I've been flying long-haul my whole life and never board without asking this question. Flights can be incredibly expensive, but this simple hack could get you free extra legroom in a bulkhead or exit row seat — just by asking one polite question at check-in.
My Long-Haul Journey
My first long-haul flight came at just three years old. When my family decided to emigrate from England to New Zealand, it meant I'd spend much of my childhood travelling between the two nations. This is no minor journey - while people frequently complain about how far away Australia is from the UK, New Zealand is even further away. At its quickest, the flight from London to New Zealand takes 23 hours, though depending on where your aircraft stops to refuel and the length of your stopovers, it can easily balloon to 36 hours or beyond.
As the years passed, I grew taller - and then exceptionally tall. Now aged 31, I stand just under 6ft tall, and as a teenager, I wasn't significantly shorter. Attempting to squeeze myself into economy class seats became increasingly difficult with every additional inch I gained.
The One Question That Works
That's precisely why these days, whenever I take a long-haul flight, I employ a strategy my mum taught me as an awkward, lanky pre-teen that significantly boosts my odds of securing a seat upgrade. I must emphasise that this method doesn't succeed every single time. Nevertheless, it does boast a fairly impressive success rate when executed properly - I'd estimate it's worked in my favour roughly 70% of the occasions I've attempted it.
All you require is good manners, a friendly smile, and the confidence to handle potential disappointment. It's simpler if you're checking luggage, though it's achievable without. Whenever I check my luggage at the desk, I politely ask the staff member whether they have any bulkhead seats available or any rows with empty seats. Even if I'm travelling without checked luggage, I'll still join the queue and make an enquiry - frequently using the excuse of needing a physical boarding pass printed.
How to Ask Effectively
Being tall, I often point to my height and crack a self-deprecating joke about being squeezed into an economy class. If you're polite and ask courteously, the results might surprise you. I've been given entire rows to myself, exit row seats and bulkhead seats all at no additional charge simply because I asked politely.
This approach depends on fortune - if the aircraft is at full capacity, then it clearly won't succeed, but occasionally flights have available seats and staff are willing to reassign you. The crucial thing is not to become annoyed if the response is negative - always be gracious, thank the person at the desk for their time and proceed to your flight.
