For nearly two decades, one woman has perfected the art of securing complimentary perks, from luxury hotel suites to free champagne, by mastering the subtle craft of persuasion and, occasionally, a well-placed fib about her birthday.
The art of the strategic story
Emma Parsons-Reid recalls a key moment in April 2019 when she arrived two hours early for a hotel check-in with her husband, Kev. She immediately engaged the receptionist with a flood of earnest explanation. "I'm so sorry I'm early – but my husband hasn't been well, and we're so excited to start our holiday," she said, later adding that he was exhausted from cancer treatments.
While every detail was true, her delivery was meticulously calculated. By dabbing her eyes with a sad expression, she secured her goal: an early check-in and a room upgrade. "I'm quite the expert on reading staff," Emma states. "After all, I've been doing this for 17 years."
From a restaurant birthday to a lifelong habit
Her unique hobby began in 2008 after witnessing strangers receive free champagne and dessert for a birthday celebration. It sparked a question: how do staff verify a real birthday? She proposed the idea to her husband, the "extremely honest and trustworthy" Kev, who was initially uncomfortable with her maverick approach.
The first test came in 2009 for her 42nd birthday. Emma had booked a restaurant table, claiming it was her 40th. The staff emerged with complimentary champagne and a cake iced with "40". "Kev was mortified initially," she admits, but he soon played along. That successful blag for a free drink and dessert ignited an addiction.
Mastering the freebie blag across industries
Over the years, her tactics have yielded impressive results across hotels and restaurants:
- Free desserts, drinks, and breakfasts on 'Room Only' deals.
- Room upgrades and early check-ins.
- Complimentary drink vouchers for minor inconveniences like a cold shower or for completing a task like unblocking a toilet.
Her strategy extends to retail, particularly with high-end make-up and perfume. "I won't make a purchase until I have a huge bag of goodies," she explains. Her method involves politely asking about deals or samples, ensuring she extracts maximum value from every transaction.
While she acknowledges some view it as stealing, Emma emphasises her core rules: always be polite and friendly, and never rely on success. Staff, she notes, are far more likely to grant upgrades to courteous customers. She advises would-be blaggers to start the conversation, follow their instincts, and know when to walk away.
Despite occasional setbacks, like a memorable failure with an unmoved hotel receptionist that still stings, her success rate remains high. Emma Parsons-Reid has no plans to stop, even joking about haggling for a care home upgrade in her old age. For her, the thrill of the deal and the art of the polite ask are rewards in themselves.
