Featured Image Credit: Drazen_/Getty Images
Topics: Social Media, TikTok, Travel
Ellie Kemp
Flying in first or business class is nothing but a pipe dream for the majority of us.
But if you want a taste of the high life - minus the hefty price tag -, then it's worth giving this simple hack a try.
Experienced flight attendants claim an act of kindness can go a long way - and even if you don't get that coveted upgrade, you may still bag some preferential treatment...
Kat Kamalani, a former flight attendant and TikToker, and Lia Ocampo, flight attendant and author, shared their top tips with Travel and Leisure.
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They explain that getting upgraded can depend on multiple factors, including how full the plane is and whether any other frequent flyers are boarding the plane (these are likely to get upgraded over us, you see).
And while being polite to plane staff should be a given, going the extra mile can score you some extra brownie points.
That's right - simply having manners and respect could get you some freebies.
"If you just come on board and stick to yourself, you're a great passenger," Kamalani explains. "Even more if you are happy or kind to us. We get a lot of grumpy people that travel and take it out on flight attendants."
Ocampo adds that a passenger that calls her by her name 'is someone that stands out'.
"In my airline, our names are etched on the flight attendant wings we are wearing, and we introduce ourselves at the beginning of the flight," she adds.
"So, when a passenger talks to me using my name, it creates a culture of respect and recognition."
Bringing a small 'token of appreciation' for flight attendants can really help, however.
Not only do you get a buzz from doing something nice for others, but it could also be rewarded with free drinks or snacks - or even a last-minute upgrade.
"Even just a simple candy bar or chapstick goes a long way," Kamalani says. "It's not needed, but it will definitely get you special treatment."
Ocampo adds that a 'favorite treat' among flight attendants is gift cards, especially for a coffee shop.
She also revealed that if you're going to be upgraded, it'll likely happen before you've taken off.
"There are times when a flight has a weight and balance issue," Ocampo says. "The flight crew will then ask flight attendants to move passengers from the back to the first-class or middle of the cabin.
"Then, we decide who we want to move to upgrade."
One to bear in mind for your next vacation...