Few passengers would turn down a free upgrade during a flight but they’re not easy to come by.
Whether given a seat with extra legroom at no extra cost or receiving free food and drink freebies, small wins can enrich one’s in-flight experience. A flight attendant has revealed how you can almost guarantee an upgrade by gifting one item to the cabin crew.
TikTok sensation and seasoned flight attendant @cierra_mistt took to the popular platform to discuss bagging that coveted first-class upgrade without spending an extra penny.
In a viral clip, she said: “One of the easiest ways to get a free upgrade is literally just being nice to your gate agent and flight attendant.”
She divulged insider secrets hinting that treating the crew with snacks can pave the way to premium seating, noting: “The miracles we can work when we are given some Starbucks or a pack of chocolate.”
The flight attendant claimed this tactic works wonders, “especially on those long days when we have back-to-back flights and we don’t even have time to get some food”.
Notably, ex-cabin crew members swear by the practice of gifting sweets or coffee to secure better service – a strategy also corroborated by flight attendant Miguel Muñoz, who admits being partial to passengers extending treats like “Toblerone or Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons” before takeoff.
He shared: “I am automatically nicer to the person who had that nice gesture. The cabin chief would always offer them free coffee and tea and if there are better seats available, we will move them!”
Speaking previously to Express.co.uk, former flight attendant Helena Afroughi admitted the effectiveness of this approach, endorsing the delightful exchange of chocolate or a hot beverage for a potential bump-up in airline class.
She detailed: “What always works is when people bring some sweets to the crew, chocolates or whatever. And they make themselves known, don’t just give it and run away.”
Helena continued: “Usually, people do it as a thank you but I’ve seen it more with people that have family working as crew too so they appreciate the crew more.”
Such acts of kindness often prompt the cabin chief to instruct the crew, “make sure you go and ask them if he wants coffee or tea” since they can offer it for free, though not everything from the snack bar, said Helena.
The flight attendant recounted: “I had this very young kid once, who came and brought us little gifts from Bath and Body Works – a shop in the US – he bought us mini hand sanitisers… it was the cutest thing ever.”
As for getting a better seat, TikTok flight attendant @cierra_mistt suggested that passengers seated at the rear of the aircraft might get bumped to first class more often.
She disclosed: “When we move people all the way up to the front it’s not just because we are being nice, but normally if our flight is full we have to move people for weight and balance purposes.”
This insider secret comes as planes often require re-balancing due to being tail-heavy, inadvertently leading to gratis luxury for some lucky travellers.
Helena also suggested simply asking for freebies. She encouraged passengers not to hesitate in striking up a conversation with the crew, but she cautioned against overstaying in the galley “unless the conversation is flowing” due to her experiences with passengers who “sit there and talk forever”.
Helena concluded: “And after that, just ask away. If you ask nicely and kindly it’s rare that a crew say no.” She added that while airlines have specific policies on freebies, it doesn’t hurt to inquire, as “you never know”.