‘Some people have no shame’: 'Seat squatters' are stealing first-class seats, scoring free booze — here's how it works, and how to get airline upgrades the right way

How the seat-squatter scam works

Following the awkward encounter, the flight attendant told the Delta flyer about a similar incident that took place on a flight earlier that day. Two people allegedly “sat down [in first class], received their pre-flight booze and then said, ‘I’m just going to go say hi to my sister in the back of the plane,’ and walked off with the free drink to obviously not return,” the flight attendant explained.

As the Delta flyer came to learn, seat squatters are people who allegedly pretend to sit in first class in an attempt to scam anything from a free drink to a free seat upgrade, and the scam appears to be fairly popular. Another traveler who commented on the Delta flyer’s Reddit post shared a story about being upgraded to first class only to find that someone was already sitting there.

"This lady had just seen an open seat in first class and figured she’d see if she could get away with sitting there,” the Reddit commenter explained.

According to Condé Nast Traveler, flying first class typically costs around three times more than economy class, so it's not all that surprising that some people might try to get the perks of an upgrade without the hefty price tag. But there are ways to get extra perks on a flight without breaking the rules and attempting to steal someone’s seat.

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How to get airline upgrades the right way

While squatting in a first-class seat may not be the best approach to getting free airline upgrades, there are legit ways to get perks on a flight.

One of your best options is to take advantage of frequent flyer programs. If you fly often and with the same airline, signing up for that airline’s frequent flyer program can offer you perks such as free upgrades to business or first class, access to exclusive airline lounges, waived baggage fees and early boarding.

Another option is to sign up for an airline credit card, which often comes with benefits such as free checked bags and early boarding. Travel credit cards are also an option — they can provide you with statement credits for in-flight purchases up to a certain dollar amount, which can help you pay for your own drinks instead of scamming free pre-flight beverages offered to first-class flyers.

These options are far more likely to pan out, and far less likely to get you escorted off of a plane or put on the no-fly list.