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10 Passengers we love to, umm....not like as much as the others: Day 4 - The passenger who tries to score a free first class seat
In Grant Martin's post, The top 5 myth's about getting an upgrade, he wrote...
Flight attendants have no control over who gets upgraded when there always might be one last business class passenger coming down the jet bridge right before departure, so they can't give away a seat. After the boarding door is closed? Maybe if you're discreet, but with everyone watching, the flight attendant will most definitely say no.
Now I don't know if Grant was ever a flight attendant, dated a flight attendant, or spends a lot of time in the galley talking to flight attendants, but he's absolutely right! Flight attendants do not have upgrading powers. But agents do, so make sure to talk to one before you board. That said, the only passengers I've ever seen upgraded for free after the door has been shut were uniformed military personel...and...well...they kind of deserve it, don't ya think?
Below is a list of 10 types of passengers who don't deserve an upgrade, but give it a shot anyway....
1. I-think-I'm-a-frequent-flier passenger - "I'm a frequent flier and..." That's how it starts. First of all, I can spot a frequent flier a mile away, so please don't tell me how many miles you've flown because that's my first clue you haven't flown as often as you think, not compared to our frequent fliers today. See those passengers sitting in the exit row, as well as the first three rows of coach? Those passengers are at the top of the upgrade list. The best seats on the airplane are held and/or blocked for passengers who fly tens of thousands of miles each year. Anyway, real frequent fliers know the drill, they know what to expect, and they know where, exactly, their name is on the upgrade list, which means I don't have to tell them they won't be getting an upgrade, the way I'm telling you, because they know, that I know, that they know exactly what's going on.
2. The curious passenger - "Hmm...I was wondering...is first class available?" asks the passenger who has just sauntered very...slowly...down...the aisle, checking out all the empty seats in first and business class on their way to their seat in coach. The answer to this question is no. First class is almost always booked full, so just because you see a few open seats does not mean those seats are available. Many of our frequent fliers spend time relaxing in private airline clubs and often times will be last to board the flight. If for whatever reason Mr. First Class does not make the flight, Mr. Exit Row will be taking the seat before you.
3. The injured passenger - Comes on board limping, moaning and groaning as soon as he/she spots me standing at the aircraft door greeting passengers and immediately begins the old bad back and knee routine. There's no way they'll be able to endure an entire flight cramped in a coach seat, I'm told, even though they already knew this when they purchased their tickets in coach online months ago. Hey I feel your pain, I know flying is not easy, but that does not equate to a free upgrade. However, if I can find a few extra pillows and blankets (they're not always on board), I'll do whatever I can to make your flight more comfortable. Just keep in mind there's only so much I can do.
4. The inconvenienced passenger - Either their headsets don't work, the reading light is out, the seat doesn't recline, I ran out of the beverage of their choice, or there's a smelly person sitting beside them, whatever it is, and it's always something, they believe they're entitled to a first class seat because of the inconvenience. If there's another seat available in coach, you're more than welcome to it, but there's no way I'm moving you from coach to first class when there are seats available. Click here to find out why. 
5. The charming passenger - "Wow, what a great smile," says the passenger who is now squinting at my gold plated name tag pinned to my blue lapel. "So how are you doing today, Heather?" Although this passenger is always nice and polite, my favorite kind of passenger, whenever someone uses my name the alarm in my brain automatically begins to ring - alert, alert, special request coming! Nine times out of ten this passenger works in sales and while they may be successful on the ground, they're not so successful at 35,000 feet.
6. The ill passenger - I wrote about this passenger in great detail in the Galley Gossip post, The passenger didn't ask for much. Oh you remember her, the passenger who asked for a first class seat, a business class mug, help to the bathroom, uncooked veggies and potatoes, and then had the nerve to tell me she would be deplaning first, even though she sat in coach. Look, I'm sorry you're sick and I'll bring you all the Ginger ale, hot tea, damp towels, and barf bags you need, but just because you don't feel well does not give you the right to a first class seat, not when you should really be at home, not barfing all over our premium passengers.
7. The surprised passenger - This passenger seems genuinely shocked to learn you have to actually pay for a first class seat. I've seen this passenger wander on board and make themselves comfortable in a plush leather seat located in one of the first rows of the airplane, reclining the seat all the way back, propping their feet on the foot rest, and treating themselves to a glass of champagne. "I just thought you might be nice," a passenger once said after I told her she and her husband could not stow away in first class, not when they paid for a seat in coach. While I am nice, I'm not that
nice.
8. The honeymooning passenger - Whenever someone tells me it's their honeymoon, I know exactly what they want, big time special treatment. And I give it to them. I ask about their wedding and talk to them about where they're going and I might even make an announcement to congratulate the happy couple. But I don't move them up to first class. Even when times were good and airlines weren't furloughing employees and going into bankruptcy every other week, I didn't upgrade honeymooners just because they decided to take their relationship to the next level and tie the knot.
9 The celebrity passenger - I'm a celebrity get me out of here! is not just a television show, because I've actually seen it happen on the airplane. Now I'm not naming names, but years ago I had a very famous singer known for his long blond locks who purchased a seat in coach and then demanded to be upgraded for free because he said he'd be "mobbed" in coach. All I can say is, my how times have changed. Because today I'm pretty sure that the singer who recently broke up with - I better not say - only wishes he could get mobbed in coach.
10. The combination passenger - This is the worst type of passenger, Pulling every trick in the book, this passenger has no shame and will stop at nothing in their quest for a free upgrade. Trust me when I tell you there's always a multiple number of issues going on here. Like sometimes they're honeymooning and inconvenienced, while other times they're injured and also charming. It doesn't matter what they are, they just are, and I'm the lucky one who gets to hear all about it until the end of the flight.
| All the time! | |
|---|---|
| Every now and then | |
| Once | |
| Never | |
| I didn't even know that could happen! | |
Filed under: Airlines, Galley Gossip













Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
jjb Jul 21st 2009 6:05PM
that dude josh is the definition of a cheapskate, lol... you should NEVER in life expect to be given anything for free; hello? this is america! lol. did you get this computer for free? however, i'd say that not all flight attendants are trying to be NAZI'S, josh - have you ever WORKED a customer service job? b/c i have i'd give everything away for free, what do i care - but i'd like to KEEP the job! so i don't. lol.
Alina Jul 29th 2009 4:49PM
Great post! I've only ever had an upgrade once and it was to first class on a long haul flight across the Atlantic - very special! I will say though, that I'm not sure that frequent flyers are as easy to spot as you say here - I'm a frequent flyer, but I'm not one of the suit brigade, I carry a backpack rather than a rolling bag, I leave the emergency exit seats to those who are long-legged, and I'm not so bothered about sitting near the front either, as I don't get hysterical if it takes me five extra minutes to deplane. Some of us undercover frequent flyers may just be well back in the plane, mingling with the infrequent flyers! But, I'd never ask for an upgrade anyway.
boredwell Aug 4th 2009 9:19PM
I fly less than 200k/per annum and I've never asked for an upgrade. And I've never received ONE! Call me a sheep but I'm perfectly content-most of the time-with my preferred aisle seat center depending on the type of aircraft and its noise level. Should I expect an upgrade? Wow! Now that I've read your article maybe I should try for one just for the experience! But then, on second thought, I'm pretty much a member of the hoi polloi and would have little in common with the upper crust up THERE.