.
The flight attendant said that she will often brief the passengers on the row, but then will spot other people moving into spare seats when she's not looking. When she asks them to move back to their seat, they often protest - but depending on the airline's policy, it may count as an 'upgraded' seat and therefore is not one that you can just take for free.
She added: "I'm always nice until people try me and then I say I'm not asking, I'm telling them."