Most of the time, once passengers have received their flight tickets, the chances of getting upgraded in-flight is practically impossible.

When it comes to determining flight upgrades, the people behind the check-in counters are your best bet. “Once, on a flight to Singapore from Australia, I asked the counter girl if I could fly business class because it was my first time flying with the airline. Without hesitation, she agreed,” says Zerin.

One of Zerin’s biggest tips is to just be friendly and ask the check-in counter if it’s possible. “You’ll be surprised with what they would have to say — especially if they’re in a good mood.”

“Even if we’re not going to give you a free upgrade in-flight, if we’re in a great mood and you’re nice to us, we could give you free glasses of champagne or serve you best,” quips Zerin.

While most people think arriving early could higher their chances of getting an upgrade in flights, Zerin recommends coming in later.

“When you arrive later, the people behind the check-in counters would know if a section of a flight is empty or full. This way, they are able to determine if you can in fact get an upgrade,” she reveals. So what’s the best time to arrive? “I’d say about an hour before the check in counter is about to close.”

If you truly want that flight upgrade, then you really have to dress like you deserve it. According to *Alyssa, who flew with a premier Asian airline, “If a spot in Business Class opens up, we would usually pick people who look like they’ve dressed the part to be seated there.”

But what constitutes dressing the part? “Definitely no shorts or shoes that reveal your toes. It also helps if you’re nice and are easy going.”

Both Zerin and Alyssa agree that the shorter the flight, the higher the likelihood of getting an upgrade. This is because it’s usually not as crowded in Business Class for shorter flights.

“People behind the check-in counter are able to see if you’re a frequent flyer with the airline and if you fly with a particular airline often enough, they might just bump you up to Business Class to ensure you keep flying with them,” Zerin sums up.

So go on, try these tips out and let us know if you managed to get an upgrade.