Want A Free Upgrade On That Long-Haul Flight? Then This Is Worth Trying

Being upgraded on a long-haul flight is the stuff of dreams for most of us, mainly because those first-class seats are bloody expensive.

Depending on the airline, sometimes you have to walk through First Class to get to Economy and it can be a brutal experience. As you gear up for a 12-hour flight, you have to first walk past all the first-classers sitting there with their expensive champagne and fully reclined seats, all exuding an essence of 'fuck you I'm rich'.

But what if we told you there was a sure-fire way of getting upgraded?

First Class

Credit: PA

Well, we'd be lying because there's no guarantee of anything in life, let alone being provided something for nothing when others pay thousands.

However, there is a rule that could see it happen - if you're very lucky. Rick Brown - author of the awesomely-titled book Kiss My Baggage Fees! How To Be A Savvy Travel Hacker - points out, there is one way you're more likely to be upgraded than any other.

The secret? If your seat - or your seatbelt - is broken, then you're allowed to ask for a new one. But, as he explained to news.com.au, there's a catch.

"If your seat is broken, you can request a new seat. If one is not available in economy, they have to put you in First.

via GIPHY

"I've been on several packed flights where passengers had broken coach seats," said Brown, "and were reassigned to business or first since they were the only seats left. This is luck of the draw, though."

If that seems like a longshot, that's because it probably is.

It relies on the flight being packed and you also being the lucky person who's sitting in the broken seat. It could happen, but let's be honest - you might as well buy a scratch card and hope to win the money it'd cost to upgrade.

First Class

Credit: PA

Despite the odds against you, it's not out of the realm of possibility, however we wouldn't recommend destroying your seat to try to make it happen.

For a start, it's nearly impossible to bring anything - say a lighter or a knife or a pair of scissors - that can cause the kind of necessary damage to your seat.

And even if you managed, you'd most likely get caught, thrown off the flight and arrested; which certainly is a lot shitter than sitting in Economy Class.

It's probably much better to just inspect your seat very carefully and hope to find something wrong with it, and that a lot of other people are in Economy Class with you.

Sources: news.com.au

Topics: Planes, Flying, Interesting, Community, Flights

Peter Fraser