How chocolates can score you a free upgrade on your next flight
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A little-known trick could be the key to unlocking a free upgrade on your next flight, and it’s simpler than you might think.
What started as a curiosity about an unusual travel hack turned into a surprising success, leaving one traveller stunned by the results.
This unexpected outcome has left many wondering if they’ve been missing out on a simple yet effective way to elevate their flying experience.
A savvy traveller recently shared her success in scoring a free flight upgrade after using a little-known trick involving a box of chocolates.
Anna Lee had heard about this hack for years but was always 'too scared, awkward and weird' to try it herself.
The idea, she explained, was simple: give a box of chocolates to an airline worker at check-in and hope for a complimentary upgrade.
Her cousin, a flight attendant, had confirmed that many passengers regularly ask for upgrades, so giving a gift was seen as a nice way to do it.
Anna decided to test the theory after flying from Las Vegas to New York City just after Christmas.
She purchased a box of chocolates before heading to the Delta check-in counter, where she handed the gift to the employee, saying: 'I just wanted to say, happy holidays and thank you for all your hard work.'
When she asked how much it would cost to upgrade her seat, the employee surprised Anna with a free upgrade from economy class to Comfort Plus, which includes perks like priority boarding, extra legroom, and more recline.
'I was just testing the box of chocolates hack I read about online years ago, and it's something that stuck with me,' Anna explained.
'I was always curious about it but never acted on it until I recently asked my cousin, who works at an airline, and she said it was totally okay to do.'
Anna said she didn’t expect the upgrade, but she was thrilled when it worked. 'I just thought, I'll try it... I was not expecting an upgrade. I was grateful that the worker ended up upgrading me... I can't believe that actually worked.'
Her video showing the moment she received the upgrade has been viewed over 770,000 times, with many viewers confirming similar experiences.
'My dad is a pilot and he always taught me to grab doughnuts or any little treat to give to flight attendants and gate agents... Always worth the effort - they love it,' one commented.
Others shared their own tactics. 'My mum is a flight attendant and yes this is for sure a thing,' said another.
'My boyfriend is a flight attendant and he's taught me to bring Starbucks gift cards as a “tip” every flight and give it to them before takeoff. They always give you extra snacks and drinks,' one shared.
Anna also learned that airlines sometimes need to reshuffle passengers to balance the plane, and she used this knowledge to her advantage.
'So, if there's too many people at the back, they'll upgrade some people to the front for free. Knowing that information, I just wanted to make it clear that they should choose me,' she said.
While some passengers claim to receive upgrades without giving gifts, many airline workers confirmed that a thoughtful gesture can go a long way.
'Us airline employees do this a lot for our fellow coworkers (obviously not expecting anything in return) but they always give us the A+ treatment,' one shared.
In the end, Anna’s little experiment paid off, and she couldn’t have been more pleased with the result.
'I got the upgrade,' she said, clearly still amazed. 'I was not expecting anything... I just wanted to try it to see if it worked and it did.'
Have you ever tried a similar hack or received an unexpected perk while travelling? Share your stories in the comments.
What started as a curiosity about an unusual travel hack turned into a surprising success, leaving one traveller stunned by the results.
This unexpected outcome has left many wondering if they’ve been missing out on a simple yet effective way to elevate their flying experience.
A savvy traveller recently shared her success in scoring a free flight upgrade after using a little-known trick involving a box of chocolates.
Anna Lee had heard about this hack for years but was always 'too scared, awkward and weird' to try it herself.
The idea, she explained, was simple: give a box of chocolates to an airline worker at check-in and hope for a complimentary upgrade.
Her cousin, a flight attendant, had confirmed that many passengers regularly ask for upgrades, so giving a gift was seen as a nice way to do it.
Anna decided to test the theory after flying from Las Vegas to New York City just after Christmas.
She purchased a box of chocolates before heading to the Delta check-in counter, where she handed the gift to the employee, saying: 'I just wanted to say, happy holidays and thank you for all your hard work.'
When she asked how much it would cost to upgrade her seat, the employee surprised Anna with a free upgrade from economy class to Comfort Plus, which includes perks like priority boarding, extra legroom, and more recline.
'I was just testing the box of chocolates hack I read about online years ago, and it's something that stuck with me,' Anna explained.
'I was always curious about it but never acted on it until I recently asked my cousin, who works at an airline, and she said it was totally okay to do.'
Anna said she didn’t expect the upgrade, but she was thrilled when it worked. 'I just thought, I'll try it... I was not expecting an upgrade. I was grateful that the worker ended up upgrading me... I can't believe that actually worked.'
Her video showing the moment she received the upgrade has been viewed over 770,000 times, with many viewers confirming similar experiences.
'My dad is a pilot and he always taught me to grab doughnuts or any little treat to give to flight attendants and gate agents... Always worth the effort - they love it,' one commented.
Others shared their own tactics. 'My mum is a flight attendant and yes this is for sure a thing,' said another.
'My boyfriend is a flight attendant and he's taught me to bring Starbucks gift cards as a “tip” every flight and give it to them before takeoff. They always give you extra snacks and drinks,' one shared.
Anna also learned that airlines sometimes need to reshuffle passengers to balance the plane, and she used this knowledge to her advantage.
'So, if there's too many people at the back, they'll upgrade some people to the front for free. Knowing that information, I just wanted to make it clear that they should choose me,' she said.
While some passengers claim to receive upgrades without giving gifts, many airline workers confirmed that a thoughtful gesture can go a long way.
'Us airline employees do this a lot for our fellow coworkers (obviously not expecting anything in return) but they always give us the A+ treatment,' one shared.
In the end, Anna’s little experiment paid off, and she couldn’t have been more pleased with the result.
'I got the upgrade,' she said, clearly still amazed. 'I was not expecting anything... I just wanted to try it to see if it worked and it did.'
Have you ever tried a similar hack or received an unexpected perk while travelling? Share your stories in the comments.
