Flight attendant shares the two things you should do for an upgrade

Beautiful air stewardess inside an airplane.
Mandy Smith, a former Virgin Atlantic flight attendant and author, revealed the things you should remember if you plan on asking for an upgrade -Credit:Getty Images


A former flight attendant from Virgin Atlantic has revealed the two things you need to be aware of if you plan on asking for an upgrade on a flight. Mandy Smith worked for Richard Branson’s airway for twelves, and is also the author of Cabin Fever, which gave an insight into the secrets of the job.

Mandy recently appeared in an ‘Honesty Box’ interview with LADBible, where she revealed the secret to getting a free upgrade. However, she warned that it’s not as common as you think it is.

In a clip posted to the platform’s TikTok, she answered the burning question. “Oh my god, if I could tell you how many times I’ve been asked this, it’s hilarious,” she said. The first thing you need to remember is to “dress well”.

Mandy explained: “Dress well, and dress for the cabin that you want to be in.”

And the second point? Don’t fly with children. “They will never upgrade children, ever,” she said. “And be polite, and be nice, don’t shout at anyone, because negative behaviour is not rewarded.”

The former cabin crew member went on to explain that an airline “would never” put a child in first class or Premium Economy class. “Because then the children usually disturb the other passengers,” she said. “So, that’s why you would never get upgraded with children, and if there were any spare seats, they would usually go first to the people on standby.

“I know that sounds really strange, ‘cause you would give free seats to your staff rather than your passengers, but they really like people to pay for what they’re getting, so they try not to upgrade people for free if they can, sorry.”