Not long ago, my father was regaling me with tales from the glowing heyday of his 1980s business career – a period of gigantic mobile phones, two-tone shirts, power suits and, in his case at least, very impressive hair. He told me that, on many occasions, he and his colleagues would fly on Concorde, London to New York, in the morning, have a lunch meeting in Manhattan, and then fly home that afternoon in time for supper, all set against a backdrop of tinkling Champagne flutes and complimentary Dom Perignon at 30,000 feet. Those times now seem as distant to us, in some ways, as Shakespearean England or the Triassic Period. Concorde has long departed. No-one flies for business anymore, really. And it’s very much a bring-your-own-Dom-Perignon policy, I find. Still, that does mean that there are fresh opportunities to be had for the upwardly mobile economy-class traveller. So, with that in mind, here’s how you might secure an upgrade...

This does require a little commitment on your side, admittedly (a whole lifetime, actually, if that vicar chap is to be believed). But if you’ve bought the Harry Winston and learned the vows, you might as well reap some early rewards. Airline staff can be a formidable, forbidding lot, in general (and who can blame them?), but they’re not made of stone.

Many companies allow front-desk team members to issue upgrades free-of-charge in exceptional personal circumstances – and the occasion of your honeymoon (or wedding anniversary) is often one of them. So, make sure to glow with marital pride and the naivety of youthful love as you stride up to the desk, arm in arm, two hearts as one. (A ‘just married’ sash might be pushing things a little, however…)

The thorniest question when it comes to upgrades is one that even Hamlet might have struggled with. To ask or not to ask? There is an element of ‘don’t ask, don’t get’ at play here, of course. But, at the same time, many airline staff say there’s nothing more annoying than customers hounding them for an upgrade at every point and getting antsy when their pleas land on deaf ears. In general, though, it doesn’t hurt to ask, if you do so with a warm, cheeky smile, a sense of understatement, and a very British deference. We’re told that if there is room, the staff will offer you a paid upgrade, which often opens the doors to negotiating.

They’ve heard them all before. All of them. And you’d be surprised how often people turn up with an urn of ashes. So play it straight, and play it with some honesty.

Según nuestros expertos del sector, este consejo de toda la vida realmente funciona. Si vas a codearte con quienes viajan en clase business (o superior), es importante estar a la altura en cuanto a imagen. Esto no significa que tengas que llevar un traje completo de raya diplomática y doble botonadura propio de la época dorada del Concorde y Thatcher. Pero sí implica nada de chanclas, nada de vaqueros rotos ni de pantalones de chándal desaliñados. Prueba con esto como punto de partida.

Según nuestras fuentes, facturar con antelación aumenta tus posibilidades de conseguir una mejora de clase, especialmente si el vuelo tiene exceso de reservas. Si saben que vas a viajar con toda seguridad y ven que hay más reservas que plazas en clase turista, puede que te cambien rápidamente a una clase superior para evitarse las molestias de hacerlo en el mostrador de facturación el día del vuelo.

Por el contrario, ser el último en llegar al mostrador de facturación también puede funcionar. Si todos los asientos de clase turista están ocupados y queda sitio en clase ejecutiva, puede que te asciendan directamente y viajes a cuerpo de rey. (Sin embargo, es evidente que esta estrategia entraña bastante riesgo: si el vuelo está completo en todas las clases, puede que simplemente no te dejen subir al avión).

Our insiders also indicate that impressive titles can help move the needle. So – if you have one – make sure to use it when booking. Judges, doctors, reverends, Lords – all of these carry some weight when it comes to upgrades (especially, we’re told, in the US). But you should only use a title if you genuinely have one, of course – you may encounter problems at check-in and immigration if your ticket name doesn’t match the one on your passport.

¿Quieres más contenido sobre viajes? Estas son las mejores maletas para viajar sin complicaciones…