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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Andrea Blazquez & Sophie Buchan

Flight attendant tells passengers how to get free upgrades - and what not to say

Although the spring holidays are now over, summer is on its way and for many, this means a trip abroad.

Whether you're heading to Reykjavik for the hot springs or southern France to soak up some sun, having an easy and hassle free plane ride can help get your holiday off to a good start.

You may have seen people getting free upgrades in the movies and perhaps even in person - and as it turns out, you can too, but there's just a way to ask.

READ MORE - Morrisons launch half price nappies to help parents amid cost of living crisis

With holidays now getting underway, flight attendant, Miguel Muñoz exclusively told the Express the most effective ways to get things for free on board the plane - including better seats.

Miguel explained: "Sometimes people come to me asking for an orange juice or a snack because they say they are dizzy or have low blood sugar. We [the crew] automatically think they are lying just to get something for free. And probably some people lie."

"But I always think if you're lying karma will come back for sure. But if they are not lying and I don't give them anything it's even worse.

"I have to, just in case. On the plane, the crew is in charge of helping passengers, so we have to trust them really."

Despite this, the crew member also said it depends on "how you ask".

He explained: "Most airlines don't give anything for free, not even water, so when passengers come saying they are very thirsty, they need to take medication or they just ask for a glass of water, I officially have to say no.

"First, I always tell them that we sell bottles of water. I'd normally give it for free but it all depends on how you ask really.

"For example, if after I say we charge for water they [passengers] get all upset saying things like 'but the law says you have to give me free water' or ' it's a human right' automatically I'm not going to give them any.

"Now, if you say you don't feel well or you ask very nicely then definitely I will be giving that to you."

When it comes to a seat upgrade however, Miguel said it all comes down to "being nice and honest".

The flight attendant continued: "If passengers come to me and say they need more space for some reason I move them to the overwings [seats by the emergency exit with extra legroom].

"But you have to be careful with what you say! Because if you say you have a bad knee, for example, I have to be careful with these people as passengers seating by emergency exits are the ones who have to assist the crew in case of an emergency.

"If you can't operate the emergency exit because you have a bad knee I can't move you to the overwings. So it won't work."

So if you're heading abroad and want extra legroom, Miguel has said: "My advice is to be honest, don't try to be dramatic. If it's true that you have a bad leg, fair enough - although you won't be seating in the overwings - but don't lie about it because probably you don't know it but it won't benefit you.

"The other day a passenger said he had hip pain and he wanted to have extra legroom. Unfortunately, because of that, I couldn't move him to the emergency exit but I moved him to the last row which was completely empty."

Miguel concluded that the trick is to "make it easy for the crew".

Passengers wanting a free upgrade should say: 'Listen if you don't mind me seating in the overwings if there is space available, I have been seated there before, I know how it works, I'm happy seating there', then I know that person is comfortable seating there, operating the exit, knows that everything needs to be placed in the overhead compartment etc.

"And of course, when we have passengers who are very tall and need more space or people who nicely ask for it because they just want to be more comfortable. If the seats are free, I definitely move them."

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