Getting the best seat on a flight often means paying extra. But since we all have a budget we don’t want to cross, we usually book the seats that fit our budget. However, sometimes there are little tricks we don’t know about that can help us get an upgrade. Now, a Chennai man took to X to share a flight hack that helped him get two seat upgrades on his Air India Express flight. Scroll down for the details!
How To Get A Seat Upgrade On An Air India Express Flight?
Free travel hack: Being nice.
Was assigned 27B on my flight today. Smiled, used her name, enquired about her day, and politely requested at the check-in counter – moved to emergency row (14F). Tried the same thing at the boarding gate – flew in 1F.
The staff deal with tired,… pic.twitter.com/4NBSiK0rtI
— Narayanan Hariharan (@narayananh) September 28, 2026
Chennai man Narayanan Hariharan (@narayananh) took to his social media handle to share a trick for getting a seat upgrade on an Air India Express flight. Sharing the free travel hack, he revealed that being nice is the hack. He said that the airline first assigned him seat 27B. At the check-in counter, he decided to be nice, used the staff member’s name and asked how her day was going. Then he politely asked her if he could get another seat.
And his trick worked. He was then given a seat upgrade and was moved to 14F in the emergency exit row. He then used the same trick at the boarding gate and was moved to seat 1F. His trick worked, as airline staff have to deal with angry passengers throughout the day.
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Netizens React To The Post
The X post revealing the simple seat upgrade hack has gone viral online, and many netizens have reacted to it.
One user wrote, “It also brightens up their day. I just had a small chat with a CISF personnel at the security check today, and he seemed so happy that someone finally spoke to him about something other than, ‘Yeh bhi nikalna hai?’”
Another netizen commented, “So, so true! I do this with IndiGo all the time and always get my way. Being civil gets more done than being belligerent ever does.”
“Almost all check-in crew are happy to give a free upgrade if asked nicely and if the seats are available. I got it once with at least 15 people behind me in line,” one comment read.
Next time you’re travelling by flight, make sure to try this simple trick!
Also Read: Kamiya Jani Faces Extreme Turbulence On Ahmedabad-Mumbai Flight, Calls It “Most Turbulent Ever”
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ kasto (Representative Image)
FAQs
Which is the most expensive airline in the world?
Etihad Airways is the most expensive airline in the world.
Which is the most affordable airline in India?
IndiGo is the most affordable airline in India.
Can I get free seat upgrade?
Yes, you may get a free seat upgrade if better seats are available and the airline allows it.
