This trick can get you an upgrade to first class without paying extra

Let’s be brutally honest, flying in modern times can be uncomfortable and stressful at the best of times. Given the choice, all of us would like to make the experience as pleasant and as relaxing as possible.

But that comes at a price - all the little extras such as a bigger, more comfy seat, more leg room to stretch out, nicer food and no wailing babies are luxuries that you will need to pay for as you won’t get them in economy class - only by booking first class or business class, which obviously is more expensive - sometimes double or treble what you might pay for a cheaper seat.

And even though you’ll arrive at your destination at the same time as everyone else, traveling in first class means you will be able to board and disembark first (plus, no one will take your overhead locker space).

When flying was fun

Older generations will reminisce about the golden age of flying, when getting from A to B was something that you could sit back and enjoy. Not anymore. Air travel has become increasingly more uncomfortable. From shuttling through long queues at check-in and security, being frisked and patted down by rude staff after the metal detector is set off or dealing with other passengers who haven’t booked a seat and want you to swap even though you have paid for yours.

Once you get through all of that, then spend the next few hours cramped in a metal, flying tube, hoping you will get to your destination on time.

The perils of flying economy class

Air travel in general has become a race to the bottom. Seats are getting smaller to fit more passengers on board and the complimentary meal for short-haul flights has disappeared. And don’t even think about tucking into that bag of roast peanuts you bought at the airport vending machine - the person sat in 27C has a nut allergy.

If you’re lucky, you might get a glass of water but the budget airlines don’t even offer that. If you fancy a coffee or tea, you’ll have to pay for the pleasure.

How to get upgrade to first class on a flight

There are two options: book a first class ticket from the outset or hope you get a flight attendant who is feeling in a generous mood.

Flight attendant Cierra Mistt shared a few tips on how to get a better seat without having to open your wallet.

Speaking to her 3 million followers on TikTok, in her segment called “Flight Attendant Q&A,” the flight attendant has been addressing the most common questions from passengers (eg. Why do they wake you up before landing? Why do they look you up and down when you board? And why is it necessary to open the window shades during takeoff and landing?). She reveals the best-kept secret for scoring a free upgrade to first class.

Mistt says there are many ways to get a better seat without paying, though “it’s not guaranteed to work, these are just methods I’ve known to be effective.”

How? Mistt says the key is to “be kind to the gate agent and the flight attendant,” as they are often under a lot of pressure and sometimes don’t even have time to sit down for a break.

“We can work miracles when someone brings us a little Starbucks or a bag of chocolates. Especially on those long days when we have back-to-back flights and don’t even stop for food,” she explains.

Another trick? Book your seat at the back of the plane. Those seats are cheaper, and Mistt says that when flights aren’t full (which happens quite often), they usually have to move passengers to distribute the weight. This generally means that those in the back will be moved forward, even to first class if they’ve done the other trick beforehand.

Mistt made it very clear that a little kindness can go a long way. So, if you want a better chance of flying first class even though you bought an economy ticket, you lose nothing by showing up to your flight with some chocolate or coffee for the flight attendants and sitting at the back of the plane.

Again, it’s not guaranteed to always work, but even if you don’t get moved to first class, being kind will earn you better treatment from the flight attendants, and that’s already a win.

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