With even economy seats on budget-friendly airlines slowly creeping up, the prospect of a glass of bubbly while flying to your holiday destination is becoming increasingly out of reach. But luckily, one major airline now offers an absolute steal of an upgrade, offering some impressive benefits from just £13 per person.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) is Japan’s largest airline, offering flights to 95 airports including 50 Japanese destinations, as well as Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania. When travelling in premium economy or economy class across selective destinations, the airline offers the chance to select the option of a “paid exclusive dining meal” – an in-flight three-course meal for JPY 2,500, or £13.23 per person. The upgrade is available on all ANA-operated flights departing from Tokyo International Airport or Narita (also known as Tokyo-Narita International Airport).
“Enjoy your time on board to the full with these beautifully presented meals, which are made with carefully chosen ingredients and seasoned to perfection,” ANA’s website reads, adding that customers can choose between a Japanese or Western-style meal.
The current menu boasts marinated tuna and couscous salad with herb sauce as an appetiser, grilled tilefish with miso sauce or beef stroganoff with turmeric rice for the main, and a yuzu and white chocolate mousse for dessert. With a new menu due in May, wannabe passengers will have to wait with bated breath to see what delicious feasts will offered next.
To upgrade, eligible customers can make a request when booking a flight directly via the ANA website. This can be done anytime between purchasing the ticket and 24 hours before departure.
It is important to note, however, that the upgrade will not be available on flights that do not offer a meal service. You will not be eligible if only a light meal and drink are served.
Claudia, who shares he life living in Thailand and travel tips on her TikTok page @claudia.louise.w, claims to have mastered the art of getting free upgrades on airlines.
She said: “I always find it crazy when I see people asking for free upgrades on the plane when there’s a much easier way to get free upgrades and you don’t have to embarrass yourself in the process.
“Me and my partner have flown business class and even first class multiple times. We have flown business class more than 10 times now, and we have never paid for it.”
Instead of telling the airport staff it is a special occasion, or hoping that luck will strike and you will get a free upgrade, she insists there is an easy way to guarantee it.
Claudia insists that you need to get a credit card like Amex: “We use American Express, the gold card. And start racking up points. Even when you first sign up you get a bonus offer and you usually get anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 points. And it only costs 40,000 points for a business-class upgrade.”