Thirty-something men ‘get most flight upgrades’

SMARTLY dressed men in their 30s travelling alone are the most likely to get flight upgrades, a survey of cabin crew by Edinburgh-based flight comparison website Skyscanner revealed today.

Edinburgh-based SkyScanner conducted the poll. Picture: TSPL

The poll of 700 airline staff from 83 countries last month also found nearly two in three had given a passenger a free upgrade.

The survey showed groups of young women wearing revealing clothing, such as hen parties, were the least likely to be upgraded.

Three in four cabin crew questioned said lone passengers were more likely to be upgraded, along with frequent flyers and those with an injury, such as a broken arm or leg.

More than eight in ten said being friendly and polite made a difference, while nearly six in ten would be more likely to upgrade newlyweds on their honeymoon.

One passenger told Skyscanner: “I boarded the plane late and there was someone sitting down in my seat. The stewardess was nearby and heard the guy saying he just wanted to sit next to his wife. I told her I didn’t mind sitting in his seat (it was the row behind I think) and off she went. When she returned, she asked me to follow her... all the way up to business class.”

Skyscanner spokeswoman Victoria Bailie said: “Not many of us are lucky enough to bag a free upgrade, but if you’re a single guy in your thirties, you have a better chance than any of us.

“Whilst an upgrade is never guaranteed, cabin crew have revealed that there are a few things you can do to give yourself a better chance of grabbing the premium seats, such as dressing smartly and joining the airline’s frequent flyer scheme.”