ALL passengers dream of an upgrade on their flight, but very few know the real tricks to securing a place in first class.
A former cabin crew member has revealed that sometimes the best time to get upgraded is at the very last moment, when already on the aircraft.
Former flight attendant Lia Ocampo told Travel and Leisure: "There are times when a flight has a weight and balance issue.
"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."
She went on to explain that it is generally those passengers who have been kind and smiling that are first to be considered for the last-minute upgrade.
She added: "A passenger who calls me by my name is someone that stands out."
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Lia continued: "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.
"So, when a passenger talks to me using my name, it creates a culture of respect and recognition."
However, this is the exception to the rule with cabin crew members often having little power when it comes to mid-flight upgrades.
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Meanwhile, former flight attendant Kat Kamalani told Travel and Leisure that passengers should begin their quest for an upgrade when at the gate.
She explained: "Once onboard there isn't anything we can do as a flight attendant."
Staff at the terminal gate will have a list of frequent flyers expected onboard the flight, with those people at the top of any upgrade list.
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However, the former cabin crew staff suggest speaking to the ground team at the gate and enquiring about the airline's own specific upgrade policy.
If there are no frequent flyers scheduled for the flight, then it could be your lucky day.
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