A freind of mine used to have is BAEC titla as Count, no idea if it got him more upgrades. According to him dating BA cabin crew has certainly helped.

I once reserved a hotel room as a "retired colonel" didn't go down well, don't think they saw the funny side of it.

Reserved a hotel room for the GF at the Shangri-La Bankok as a Princess, got great treatment from the hotel, including an "HRH Princess xxx in residence" letter of welcome, but she went mad, something about it being embarrasing, can't win!