They’re moving up.
A flight attendant’s pro tips to help passengers increase their odds of being selected for free upgrades have gone viral on social media, with millions of viewers often following her travel secrets.
“Don’t tell anyone, but there are a lot of ways you can get free upgrades to first class,” admitted Sierra Mist, a flight attendant and travel influencer.
Mist’s first and “easiest” tip is based on the Golden Rule – “Literally, just be nice to the gate agent and flight attendant.”
“We can work miracles if we get a Starbucks or a bag of chocolate,” she suggested, adding that flight attendants like her can work 14 hours or more a day — “and they don’t even have time to go get some food.” “.
Another reason to change an airplane seat to first class may be the issue of weights and measures, noting that most planes are heavier in the back. “If we had to move people to the front, where do you think we would take them from?”
“Back,” Mist whispers to the camera.
The third guideline for host heaven is “guaranteed” – if your profile is a good fit, she claimed.
Passengers who are first responders – and who manage to communicate these details to the crew on board – may be bumped to the front of the line for upgrades to make their life-saving skills easier to access during emergencies.
“Even if we can’t upgrade you to first class, we will always try to put you in the exit row — where you have more legroom — so you can act more quickly if we need your help during an emergency,” Mist added.
Some viewers, including a few self-identified airline workers, offered their opinions on Myst’s promotion hacks.
“I upgraded so people could get it for free when they oversold on the coach. Always to the nice people who are nice to me. “Yes, that’s mostly all it takes,” agreed one flight attendant.
“My mom asked for one as a joke, but she actually got one,” said one lucky traveler.
However, others in her field have questioned this.
“As a gateway agent, we do not do free upgrades, and if we do, we will do so for employees first and then in order as the case may be, [ticket] Price,” an Air Canada employee declined, adding that her “friends” at Air France agreed.
Another added: “You can get me a Starbucks but you won’t get a first class seat. This is not allowed and someone is always watching you.”
Another source said: “I work for United and we have so many high-end clients that the upgrade list is always huge, so good luck getting the upgrade to Starbucks.”
“Then I got back-up staff, so if there are any seats after they clear the passenger list, we’re there waiting for those seats,” they added.
Others suggested that MIST’s tricks might be more applicable to smaller airlines.
“Devoted student. Bacon advocate. Beer scholar. Troublemaker. Falls down a lot. Typical coffee enthusiast.”