They’re movin’ on up.
A flight attendant’s pro tips to help passengers increase their odds of getting selected for free in-light upgrades went viral on social media where millions of viewers frequently tune in for her travel secrets.
“Don’t tell anyone, but there are a lot of ways you can get free upgrades to first class,” confessed Cierra Mist, a flight attendant and travel influencer.
Mistt’s first and “easiest” piece of advice relies on the golden rule — “literally just being nice to your gate agent and flight attendant. “
“The miracles we can work if we’re given Starbucks or a bag of chocolates,” she suggested, adding that flight attendants like her can work 14 hours or more per day — “and don’t even have time to go get some food.”
Another reason for the plane seat shuffle to first class could be a matter of weights and measures, noting that most planes are heaviest in the back. “If we have to move people up to the front, where do you think we’re gonna take them from?”
“The back” Mistt whispers to the camera.
The sky host’s third guideline is “guaranteed,” she claimed — if your profile fits.
Passengers who are first responders — and manage to get that detail across to the in-flight crew — may be bumped to the front of the upgrades line to make their life-saving skills more accessible during an emergency.
“Even if we cannot upgrade you to first class, we will always try and put you in an exit row — where you have more legroom — so you can react more quickly if we need your help during an emergency,” Mistt added.
Some viewers, including a few self-identified airline workers, weighed in on Mistt’s upgrade hacks.
“I’ve upgraded so may people for free when oversold in coach. Always to people who are pleasant and nice to me. Yup, mostly that’s all it takes,” one fellow flight attendant agreed.
“My mum asked for one as a joke but she actually got one,” said the spawn of one lucky traveller.
However, others in her field cast doubt.
“As a gate agent, we don’t do complimentary upgrades and if we do it’s staff first then in order by status, [ticket] price,” rebuffed an Air Canada employee, adding that her “friends” with Air France agree.
Added another, “You can bring me Starbucks but you’re not getting a first-class seat. It isn’t allowed and someone is always watching you.”
Said another source, “I work for United and we have so many premier customers that upgrade list is always huge so good luck getting upgraded for Starbucks.”
“And then you got the standby employees so if there’s any seats after they cleared that passenger list we are right there waiting for those seats,” they added.
Others suggested Mistt’s tricks might be more viable on smaller airlines.
