A FLIGHT attendant has revealed the big mistake travellers make when trying to bag a free upgrade.
Holidaymakers who are after a free seat in first class should aim to avoid these big mistakes.
In a post on Facebook's Gals Who Travel page, a woman wanted to know how to bag a first-class seat without buying the expensive ticket.
She wrote: "What’s the best way to fly first class? Is it always better to bump it at the counter? I feel like buying it out right isn’t the smartest? "
One flight attendant was quick to offer her advice in the comments.
She wrote: "Upgrading a plane ticket on the day of travel is typically a lot more expensive than purchasing in advance."
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Others agreed that asking for an upgrade at the check-in desk on the day of a flight was a "lost cause".
Instead of waiting for a last-minute upgrade, the flight attendant shared some tips to help secure upgrades much earlier.
She added: "If you have an airline that you favour the most, look into joining their loyalty scheme and possibly signing up for their credit card.
"A lot of airlines tend to give a lump sum of points just for applying and making qualifying purchases within the the first months of the account opening.
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"You could earn points by doing your everyday purchases such as buying gas [petrol], groceries, bills, and sometimes they even have partnerships with certain restaurants and hotels.
"You can use the points for upgrades and once you gain a high enough status in the reward program, you could even qualify for free upgrades depending on how the airline handles their reward system."
"If you know a crew member personally, and have a good enough relationship for them to share benefits with you maybe that could help too – but you will most likely not get a confirmed seat."
Other passengers agreed that buying first-class tickets outright, or when they're on offer, was the best way to ensure an airline upgrade.
Etiquette expert William Hanson revealed the cheeky phrase holidaymakers should try at the check-in counter to try and nab a free upgrade.
He told the Sun Online Travel: "At the check-in desk, you need to say this phrase to the check-in staff: 'If you do need to move anyone on the plane, then I'm fine to move into the first class cabin,' or something to that affect."
Meanwhile this frequent flyer revealed how they sometimes manage to get upgrades on plane journeys.
And this flight attendant explained how to improve your chances of sitting in first class.
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