If you’re a frequent flyer, you might just have some tips and tricks up your sleeve on how you make every possible aspect of your trip just that more comfortable. This is probably packing light, having easy to reach slots and pockets where you keep your passport and tickets or even just knowing how to avoid pat downs and sniffer hounds. Well, whether you’re well-travelled or not, the Telegraph lent you all a helping hand – most of whom will never see anything other than economy class because the struggle is real. They created a cool guide on how to get upgraded into a higher class of flying. Here’s our condensed version:
Choose your route carefully
You see, some routes, are, well, have a lower economic flying class than others. When this is apparent, the premium cabins are less than the economy class cabins. Flights during schools holidays to seaside cities are filled with families where as Monday mornings to, say, Johannesburg are definitely not.
Travel alone
Be single and ready to mingle.
Just ask
My mamma always told me to just ask, because the worst thing they can do is say no. It has worked for 4% but being polite and smartly dressed is the trick.
But have a good reason
Such as being exceptionally tall, pregnant, or even celebrating a honeymoon, birthday, or anniversary, and it might go in your favour.
Be unlucky
If your flight is really long and you end up in a faulty seat, then you might just be able to bump that cheese up and slot into a premium class. If that doesn’t happen, you can also get moved if your neighbour harasses you – try not asking for that though.
Be a VIP or know someone at the airline
Apparently, there is an upgrade list at check in (this could be journalists, travel industry VIPs, etc) and all these upgrades are agreed in advance and signed off at head office. So basically, as soon as you have found out your flight details, holla at the person you know in the airline’s office to get you a sneaky upgrade.
Be loyal, and pay more for your ticket
If you fly on the reg, use the same airline. Recent research found that some airlines figure out their upgrades the day before, looking out for regular fliers, business peeps and celebrities who may fly with them again if given that extra special treatment. Also, if you have paid more for your ticket, then an upgrade is more likely too. A British Airways spokesperson said:
It is sometimes necessary to upgrade customers. This is rare and will normally apply to frequent flyers who are members of our loyalty programme first.
British Airway’s loyalty programme is a pretty cool example of how frequent fliers can get way more value out of flying if sticking to one airline. The Executive Club is almost like a computer game. As your flying progresses and you clock up more points, you unlock different levels of treatment, benefits and upgrades. It begins at the Blue Tier, then goes to Bronze, Silver and Gold. The best thing, is you collect Avios, which is BA’s reward currency, allowing you to book flights, hotels and upgrades. Check out each tier’s benefits below:
I hope you feel just that little more excited to fly now that we have given you some challenges for your next flight.
[source: telegraph]
