Monarch Airlines to start giving away free upgrades to 'nice' passengers - here's how to bag one

How do you find bargains and free upgrades when you're trying to cut costs on your family holiday?

Most people use comparison websites and voucher codes - but if you're booking a flight with Monarch in the future, you could just try being nice.

The airline is offering customers free upgrades simply for their sunny disposition as part of a year-long campaign to promote 'traditional values of chivalry, courtesy and respect', because 'everyone benefits from niceness'.

Selected customers will be rewarded for their polite behaviour with the holy grail of free perks - a seat upgrade.

Priority check-in is another gift which will be given to nice customers.

But being polite to your flight attendants is too little, too late - you've got to be friendly to the customer service staff at time of booking.

Subject to availability, Monarch customer services staff are allowed to give away a certain amount of the free upgrades to extra leg room seats and priority check in every week.

The low-cost airline and holiday company is following in the footsteps of Pret a Manger to make the incentive part of booking policy.

It comes after a Monarch study conducted by Professor Jonathan Freeman at i2 Media Research at Goldsmiths University linked being nice to an increase in happiness, perceived health and success.

Nils Christy, Chief Operating Officer at Monarch, added: “We are often described as the nicer airline and holiday company and we pride ourselves on this. Our customer services staff are already nice – now they can reward those who are positively nice to them too.”

“Everyone benefits from niceness. Planes depart more punctually, staff and customers are happier and it improves the travelling experience for everyone.”