Single men preferred

Smartly dressed, male solo travelers in their mid-30s have the best chances of receiving a free upgrade on a plane, according to a recent survey by a travel search engine.

The travel search engine Skyscanner surveyed 700 international flight attendants about whom they would be most likely to grant a free upgrade . 61 percent of respondents stated that they had already approved such an upgrade, mostly for men traveling alone. In contrast, participants in a bachelorette party have the least chance of receiving a better seat.

The crew members also revealed how to best get a free upgrade. Frequent flyers and solo travelers have the best chances . 72 percent of those surveyed stated that they preferentially offer upgrades to solo passengers. But passengers with a broken arm or leg also have a good chance. Almost two-thirds of the crew members would have upgraded them.

You might also be interested in:

Panorama - Travel

Pisticci: From Land, Beach and Other Worlds

Panorama

Three hotel myths put to the test: Am I allowed to do that?

Panorama

Car travel: What helps with nausea?

Best conditions for an upgrade

Politeness wins: 82 percent of flight attendants prefer polite passengers . Those who join an airline's frequent flyer program have the best chance of securing a seat in business class with 80 percent of those surveyed. Solo travelers score points with 72 percent of flight attendants. Injured or ill passengers have a good chance of receiving a free upgrade from 65 percent of crew members . 59 percent of those surveyed look out for well-dressed passengers when it comes to filling vacant seats in business class. And around 58 percent would offer better seats to newlyweds.

A full 55 percent would consider friends and relatives who sit in separate classes. Those who fly at unpopular times when there are particularly many seats available in business class have a better chance of being upgraded by 47 percent of flight attendants. Compassion can also help. For 35 percent of respondents, this is a reason to give someone a free upgrade. And 31 percent of crew members are more likely to upgrade passengers they find attractive.