We’ve all been there – stuck in the middle seat on a long flight, with nothing to do but try to get comfortable and watch the hours tick by. It’s not a fun experience. But there are ways to make it better. With a little bit of effort, you can easily get special treatment on your flight and make the journey much more enjoyable.

Here are 5 classy ways to get special treatment on your flight:

1. Use a Starbucks gift card to buy the flight attendants a coffee. 

This doesn’t always work but it sure is worth a try. It scored me an upgrade with Etihad on a long-haul flight to the Maldives and I will certainly try this again.

2. Check online to see how full the plane is before you board the plane.

A trick I often use is to choose a seat near the back of the plane. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but most empty seats are at the back. If you spot online before you board, a row that appears empty sit in the middle seat of that row. At worst you’ll have to move if someone has that seat booked - but maybe you’ll score the entire row and have a lie-down experience at an economy price!

3. Be interested in the flight attendant’s job and ask questions about it.

My Mum always taught me “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice”. Manners cost nothing, so ask the crew as you board if it's their last flight or where they’ve flown from today. Smiling and showing an interest may bag you extra special service.

4. Make an effort to be friendly and polite to everyone on the flight. 

This goes without saying - drama on a plane journey never turns out well, I’m sure you’ve seen some videos of disagreements onboard. If you really are unhappy for some reason, go and speak with the cabin crew, but not when they’re busy or when the seat belt sign is on.

5. Dress well and be tidy – first impressions count!

This is the most important tip I give, right from the check-in counter through to disembarking the plane. If you want the special treatment you believe you deserve, dress as you belong in Business Class. I go as far as to take a comfy outfit in my hand luggage and if I don’t manage to bag an upgrade either at check-in, at the gate, or before we take off, once in the air I change into comfortable attire!

Not only will you have a better experience, but you will also leave a positive lasting impression on those around you. And who knows – maybe you’ll even be upgraded to first class! So next time you find yourself stuck in the middle seat, give these tips a try and see how they work for you. Happy flying!