Finally - The Truth About Free Flight Upgrades!

by: Jonathan Kittley

So you've heard about free flight upgrades then? You know, you buy a regular economy flight seat, but then you somehow pull some magic along the way and next thing you know, you've been upgraded to first class, where you're waited on hand and foot the entire journey?!

Well believe it or not, it is true and you can do it too! Actually to be honest, this used to be much more common in the old days, but today, the situation is different. The old tactics don’t work! As an experienced flight steward who started work on the check in desk for the world’s favourite airline, I know about all the tricks people try and use.

When I used to work on the check in desk, I heard all the stories from ‘my wife’s pregnant’, to ‘I'm a VIP’! These things didn't pull any weight with me then, and they don't today either.

Then of course, there were the rumours that if you dress well you'll be upgraded to first class. In fact, many people still believe this today and I have to tell you, it's total rubbish. In fact, I often work the first class cabin even today, and people there do not dress so smart anymore. Everyone is into flying in comfortable clothes which is more important to the modern passenger. It's all about comfort, which is why they're flying first class in the first place.

So then you're wondering how do you get into first class without paying $7000 per head for a ticket?

Well it is possible and it's now been documented thanks to an enterprising young man I met. I was put in touch with him by a friend and he asked me if I would reveal some of the airlines best kept secrets for a book he was working on. He offered to pay me handsomely, and promised my name would never be revealed.

Of course I said, I'm no fool. If I can help a few people to get into a first class seat (which were going to stay empty anyways) then sure I'd help out. But if you want to pay me for it as well, sure, why not!

So we sat down one afternoon and he asked me a load of questions whilst he recorded the conversation for his secret fight guide. When we finished, he paid me the money and we're still friends today in fact. I still give him the odd piece of new info I find which he keeps adding to his guide, and I've even seen him in action using my strategies. He even proves it works on his cheap flight site.

So next time you're having a conversation about whether or not free flight upgrades are true, you'll be able to say you have been informed that it definitely is possible, and hopefully, you'll have benefited from a free upgrade yourself too!

Have fun now,

JK

About The Author

Jonathan Kittley is the main interviewee and airline employee, as referred to on the site: http://www.cheap-flight-upgrade.com where you can learn the information about cheap flights and free flight upgrades.

14 Tips for a Stress Free Flight

by: Steven Chabotte

Traveling can be a stressful event and airplane travel is tops on the list of the stressors that we experience on what is supposed to be an exciting and fun event. A few simple steps can remove most of the stress of air travel.

Things to do before travel day:

1) Pack your bags. Make sure all your packing is done at least the night before and that you have all your bags in one central location for easy and complete loading into your car or taxi.

2) Have all your travel paperwork organized and in one central location.

3) Make a checklist of all the things you want to check to secure your home before you leave and walk through your home checking off each item. Do this at least an hour before you leave your house. Do this and you will never worry if you left your stove on or any of the other little nagging worries you might have while on your travel.

4) Be sure your pets are taken care of. Make any kennel reservations well in advance of your trip to be sure you have a reserved spot at a kennel you trust.

5) Call the AIRPORT and airline the day before to see how early the recommend you should arrive for a smooth, stress free check in. If they tell you to arrive three hours early and you arrive just 30 minutes early, you will probably feel great stresses about missing your flight. Also ask if there are any parking restrictions you should be aware of. Ever since 9/11, when we have a heightened threat level there may be car searches before you can park.

6) If you are just taking carry on luggage, many airlines let you pre check in right on the internet 24 hours before your flight. That means that you can get and print out boarding passes right from your home. And when you get to the airport, you can go right to the gate and your boarding area without getting into the long check in line. If you have to check baggage, you will not have this option available to you. But if not, it is a great time and stress saver.

Travel day:

7) Leave home in plenty of time to anticipate busy traffic or accident situations. If it is an hour trip to get to the airport, you may want to leave an extra half hour early just in case there are road problems.

8) If you are checking in bags, be prepared to wait in line. If it is a busy time of day at the airport and you are traveling with a popular airline, there could be a significant line. Don't worry about how long the line is. As long as you arrive when the airport recommended, you will have plenty of time to make it to the front of the line and get checked in. It may look impossible but it will happen so just relax and be patient.

9) Make sure that any “carry on” baggage really is carry on. Otherwise you may get stopped at the gate and have your bag taken away to be stowed with the regular luggage. It will delay and stress you. And it will delay everyone else.

10) When boarding the plane, find your seat and stow your carry on baggage quickly. And then sit down and stay out of the way. There are lots of people trying to do the same thing and we've all encountered the folks who block the aisle for a long time fussing about something or other while a harried line of boarders is forced to wait. You don't want to be one of those people. So just get your business done quickly and efficiently and sit down. You'll have plenty of time to get up once the plane is in the air.

11) If you have to change planes, it can be a real challenge, especially in the larger airports. If you know the gate you will have to go to, ask the flight attendant for advice to reach that gate quickly. In some airports - like Atlanta - a Delta connection can be a huge adventure taking 30 minutes to get from one gate to another. If you know in advance how you have to get to your next airplane, it will be much less chaotic when you get off the first plane. And a much more relaxing walk (or run) to your next gate.

12) When the plane lands, patiently wait your turn. Whether you push or just wait, you usually won't get off the plane any quicker. People tend to let the folks in the rows before them get up and go in a pretty orderly fashion. Trying to rush it will only get your blood pressure up and will not be looked upon favorably by your fellow travelers.

13) If you just have carry on baggage, you have successfully completed a pretty stress free flight.

14) But if you have carry on luggage, there is one more step - waiting for the luggage. Just pick a place around the conveyor belt and wait. Expect your bag to be the very last one to come out and be pleasantly surprised when it comes out early.

By following these simple steps, you will find that your stress levels from your air travels will be much less. A well planned trip agenda ensures that those little stress points stay little stress points and don't balloon into a full blown crisis. Try it any you will be amazed how just a small amount of up front planning dramatically improves the enjoyment of your travel.

About The Author

Steven Chabotte

Instant Hotel and Motel Reservations. At My City Travel Guide (www.mycitytravelguide.com), you can get detailed information on over 50,000 hotels around the world and do instant price checks and make your reservations quickly and securely.

Do You Make These Air Travel Mistakes?

by: Neil Stelling

You're sitting at home thinking about tomorrow's plane journey. Remember last time ? Remember how you felt when you arrived ? Aggravated, stressed, hot, tired, needing a couple of days to recover ? Did you make these mistakes ?

* Packed your luggage just before you left home.

Don't pack your bags a half hour before leaving. You know those vital papers, that book you wanted to read, or even your passport will mysteriously disappear at the last minute. Always pack the night before, and you'll find everything right there waiting !

* Arrived at the airport late.

There's no worse way to start your journey than sitting in traffic a couple of miles from the airport, watching the minutes tick by. Leave early. Expect a lot of traffic and your journey will take extra time. Then you'll arrive at the airport relaxed and near the front of the check-in line. If you get your first choice of seat you'll feel even better !

* Didn't prepare for the plane journey.

* Dehydrated - the air you breathe on a plane is very dry. If you want to avoid dehydration bring a bottle of water with you and sip on it during the journey.

* Air Sick - if you suffer from motion sickness, and many people do, you can take precautions before you get on the plane. It's too late when you've already started to feel sick. Take a motion sickness drug before you get on the plane. Some can make you drowsy, but that's good on a long flight !

* Teeshirt - airplanes can get quite cold, so always keep a jacket or sweatshirt nearby if you need them. Some airlines provide blankets, but don't count on it.

* Arrive lost at your destination.

Okay, you've just landed at your destination airport, and got your luggage back. What do you do now ? No idea. Feel those stress levels rising again ! Before you travel, check out your destination on the internet. Airport 50 miles out of town ? In that case, you don't want to use a taxi if you can avoid it. You should pre-plan your bus or train journey before you leave home.

Follow the above tips and you'll arrive relaxed and stress free, ready to enjoy your vacation or business trip.

by Neil Stelling B.Sc, MBA
Marketing Manager, DigiLectual Inc.
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