This Is The Real Way To Get A Flight Upgrade And It Only Costs 5

It turns out that there’s one surefire way to get a flight upgrade. And it doesn’t involve wearing smart clothes, arriving early or using airline miles. Anyone can do it, and it only costs £5.

A cabin crew member, speaking anonymously to Vice, revealed that a surefire way to get an upgrade was bringing a coffee shop gift card. They said: ‘Make sure you have something to give your flight attendants. We’re bargainers.

‘If there’re seats open in business class, and it’s not going to affect me negatively, or there are first class seats open and I can still eat my first class meal if I put you up there, I’ll put you up there.

Giving an attendant a coffee shop gift card could get you upgraded

‘There are some attendants who get off on the power trip of saying no. But if you’ve got bargaining chips, usually in the form of candy or Starbucks gift cards, you’re pretty much set.’

It’s all in the timing, though. Go don’t flashing it as soon as you get to the gate.

The anonymous flight attendant says that there’s no point in trying to bargain to get an upgrade until the plane doors are shut.

Wait until you get on the plane before trying to get upgraded

They said: ‘Wait until you’re on the plane because gate agents don’t care… [wait until] you’re on and that door is closed.’

One subtle flash of a loaded coffee shop gift card later, and you should be on your way to first class. This is a tip that’s definitely worth trying.

About the author

Alice Johnston

Food Editor

Alice is always planning her next meal. She studied English at the University of Bristol before getting her Master’s in newspaper journalism from City University London. She worked on Femail at Mail Online for 18 months writing about lifestyle and food and has also worked at Metro.co.uk, The Guardian, Mumsnet and The Sun. After starting at Culture Trip as a Social Content Producer writing travel and lifestyle stories, she was promoted to the role of Food Editor and now specialises in culinary culture, trends and social issues around food. When she’s not writing, eating or travelling, she can be found cooking overly elaborate dinners, reading cookbooks in bed or playing with her cat, Orlando. Her favourite foods include fishfinger sandwiches, burnt caramel panna cotta, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and oysters.