A flight attendant has shared the simple trick he uses to decide which passengers get upgraded for free – and it all comes down to whether or not he likes them
If you’ve ever dreamt of being whisked from economy to luxury at 30,000 feet without spending a penny, then pay attention. While most passengers can only fantasise about scoring that elusive cabin upgrade, a savvy flight attendant has spilled the beans on exactly how you can boost your odds of flying in style – as well as what will utterly ruin your chances.
Flight attendant Miguel Muñoz unveiled the open secret to nabbing a coveted spot in first class: simply being “nice and honest”. He revealed that generosity plays a big part in who gets bumped up – when there’s room at the front, he rewards those who’ve made his job a pleasure.
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But according to Miguel, while courtesy might push you to the front of the line, attempting to deceive the crew is a sure-fire way to remain rooted in your original seat.
Miguel recalled instances where certain passengers faked feeling unwell in hopes of securing a premium spot, only for their ruse to backfire spectacularly.
Miguel didn’t mince words when advising against this tactic, saying: “Sometimes people come to me asking for an orange juice or a snack because they say they are dizzy or have low blood sugar. We automatically think they are lying just to get something for free. And probably some people lie.”
He continued: “But I always think if you’re lying karma will come back for sure. But if they are not lying and I don’t give them anything it’s even worse. I have to, just in case. On the plane, the crew is in charge of helping passengers, so we have to trust them really.”
Miguel revealed a clever trick to get freebies on board, stating that flight attendants can’t question a passenger’s request when they claim to feel unwell. However, he also noted it largely depends on “how you ask”.
He elaborated: “Most airlines don’t give anything for free, not even water, so when passengers come saying they are very thirsty, they need to take medication or they just ask for a glass of water, I officially have to say no.
“First, I always tell them that we sell bottles of water. I’d normally give it for free but it all depends on how you ask really.
“For example, if after I say we charge for water they [passengers] get all upset saying things like ‘but the law says you have to give me free water’ or ‘ it’s a human right’ automatically I’m not going to give them any. Now, if you say you don’t feel well or you ask very nicely then definitely I will be giving that to you.”
Regarding upgrades, Miguel advised “it’s about being nice and honest” and shared what passengers should and shouldn’t say to secure better seats on board. The flight attendant added: “If passengers come to me and say they need more space for some reason I move them to the overwings [seats by the emergency exit with extra legroom].”
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Cabin crew Miguel shared a word of caution, “But you have to be careful with what you say! Because if you say you have a bad knee, for example, I have to be careful with these people as passengers seating by emergency exits are the ones who have to assist the crew in case of an emergency.”
He warned against deceitful claims, “If you can’t operate the emergency exit because you have a bad knee I can’t move you to the overwings. So it won’t work. My advice is to be honest, don’t try to be dramatic. If it’s true that you have a bad leg, fair enough, but don’t lie about it because probably you don’t know it but it won’t benefit you.”
Detailing an example he said: “The other day a passenger said he had hip pain and he wanted to have extra legroom. Unfortunately, because of that, I couldn’t move him to the emergency exit but I moved him to the last row which was completely empty.”
Miguel advised honesty: “Just be honest. If you don’t have any pain, simply say ‘Hey if you guys had any seats available in the emergency exit row could you let me know?’ and I will.”
He added, stressing cooperation: “Make it easier for the crew, basically.”
Regarding accommodating specific needs, he concluded: “And of course, when we have passengers who are very tall and need more space or people who nicely ask for it because they just want to be more comfortable. If the seats are free, I definitely move them.”
