Many travellers simply cannot afford to spend up to $5,000 for a business class ticket in order to fly in better luxury. However, few people realise that most airlines will upgrade customers from economy to first class for free provided they satisfy specific criteria. In this post, I'll go through some of the items that the check-in personnel look for and demand so that you may use the loopholes and receive your upgrade for free. These five top recommendations are direct from the check-in employees of some of the most well-known airlines, and many frequent travellers see them as the holy grail of obtaining something for free.

Number one tip:

Dress the part. When travelling, make sure you have dressed appropriately. If you arrive in shorts and a soiled t-shirt, you have absolutely no chance of receiving a free upgrade, so at the very least, dress appropriately. Unless you really want to, there's no need to go crazy and wear a suit. The aim is to appear intelligent without appearing overly so.

Number two tip:

Arrive early. The check-in crew knows exactly how many people are travelling on a specific trip well in advance, so they will know right away if there are seats available in business class.

Tip number three:

Be courteous. Put yourself in the shoes of the check-in personnel. Would you rather reward someone who has an attitude and begins yelling odds, or someone who is courteous and gives them the time of day? There might be 250 people in line behind you; make everyone remember you. Flirt, smile, mention their name and be kind, and you could get a nice surprise.

Tip number four:

Become a frequent flyer. If you join a frequent flier programme, you will be at the front of the line for an upgrade since the airline will want to reward you for your loyalty. Even if you don't fly frequently, go to the airline's website and sign up for their loyalty programme online. It simply takes a minute or two and is well worth the effort.

Number 5 tip:

Ask. They say that if you don't ask for it, you won't get it, so make sure you do - but at the proper moment. If the check-in employees are anxious and no amount of charm has prompted a smile, don't bother asking them; instead, wait until you get at the gate. If the counter personnel has been helpful, be cheeky and say "First Class" to them when they ask if you have any special seat requests. It simply might work.