Are Travelers Really Lying and Faking Their Way to Better Treatment?
Jackie Reddy March 15, 2016
Young woman in international airport at check-in counter, giving her passport to an officer and waiting for her boarding pass
More and more travelers are faking illness and injury in order to dodge increasingly restrictive travel policies.
Forget frequent flyers; it’s time to address the issue of frequent liars: those travelers who fake illness, injury or personal hardship in the hopes of receiving better treatment. According to USA Today’s consumer advocate Christopher Elliott, these types are on the rise.
Elliott believes that frequent liars can be broken down into two types. First, there are those who distort their personal circumstances in order to persuade an official to waive a fee, etc. In the second group are those who fake a physical disability.
Faking is wrong, but why do some do it?
Money, of course, factors into the equation. In the bygone days of air travel, tickets were changed at no extra charge. But today, fees can be exorbitant and certain tickets cannot be changed at all. Hotels are getting tougher on changes too, with prepaid rates sometimes entirely non-refundable. Cruise lines also require official documentation such as a death certificate in order to issue a refund. But Michael Brein, a Seattle-based psychologist, offers a straightforward insight into the behavior of some travelers. “It is sometimes exhilarating to get away with things,” he explains. And according to Elliot, travel is a breeding ground for fakers because “faking it is easy. You’re away from home in a new environment, and people are inclined to believe you.”
However, as Brett Heising, a writer who publishes a website for disabled travelers, explained how the fakers are taking a service from another traveler who may genuinely need assistance. He told Elliott, “The idea that someone would fake an illness or disability, presumably to gain an advantage, would be laughable if it were not so objectionable.”
While Elliott believes that it is easy to blame these fakers, he thinks that the real issue lies with increasingly harsh travel policies.
In order to curtail this behavior, he advises that travelers read the fine print prior to booking. Elliott also points out that a bit of loyalty can go a long way, especially when it comes to the waiving of a harsh rule. His final bit of advice? “Be honest. A polite request to waive a rule is often as effective as inventing an ailment or an extenuating personal circumstance. Remember, it’s the hospitality industry – generally, employees want to please you,” Elliott said.
[Photo: Getty Images]
Over the yeas I have seen quite a few passengers boarded on wheel chairs disembark with suitcases in hand and half sprinted off the plane. 3 weeks ago when I was at the customer service counter at YYZ and a woman was making a big deal about the fact her luggage was checked through to her final destination YOW but her connecting flight is delayed. She went on to claim that she is left without her diabetes meds and she could die without it. When the customer service agent offer to make arrangements to her to see medical staff so that the meds can be available for her, she declined, the brave soul that she was. Then the real reason for her complaining at the counter came out. She wanted complimentary dinner vouchers. Meanwhile a line was forming behind her trying to get rebooked because of an ice storm in YOW
I saw somone "limp" up to checkin with a sore leg and demanded the ext row so theycould stretch out. The staff replied that a passenger had to be physically able to assist in order to get exit row seats so unfortunately they were unable to give out the exit row seat. The passenger left and when I saw them boarding the sore leg and limp had recovered.
IMHO, there are two kind of lies. The one for waiving a fee, harming no one. Just like the little lies when cops stop your car. And the one to benefit from a service others deserve (wheelchair boarding, etc). For the latters, punishment - in guilt is proven - should be extremely harsh, and information made public to let people think twice.
I never faked an illness, but one time I was booked Premium Eco on Virgin Atlantic and got upgraded to Upper Class at the gate. I was just getting over food poisoning and the flight was three hours delayed too. However, on another time on BA, I was booked Premium Eco as well and at check in, I slipped a note into my passport to the agent saying it was my mother's anniversary. Didn't work. Always worth a try given that airlines price gouge us for just about everything these days. I'm not ashamed to admit it.
I've "faked it" once, claiming a family member was ill to avoid a change fee. I have paid a few change fees as well, and I know I'm at the point where I don't have any goodwill remaining with United.