- Kamila Jakubjakova, a former flight attendant, used to work for Emirates Airlines
- Economy passengers are sometimes moved to business class on full flights
- Sometimes the last people to check in are the ones who get upgraded
A flight attendant has shared the surprising reason why showing up late to the airport may get you a better seat on your flight.
Most airlines advise arriving at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight to ensure you breeze through security in time.
But there is a chance you can snag a seat with extra legroom free of charge if show up closer to your departure time, according to one former crew member.
Kamila Jakubjakova, who used to work for Emirates Airlines, told The Sun sometimes the trick to getting a free upgrade is being one of the last passengers to check in.
Former flight attendant Kamila Jakubjakova revealed the surprising reason it pays off to show up late to your flight
![Jakubjakova, who used to work for Emirates Airlines, explained that airlines sometimes oversell tickets and don't expect every passenger to show up](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/25/23/74733287-12443589-Jakubjakova_who_used_to_work_for_Emirates_Airlines_explained_tha-a-3_1693001817238.jpg)
Jakubjakova, who used to work for Emirates Airlines, explained that airlines sometimes oversell tickets and don’t expect every passenger to show up
‘Sometimes, airlines oversell tickets and don’t expect everybody to show up,’ she explained.
‘So if the flight is overbooked, and everyone shows up, they’ll have to move economy passengers into business class, and maybe the last passengers who come to check in for the flight will be chosen, as they’re the extra ones.’
The move will likely appeal to risk-takers, but there is no guarantee that arriving late will score you a better seat.
For some flyers, the maneuver may cause more stress than it is worth.
Jakubjakova added that bringing some treats for the cabin crew is another way to ensure a better flight.
‘It always pays being nice to flight attendants. If you bring some treats with you to the flight, for example, some candies or some chocolate, and offer them to us, then we will probably try to make your flight a little better or pay you back in some way,” she said.
‘We are nice to everybody, but, of course, if you go the extra mile, we’ll probably also go the extra mile in return.’
Flight attendant Cierra Mistt has shared similar advice on her TikTok page, where she has more than 3.3 million followers.
![If the flight is overbooked and they have to move economy passengers into business class, they will sometimes choose the last people to check, Jakubjakova said](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/25/23/74733277-12443589-If_the_flight_is_overbooked_and_they_have_to_move_economy_passen-a-4_1693001817240.jpg)
If the flight is overbooked and they have to move economy passengers into business class, they will sometimes choose the last people to check, Jakubjakova said
She recently revealed that passengers sitting in the last row have a better chance of being upgraded to first class because crew members often have to ‘move people for weight and balance purposes.’
‘When we move people all the way up to the front, it’s not just because we are being nice,’ she said. ‘Normally if our flight is full we have to move people.’
Mistt shared that the crew will normally start moving passengers from the back to the front of the plane.
‘If that’s the case, the flight attendants are going to choose the people in the very last row to go up front because then they can sit down there after doing their service.’
Mistt also shared how to get an upgrade on full flights, which are becoming a common occurrence.
The crew member said the gate agent will tell you if the plane is full before the flight, so make sure to listen to snag this free upgrade.
She noted that the gate agent will normally ask for volunteers to switch flights and offer freebies or discounts to entice you.
Cierra advised not to take these, saying, ‘First go to the gate agent, second give them a price and say that you want that in cash.
‘When the gate agent is rebooking you for that next flight, make sure that they put you in first class to compensate for the time that you’re losing.
The flight attendant claimed this method has a 99 percent success rate.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk