Flight Attendants Say This Common First-class Upgrade Trick Never Works—and What to Do Instead
jun xu/Getty Images Nothing says luxury like turning left when you get on a plane, enjoying the offer of a welcome drink and extra space to spread out in first class. Booking that experience doesn’t come cheap, and while there are many ways to get an upgrade , negotiating with the flight crew isn’t one of them. That advice comes from Barbara Bacilieri, a flight attendant for 15 years who has seen it all. “Cabin crew sees passengers trying these tactics all the time… none of that works,” Bacilieri said, according to a report from the New York Post , citing an interview with creatorzine.com. “By the time you ask a flight attendant, the decision has already been made, and the crew simply follows the list provided by the airline.” That said, getting upgraded is not impossible. The first way passengers can accomplish this is by paying for it, taking advantage of discounted upgrade options airlines often offer after booking based on availability. Frequent flyer status is another common way to secure a better cabin class. Each airline offers different loyalty programs that come with tiered perks, which can often include automatic upgrades. Checking with the gate agent is also more likely to result in a seat change compared to trying once you’re on board the aircraft. Bacilieri said when a passenger checks in for their flight could also impact their seat assignment. “Check in as soon as online check-in opens, not just on the day of travel,” she said. “On many airlines, if two passengers have the same priority, the one who checked in first may receive the upgrade.” Traveling alone may also help since “moving one passenger is much easier than moving a family.” And while a passenger’s outfit won’t necessarily help move them up on the upgrade…
jun xu/Getty Images
Nothing says luxury like turning left when you get on a plane, enjoying the offer of a welcome drink and extra space to spread out in first class. Booking that experience doesn’t come cheap, and while there are many ways to get an upgrade , negotiating with the flight crew isn’t one of them.
That advice comes from Barbara Bacilieri, a flight attendant for 15 years who has seen it all.
“Cabin crew sees passengers trying these tactics all the time… none of that works,” Bacilieri said, according to a report from the New York Post , citing an interview with creatorzine.com. “By the time you ask a flight attendant, the decision has already been made, and the crew simply follows the list provided by the airline.”
That said, getting upgraded is not impossible. The first way passengers can accomplish this is by paying for it, taking advantage of discounted upgrade options airlines often offer after booking based on availability. Frequent flyer status is another common way to secure a better cabin class. Each airline offers different loyalty programs that come with tiered perks, which can often include automatic upgrades.
Checking with the gate agent is also more likely to result in a seat change compared to trying once you’re on board the aircraft.
Bacilieri said when a passenger checks in for their flight could also impact their seat assignment. “Check in as soon as online check-in opens, not just on the day of travel,” she said. “On many airlines, if two passengers have the same priority, the one who checked in first may receive the upgrade.”
Traveling alone may also help since “moving one passenger is much easier than moving a family.”
And while a passenger’s outfit won’t necessarily help move them up on the upgrade list, it can’t hurt.
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“While smart clothing doesn’t move you up the list, very casual clothing can sometimes work against you,” she said. “A suit isn’t necessary but looking neat and presentable can prevent you from being overlooked.”
Ultimately, the easiest way to secure a seat at the front of the plane is by initially booking it. And the most cost effective way to do that is by using points and miles , especially when passengers transfer bank points to partner airlines for better value and are flexible in their travel plans (think: flying into a different, nearby city or on a different day) to take advantage of the best deals.