How To Get Flight Upgrades: Survey Reveals Who's Most Likely To Get Upgraded (INFOGRAPHIC)

Few things are as coveted as a free flight upgrade and according to a recent survey released by Skyscanner, the chances of travellers being bumped up to business class or better are slim, unless they're a lone, smartly-dressed male in their 30's.

In the flight booking company's survey of 700 cabin crew members, roughly six out of 10 workers admitted to giving out a free seat upgrade, with single male passengers receiving the majority of the offers (58 per cent of the times compared to 42 per cent for women). On the other hand, young teenagers dressed in revealing clothes and travelling in groups were the least likely to get upgraded.

“Not many of us are lucky enough to bag a free upgrade, but if you’re a single guy in your thirties, you have a better chance than any of us," said Victoria Bailie, a spokesperson with Skyscanner in an interview with Scotsman.com.

While changing your gender and ditching your entourage may be tough to do mid-flight, there are some things travellers can keep in mind the next time they're looking for first-class seats at economy level pricing.

For starters, casually mentioning you're part of the airline's frequent flyer program serves as an easy way to bolster your chances of an upgrade. More elaborate means also include travelling with an injury (or at least lying about it) as nearly two thirds of the surveyed crew members said they were more inclined to upgrade an injured passengers' seat at no extra cost.

As for travellers who fit none of aforementioned profiles, being friendly and polite to crew or travelling during unpopular times can make a difference according to the Daily Telegraph. To see what other things travellers can do to increase their chances of a free upgrade, check out the infographic below.