Air hostesses reveal what you should wear to get upgraded to first class

What you wear could increase your chances of getting upgraded to first class. Photo / 123RF

Air hostesses have revealed what passengers should wear to increase their chances of getting upgraded to first class.

Those wanting an upgrade should go for a "smart but understated" outfit, and look like they travel often, according to the Daily Mail.

Cabin crew staff say you should avoid jeans and trainers, but shouldn't be "dripping in designer clothes" in order to get bumped up to first class.

One air hostess, based in the UK, recommended women wear smart trousers and a blazer, or a dress, while men should dress in a shirt and chinos or trousers.

Speaking to Who What Wear, one air hostess explained: "For an upgrade, it's all about looking the part. Smart but understated.

"You should look like you travel often. But don't be dripping in designer clothing."

Another added: "When we fly, we have a strict dress code to follow. No jeans or trainers".

It comes after a jet-setting author revealed how she always manages to bag an upgrade to first class.

Briton Tilly Bagshawe told Bloomberg she's yet to pay for an upper class seat with the airline she uses most, Virgin Atlantic.

Ahead of her flight, she'll call the reservations team and say: "Have revenue management released any first-class seats for miles upgrades yet?"

She explains: "When they say no, ask them to check or just be put through to revenue management so you can ask when they will release some, as well as how many seats are left."

Bagshawe says the trick is to "politely respond like this: 'You have 20 seats unsold? Why aren't you releasing them?'"

She says that by the end of the conversation, the person on the end of the phone has almost certainly released an upper class seat for her.

A spokesperson for Virgin Atlantic said the airline releases thousands its reward seats for its most loyal customers.