Get That Upgrade on a Flight with a Marker, Sellotape and Coloured Paper
I will show you how to get what you want with a personal touch
I want to tell you how I got upgraded on a long haul flight. It was one of the best airborne travel experiences I’ve ever had.
Lets go though the steps I took in order to make this happen so that you too might be able to repeat this unlikely but awesome success story. Equally it could be used as a catch all solution if you’re having problems with an airline.
Give it a try, the worst that can happen is that you end up putting a smile on a group of people’s faces for an entire day.
So what actually happened?
I was given upgraded seats, first class meals and got to chat with the captain and sit in the cockpit after the flight.
and here’s how...
How to Get The Upgrade
My friend Cameron told me of a story he heard about a woman who managed to get an upgrade to first class on long haul flights. It goes something like this:
Let’s call our passenger Mary.
As Mary boards the plane she requested to see the cabin crew leader. When the cabin leader came around Mary introduced herself, telling her that she works as an air hostess for a different airline and sympathised in dealing with difficult passengers. At the same time presenting the crew leader a bag full of individually wrapped gifts containing chocolates, sweets, and jellies (one for every crew member onboard) with the request “if there is any chance of an upgrade or help in comfort in anyway, that would be great”.
Basically:
- Buy or create gifts that are fun or enjoyable
- Present them in an inventive way
- Ask for the Cabin Crew Leader when boarding
- Tell a quick story that builds rapport and a genuine emotional connection
- Add a link to the reason why you’re giving them gifts. E.g. “As a thank you for all my previous flights”
- Give them gifts and ask for an upgrade
Could I also pull this off, could anyone?
I hummed and hawed about it, thinking will it take to long, I’ll look stupid, what will I say? But my gut was telling me “go for it, you’ve got nothing to lose!”
Find out how many gifts do you have to make
I checked my flight itinerary to find out what type of aircraft I will be flying in. A ‘Boeing 777' was printed on my itinerary.
With this I could ask how many crew work onboard a Boeing 777 so I know how many gifts I need to make.
Getting a Flight Attendants Opinion
I had a short domestic flight before my main long haul flight. It gave me a chance to get an opinion from a crew member about the whole gifting idea, as well as find out how many crew work on a long haul flight.
Mid flight, I walked to the back of the plane, said hi, politely asked for a drink, made some small talk and then said:
Let’s call our attendant Awesome Flight Attendant.
Me — “Hey, I’m wondering, I just have a few questions to ask you”
Awesome Flight Attendant — “Sure”
Me — “Do you work on the long haul flights?”
Awesome Flight Attendant — “No, sorry”
Me — “Oh just the domestic then, well do you know how many cabin crew work on a Boeing 777?”
Awesome Flight Attendant — “Mmh, sixteen maybe, something around there” — with a puzzling look
Me — “There’s a reason why I’m asking these questions”
Me — “See, I’d like to get your opinion on something. I was thinking of making gifts for the people working the check in desks and the entire crew onboard my long haul flight tomorrow”
I told him the reason I’m doing it is to ask for an upgrade and also it might help reduce the cost of my over weight check-in luggage at the check-in desks.
Me — “So I’m thinking if I went and bought chocolate and sweets, gift wrapped them for individual people. Introduced myself at the check-in desk and told them a story of how often I fly with them, ask them for help with my over weight luggage and maybe an upgrade?
As well, make gifts for the cabin crew, again introducing myself, explaining why and then politely asking if there’s anything they can help me out. Possibly with comfort or even an upgrade to first class if the crew at the check-in desks don’t upgrade me?”
The flight attendant nodded in agreement with a big grin on his face and said:
“Did you bring us a gift?”
We chatted for awhile and exchanged stories about what I had been doing travelling Australia as well as his career in various airline roles. Just a really nice down-to-earth guy.
He really liked the gifting idea and offered to help me make it even better.
Awesome Flight Attendant — “I can send you a list of the first names of the people that will be working on your flight tomorrow. Also I’ll give my friend a ring and see who is managing the check-in desk tomorrow morning.”
Preparation
I landed in Sydney and went straight to a supermarket.
I bought Ferrero Rocher, Haribo, Scooby Doo biscuits, Mini Timtams, Cadbury Roses, Cadbury Flakes, Natural Confectionary Chews, Sellotape, Sharpie and coloured paper.
I wrapped and taped them into samosas. Enough to make twenty-seven gifts — ten for the ground crew at the check-in gates and seventeen personalised for every staff member onboard.
Delivery
The next morning I arrived at the airport and went up to the empty customer service desk. The check-in queue was pretty long, a sea of impatient travellers, kids running around and the crew behind the check-in desks conferring with each other in what looked like a hiccup in the computer systems.
Not too sure if this is the perfect time for me to come along and ask them for an upgrade, but hey, I brought gifts.
The service manager looked like he was under pressure. I patiently waited for him to be free, introduced myself and explained the situation.
Me — “I have a little issue with my check-in luggage. It’s over weight and I wasn’t able to pay online. But before that, I wanted to give you something to cheer up your day, as well as the people here at the check-in desks. I have gifts for you and a little story.”
Me — “I fly with you guys a lot, and this is my last flight home after travelling around Australia for a year. I haven’t had a problem up until now and I know you guys deal with a lot of difficult customers.
As a thank you and a helpful gesture I brought you all something nice, I have some gifts for you and the crew here that I put together yesterday. Firstly if there is anything you can do with the check-in bag weight that would be great.
Also with it being my last flight home is there any chance of an upgrade or help in comfort in anyway, that would be great”
As ballsy and sincere as that all sounds he was grateful for the gesture and kind words. I then handed him the bag of gifts with a smile.
Check-in Desk Manger — “You didn’t have to do that. Thanks”
Some of the girls at the check-in desks looked over and smiled.
He seemed a bit overwhelmed in receiving a bag full of gifts. We continued to chat about flight issues, Australia and customers.
“Let me check, I’ll see what I can do for you”
….
“Sadly the flight is completely full but there is just one premium economy seat left….. and I’ve upgraded you to that.”
Me — “Oh wow, thank you so much!”
“Also with the bag weight it’s fine, we’ll send them though.”
Yes! My face lit up like a Christmas tree. (I wish somebody was there to record that moment). My ticket was upgraded to premium economy and my overweight bags got sent through. Delighted.
Boarding The Plane
My work was already complete, being upgraded before boarding with the extra bonus of having my overweight baggage fee waved. Yet I was still holding the bag of gifts for the crew onboard.
My nerves had set in as I approached the boarding gate. Just like that feeling you get the second before you go in for an interview. Will I impress them?
I stepped onto the plane and said to the man checking my ticket.
Luckily I had the name of the cabin crew leader. Lets call her Sarah.
Me — “Hi, I’m wondering if you can help me please, is your colleague Sarah working onboard today? I’d like to speak to her”
Flight Attendant — “Ah, Sarah who?” — in a suspicious tone
Me — “Sarah, she’s the cabin crew leader for today”
The nearby crew started looking at me.
Flight Attendant — “And how do you know her sir?”
Me — “Oh just a friend of a friend, if I could speak with her that would be great. I have gifts for her” — As I gestured with the bag full of colourful samosas.
Flight Attendant — “She’s a little busy with boarding now, what’s your seat number? I’ll have her come down to you when she’s free”
A little time passed and she came to my seat intrigued as to why someone had asked for her by name, and wanted to speak to her?
I introduced myself and told her that I’ve flown with her airline for quite sometime and have thoroughly enjoyed there service. As well as this I mentioned I have been travelling around her beautiful country of Australia and contributed to their social media.
Along with this being the last flight in Australia and being aware these jobs can be emotionally demanding to serve passengers I wanted to thank the crew onboard for everything.
With empathetic sincerity, I thanked her and handed over the gifts. As I did so, I made sure to ask “look if there’s anything you can do with an upgrade, food, or comfort that would be great and please, enjoy the gifts.”
She was overwhelmed and very thankful,
Sarah — “Oh, thank you so much, you shouldn’t have. I’ll see what I can do”
After sometime she came back
Sarah — “Had there been empty seats in business class we would have gladly upgraded you, so sorry about that. But we’ll take good care of you on this flight. Definitely come up and have a drink at the business class bar and if there is anything you need don’t hesitate to ask Steve and Michelle they’re great and I’ve told them to look after you”
Probably the best flight I have ever been on — I was given first class meals, upgraded seats, other cabin crew members and returning officers came down to thank me mid-flight. Hung out at the business class bar and when the plane landed I got to chat with the captain and sit in the cockpit [sound of Boeing 777 taking off]. They even returned the favour and gave me a goodie bag with confectionary, a bottle of champagne and branded pyjamas. Cosy!
With the whole idea being an honest gesture the one interesting thing was that the captain said “have any of the cabin crew started eating these? What if they’ve been tainted?”, “I’d have a lot of explaining to do in head office if something happened and it was because I ate some chocolate from a passenger”. For the times that we live in it’s hard to distinguish between a terrorist plot and plain honest gifts.
If You‘re Not In You Can’t Win
When you have a crazy goal the result will ultimately be determined by how much effort you put in, who you ask, how you ask and how genuinely you connect with the people you’re talking to.
Of the above, its most important to make sure you that you do genuinely connect with the people that you’re talking to. If you can chat and bond with them on a personal level then they’ll feel as if you’re already friends.
I would talk about travel, flying and the people I’ve met along the way. Most importantly, ask questions about them and listen as they relate their stories. People will notice and appreciate this.
My own experience might not have happened had the flight attendant on my first flight not given me the encouragement to follow through with the plan (I posted him a gift after I landed). I was genuinely interested in knowing his opinion and seeking feedback for a fun surprising plan.
Beyond connection, presentation is everything. This comes back to the point about effort. How much effort you put into the look, quality and fine detail of the gifts will increase your chances of getting what you ask for. No pain, no gain.
The personal touch of names really gave me a huge advantage because it internally raises questions like “how does this random guy know everyones name?”, “why did I receive a personal gift?”, and “who is this amazing person?”. It also ensured that the gifts were immediately meaningful.
During my own flight I spoke with a few of the crew serving me. They couldn’t express enough how lovely it was to receive a gift. It really kept their spirits up. We exchanged stories and contact information. One of the ladies even took a photo and tagged me on Instagram when she landed. Like!
Well that’s it. Go forth with greater knowledge in getting that upgrade.
Happy flying!
If you try the gifting idea yourself be sure to tell me on Twitter @daxon or follow me for more interesting articles to come.
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