Get a Free Upgrade to First Class

Step 3: Check-In Desk

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Now your at the desk, you look like a business man and you act like a business man, now you just have to seal the deal.

• When you walk up to the desk give the lady your tickets and swiftly put your bag on the conveyor belt, this gives her time to check the tickets and see that their economy/business class.

• Look at the tickets and pretend to suddenly realize you need to ask for an upgrade (don't do this dramatically - keep calm)

• Tell her that the travel organizer in your company made a mistake and accidentally bought economy instead of 1st class, then go on to say that you have a meeting the at the other end an hour after the plane lands and you really need to work on the presentation

(note that you haven't actually asked for an upgrade yet, if you tell the story after asking then it will seem like an excuse)

• Whilst telling the story act desperate but not dramatic like you really need it but make it look like you are trying to keep calm.

• Now say something like "please i really need to work on this, are there any seats available up front"
The lady know's what you mean by "up front" but you didn't have the un-needed shock value of first class

• The lady will probably tap away at her keyboard and then say yes or no

YES = Thank her profusely, and then leave to board the plane in 1st class

NO = Now act stressed out, and ask if she's sure, lower your voice and pretty much beg and say something like "please if i don't finish this i'm going to loose my job"

now unless this woman is the biggest b**** on the planet she will give you an upgrade, there is nearly always free seats in 1st class.

So if she says no again then say " ok ok well how about business, there's gotta be seats there right?"
Hopefully there will be and she'll upgrade you, if not then pretend to calm your self down and say youll wait until later, ask her to contact you if anything comes available, take your tickets, and bag and go and wait somewhere she can see you, get your laptop or papers out and pretend to work hard whilst acting stressed (e.g. rub head, keep looking over at her)

now when the last check in call comes out go and talk to her looking expectant. Now once everybody has checked in she knows nobody is going to use those seats she'll either upgrade you or apologize and say no

No : go and cry in the toilets, spend the entire flight thinking about what went wrong and how you can correct it on the return journey, and wiping the baby-sick off your suit...

Yes : Act like she saved your life then shout

1st Class Here i Come !!

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Comments

[flintwo2]

Instead of wasting a couple of hundred dollars on a good suit you cold just buy a first class ticket.

[EdM]

So your entire how-to is based on deception and lies and nobody else questions this or calls you on it - and Instructables allows it? I would hope airline personnel are experienced and smart enough to see through this kind of dishonest behaviour. The lack of character and integrity that allows one to try this technique probably shows through somehow and a savvy agent would never fall for it.

[johndoe5516]

Its called a "CON" its a very simple idea that doesn't necessarily cause problems for others but benefits you and/or allies...i see no moral issues here at all.

[brendangillespie]

Hopefully the airline employees, in their infinite experience and wisdom, are giving the free upgrades to those who truly deserve it, such as the elderly or those with injuries that would most benefit from a bigger and comfier seat.

[amaurer11787]

relax man its a free country to act however you want even if you dont agree with his morals.

[bounty1012]

Haven't you ever lied for your own pleasure? I'm sure you've lied before, not everyone is perfect.

[Nando_Kommando]

I'm sure the airline personnel could prob. give a crap where you sit. As long as you have a good excuse.

[Danish M1Garand]

SAles is a LIE. All he is doing is selling

[=SMART=]

This instructabe was a theory, i won the competition too. You have to lie in life, that's how it is. If you don't you wont get anywhere

[QePBqF]

If every person on the earth acted with integrity, there would be no need for law enforcement, security, or rules of any kind. And every extra person that acts without integrity, lying to get what they want, increases the need for rules that would make everyone's lives easier if they were gone. Things like this article are the reason we have to wait hours in line to get past TSA security.

[drawkcab]

Yeah...go ahead lie through life to get what you want and you will eventually realize your life is one big lie. Try honesty, that can get you just as far in your upgrade instructible...perhaps if you just told the airline attendant how you never get to fly first class because you are a student (or such) and can't afford it and would love to experience it that would work too (and you probably would feel alot better about yourself).

[ToolboxGuy]

My wife and I have been upgraded for free thanks to being honest and helpful.
Whenever we fly, and we have extra time, we offer to give up our seats if they've overbooked. In one case, it got us 2 FREE TICKETS TO ANYWHERE American flew, plus the next day, they seated us in First, even though we had Economy seats on the original flight.
We just check back in when they announce the prepare to board, and if they say they are not overbooked and don't require the seats, we simply ask if there are any seats available up front. We try to travel carryon only, and we mention that as well. If they're open, we get them. It usually means we have our luggage under, but that's fine by me.

[Riojelon]

What if I'm a rich student but don't wanna pay but I wanna seat on First class?

[shawntherobot]

thats how you move forward in life and good instructables but i dont think most of those pictures are yours

[=SMART=]

the pics are not mine

[benz_z]

too true great ible by the way

[=SMART=]

Thanks :)

[kjb0419]

I don't understand how you would get it for free. If you want to upgrade to first class wouldn't they charge you? I tried this with my wife when we went on our honeymoon and they would only upgrade if we paid. I really don't think this would work.

[artistbooks]

Is it true that if the plane crashes, you have a better chance of surviving if your seat is towards the back of the plane? Hmmmm, just asking.

[easy90rider]

I was just going to write the same thing :)

[etw]

Chances are that she will say: "We have a seat available in business class"
You will say: "That will be fine/great
She'll say: "That will be 200 dollars, want to charge that to your credit card?"

I am a business man and my best approach always was to just ask for an upgrade: "Any chance for an upgrade?" Used to work 10 out of 10 if there was a seat available. Lately though ground crew will tell you you can use yr airmiles for an upgrade.
Other possibility: ask the stewardess. If you look like a business men, and especially if you travel a lot with them (they know) it will not be a problem.

Make sure you have NOT asked for a special meal, that may complicate things

[Balinese_kid]

The picture of the guy in first class (step four) is on a Garuda Indonesia airplane.  I am 83% sure.  The stewardess is wearing the the same outfit.

[E D E N]

 nah, I went to Indonesia a few years back and I'm 99.99% sure it's Singapore Airlines. They have the exact same outfit as the stewardess above. 

[paperclip32]

 Yup,you're right,it's the iconic Singapore Airlines kebaya.

[KandyRockstar]

 Have you yourself ever tried out your "theory"? Was it successful? Because, as you probably know,  a theory can only be a theory if it started out as a hypothesis, and through a series of tests, proved itself to be successful. Otherwise everything you said is void.

Also, I noticed, through reading the comments, that people have asked what happens when the sales lady asks you to pay for your upgrade. What do you proposed (in hypothesis) would be the best way to tackle that situation?


Thanks for the instructable though. If I find myself flying solo again, I may just whip out my poker face and try this one out.

[ScienceWiz]

Hahaha

Scientific Method Pwnage!!

[fourtrax]

I don't think that this will work in most cases but it was very funny to read :)

[swaggoner]

So, you ask, do you have anything... up front? And she says, Yes, that will be $1500 for the upgrade please, thank you. I don't think you've thought your little plan all the way through.

/Business traveler
//Do get the occasional upgrade, but only about 1 in 20 flights and only because they see it is 1 in 20 flights.

[el_darwin]

Just an idea, when a flight was over sold and you do have a seat. You can walk to the counter and ask to be place on business class.

[=SMART=]

... meh

[Televangelist]

This is not the most encouraging reply you could give to an obvious hole in this theory. :X

[winniekate]

I have same questions that a couple have already posted: 1. Where do you ask for the upgrade? Terminal or Gate? 2. .."she says, Yes, that will be $1500 for the upgrade please"... At this point, do you say, "Just kidding"? And my own question, if my husband and I are traveling together, do I go as the secretary on the side, or the stuffy wife?

[Taotaoba]

This is so funny, and it may work. I don't know. Great instructables, btw.

[Pineapple_D]

if you dress nicley and befriend the check out lady and the flight staff = upgrade :D

[jacob2910]

sneeky

[romstar36]

Looks like Bangkok Airport

[trappedinafreezer]

Actually, I'm pretty sure it's San Francisco International.

[kmmich]

sure? I also immediately thought about BKK... the new one of course...

[kmmich]

Also some of the other pictures in this ible look very much like Bangkok... Nice tips btw. Not sure you would need the whole set, but looking smart really helps. My parents once got an upgrade to first class on the condition that they put on real shoes instead of their slippers...

[ucla87]

where do you ask for the upgrade? at the check in counter when u frist arrive at the airport? or at the terminal?

[SuperCoPilot]

it helps to bring a change of street clothes in a bag with you lol but usually knowing too many people occasionally has an advantage

[Trainman 2001]

wat airport seems familiar

[=SMART=]

I dont know what one it is sorry