Survey reveals flirting helps to attain upgrades

Company barclaycard

Survey reveals flirting helps to attain upgrades

Report by JOHN LAVABRE

BUSINESS travellers who want an upgrade should either get to know someone at the airline or flirt with check-in staff.

This advice comes from chargecard issuer Company Barclaycard which has conducted a survey among agents and travellers about their experiences of being upgraded.

Six agencies admitted having a special relationship with one or more airlines which gained customers preferential treatment. Some of the business agents claimed knowing an airline employee was a guaranteed method of getting an upgrade.

The most likely passengers to get a better seat are smartly dressed men aged between 50 and 64 who are frequent flyers, the survey has revealed.

Of the 100 people questioned, only half of those aged between 20 and 34 have been upgraded, compared with 70% of 50-64-year-olds. The survey also revealed women are more likely to request a move; 64% admitted they ask on arrival at the airport. Men, however, are more likely to be offered the chance of a better seat.

A total of 58% of the women confessed they were more likely to succeed if a male clerk dealt with their request.

Check-in staff offered the following advice to those wanting a seat near the front of the plane; dress smartly, arrive early, smile and flirt with the check-in staff, be a frequent flyer and know someone who works for the airline.

Company Barclaycard head Alan Gooderham said: “Contrary to what the airlines would have us believe, free upgrades are not unusual – 89% of those surveyed had either been upgraded themselves, or knew someone who had. This is often a real perk of business travel and we wanted to find out the truth behind the anecdotes.”

Favours: women are more likely to be upgraded if a man deals with their request