Travel upgrades have an urban legend-like status; everyone has a friend-of-a-cousin's-cousin who supposedly got bumped to first class, or was upgraded to the penthouse suite, but nobody can actually name that person.
It might therefore be surprising to learn that people actually get free upgrades every day, all around the world.
The trick is in the minor details that you might not be familiar with...until now.
According to international body language expert and author Mark Bowden of TruthPlane Inc., if you want free stuff, you need to tap into your inner caveman.
Bowden explains that basic body language would have worked well when primitive man needed to organize a hunt, light a fire or warn the tribe against danger; despite its archaic origins, the same techniques can be surprisingly relevant and useful when 'angling' for a travel upgrade.
Canadian online travel agent FlightNetwork.com had Bowden demonstrate some of the various moves and signals you can use to get that extra pack of peanuts on the plane.
Using the right non-verbal clues (like the Cavemen did) can help you get what you want when traveling. Start with an honest smile (something Mark calls the "Cro-Magnon Crinkle") and you're on your way!
Scroll through the gallery below for some simple suggestions on how to improve your travel experience.
