A WOMAN who calls herself the 'upgrade queen' has revealed her trick to getting bumped to business class during a flight.
Julie Vulin said it worked 90 per cent of the time, meaning she was often given the perk for free.
She explained to Escape: "When I was single I daresay I was the upgrade queen. Scoring upgrades as a couple or family is much harder, if not these days impossible."
However, one of the best ways she gets an upgrade is by joking with boarding gate staff, and then sitting near them in case an upgrade is available.
Julie said: "I’d walk up to the person at the counter where you board the plane to 'check' on my seat assignment, jokingly saying 'if the flight is crowded, don’t worry, you can bump me into Business or First'.
"Then I’d sit where they could see me — but would not again bother the person. Nine out of 10 flights I was bumped into business or first."
She adds that you need to pick someone who you think looks like they can take a joke, and to reiterate to them that you "don't want to bother" them as they have a busy job, before walking away.
Julie says just smiling can make a difference, as being nice means staff are likely to pick you to upgrade.
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On one flight, where she kept being bumped by people because she was sat by the toilet, Julie said: "I picked a kind-looking woman, asking if she could do anything, with a 'please don’t make me stay in my seat' face."
She ended up being moved into business class for the duration of the 16-hour flight.
Other pieces of advice include how flying shoulder season, on a Tuesday or in October increases your chances when you ask for an upgrade, while wearing smart dark jeans also makes you seem more presentable – and likely to get a better seat.
Another travel expert has revealed the big mistake passengers make when wanting to get an upgrade.
And a former flight attendant admitted that dressing smartly does help to get upgraded.
He also said asking at three different locations for an upgrade at the airport makes you more likely to get one.
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