Holidaymakers looking to get a free upgrade on their flights may want to listen to the airline crew sharing their secrets online. From simple common sense to bribery, there are many ways to get on the good side of a flight crew.
Reddit user aflyboy is “an airline employee” who’s seen it all, including a passenger who complained the pilot on her flight flew “too high”.
He recalled: “Tens of thousands of passengers fly through my airport every day without saying a word, but when one chimes in, it’s always a nightmare.
“My favourite was just a few months ago when a lady came off a cross country flight and demanded to speak to my superior and demanded the pilot get fired for ‘flying too high’.”
The “nightmare” passenger proceeded to explain: “She went into a fury explaining that the captain said we’d be flying at 36,000 feet when he made his announcements, but when she checked the navigation channel on the seatback TV the altitude was listed as 38,000 feet.”
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The airline employee continued: “This was life-threatening she said, threatened to get her lawyers involved and that any ‘normal’ pilot would have stayed at 34,000 feet just to be safe.
“We said we’d take care of it when he got off the plane, told the pilot-in-command as he offloaded the aircraft and proceeded to nearly throw up from laughter.”
Needless to say, aflyboy’s advice to get a free upgrade did not include complaining.
While he’d experienced some unusual customers’ complaints, he also had tips for holidaymakers who wanted a free upgrade.
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Recounting his experience, he said: “Customer Service Agents are the first people that can make or break your trip.
“Yelling, screaming, getting crabby, lewd, patronizing, only makes your trip worse and worse.
“Golden rule: Be nice. Simple.”
He continued: “Smile, joke around, keep a positive disposition.
He said: “I flew with an airline transatlantic in August, in economy.
“I approached the lead flight attendant (the one that greets you as your board) and introduced myself and thanked them for having me on board, exchanged pleasantries and handed him a mini pack of maple syrup.
“Sat down for about five minutes in my coach seat before he came by and said he was sorry, but ‘my seat assignment was unfortunately changed’.
“I spent the next seven hours in a lay-flat bed with all the Grey Goose I could handle.”
While he was an airline employee and may have been given special treatment because of it, he was sure everyone could benefit from the tip.
He said: “Now, this was a standby flight, but regular travellers can also get this treatment, I’ve seen it!”