A former air hostess has shared her top tips for getting the most out of your flight – including a sneaky way of bringing extra luggage without paying for it
Jetting off on holiday is always exciting – but an uncomfortable flight can steal that buzz. Plus, with an increasing number of airlines adding charges for hand luggage, legroom and seat selection, the cost of reaching your destination is steadily rising.
However, there are still tricks to nab a sneaky saving – and even score a freebie. Here, Kamila Jakubjakova, a former cabin crew member for Emirates, shares her insider knowledge – including a smart method of packing additional clothes without shelling out for another bag.
Fly on your birthday
While it seems there’s little wiggle room for securing a free upgrade, jetting off on your birthday could increase your odds of getting your seats moved to business class. “If the economy class is overbooked, they will have to shift some passengers to business class, by default,” Kamila reveals. “That’s the only scenario when you can actually bag a free upgrade. It’s pretty random how it’s selected – but if someone has a birthday, they might get it!”
Arrive at the airport late
The majority of travellers stick to the time-honoured rule of arriving at the airport two hours before a European flight or three hours for a transatlantic journey. But you might fare better braving the queues and arriving at the airport a bit closer to departure time if you’re after a free upgrade.
“Sometimes, airlines oversell tickets and don’t anticipate everyone turning up,” Kamila explains. “So if the flight is overbooked, and everyone shows up, they’ll have to move economy passengers into business class, and maybe the last passengers who come to check in for the flight will be chosen, as they’re the extra ones.”
Don’t shy away from voicing your concerns
While Kamila doesn’t advocate for constant complaints, she concedes that it can occasionally result in a more luxurious meal. She elaborates: “Sometimes, if someone maybe didn’t get their preferred meal choice and then complained and made a big fuss about it, we would bring them a meal from business class instead to soften the blow.”
However, she notes, it’s all at the discretion of the flight supervisor on duty. “Some supervisors will be more lenient,” she adds. “And some will be a little bit more like, ‘Tough luck’. We would always try our best to get passengers their preferred meal choice, but sometimes it’s just not possible.”
Mention it’s your honeymoon
It’s common knowledge that claiming it’s your honeymoon can score you upgrades and freebies – and Kamila verifies this. She reveals: “If I saw honeymooners, I would bring them some extra treats from business class – like, for example, a dessert or a glass of champagne, and try to make their flight more special, even if they’re flying economy. So if somebody has a special occasion, make sure you tell the flight attendants.”
Sweeten the cabin crew
Another method to snag some freebies is by gifting the air hostesses with treats – and we’re not talking about money. Kamila, a flight attendant, explains: “It always pays being nice to flight attendants. If you bring some treats with you to the flight, for example, some candies or some chocolate, and offer them to us, then we will probably try to make your flight a little better or pay you back in some way. We are nice to everybody, but, of course, if you go the extra mile, we’ll probably also go the extra mile in return.
Fill a pillowcase
“One of the biggest challenges when packing a suitcase is adhering to weight and size restrictions. Kamila suggests always carrying a pillow case, and stuffing it with all your extra belongings that won’t fit. The best part? It doesn’t count as a personal item, or towards any airline luggage allowances. She shares: “I was moving to a different country and there was a lot of stuff, so I really needed that extra little weight. So I just brought a pillowcase that was stuffed with clothes. And it’s okay because nobody can deny you bringing the pillowcase. It’s a little extra space, but really made a difference – plus it’s comfortable to sleep on during the flight!
Bring a reusable bottle
“She also recommends bringing a reusable bottle. One of the most irritating aspects of flying is having to constantly ask the flight attendants for water due to the minuscule cups provided. However, Kamila has a solution – bring an empty reusable water bottle that can be filled up once on board. She explains: “The first thing I do when I arrive on the plane is ask the cabin crew to fill up the bottle for me. That way I don’t have to keep asking for a glass of water. “It means you don’t have to pay for overpriced bottles of water at the airport either! “.
Always carry a spare outfit
It’s not unheard of for airlines to misplace luggage – even Kamila has experienced this. Her advice is to always pack a change of clothes in your hand luggage, just in case. She advises: “I always make sure that my cabin bag has some kind of essentials at least, like some extra undies, socks, spare clothes – just the very basics. I actually prefer to just have a cabin bag as it saves you a lot of time, not waiting in the baggage claim. I feel like that way you have more control, so nothing gets messed up during transfer.”
Kamila collaborates with eDreams and shares her experiences on her blog, Expat in Canada
