Dress Code - upgrading

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 17, 2006 | 8:12 am

Yukonprince

Original Poster

Join Date: Oct 2004

Programs: Aeroplan, Delta, Starwood, Fairmount

Posts: 2,316

Dress Code - upgrading

With the chatter about dress code in the lounges....

I always wear casual when travelling EXCEPT when I am on standby to be upgraded.

I find the upgrade succes rate to be MUCH higher when I wear a shirt and tie. A genuine "good morning" to the GAs with a nice smile does wonders as well.

A nice thank you when you do get your upgrade is always appreciated by the GAs AND they just might remember you the next time you are in line for an upgrade....

Mar 17, 2006 | 8:45 am

airbus320

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2000

Location: Southern Alberta

Posts: 20,547

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukonprince

I find the upgrade succes rate to be MUCH higher when I wear a shirt and tie.

In the days when you could upgrade almost from any fare, I have had tremendous over the pond upgrade success wearing a suit and my "power tie" *.

In fact, I remember twice the gate agents commenting on how nice the tie was.

* This tie was purchased in a designer boutique in Paris and was purchased on sale. In fact, in spite of its age, it is still my favorite tie.

Mar 17, 2006 | 9:37 am

djjaguar64

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: YYZ

Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB

Posts: 14,219

I guess if I dressed as a Hip Hop Star(TRACK SUIT AND ALL THE BLING) and being an SE I would not stand a chance especially if an Aeroplan member in a suit was ahead of me.

Mar 17, 2006 | 9:55 am

airbus320

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2000

Location: Southern Alberta

Posts: 20,547

Quote:

Originally Posted by djjaguar64

I guess if I dressed as a Hip Hop Star(TRACK SUIT AND ALL THE BLING) and being an SE I would not stand a chance especially if an Aeroplan member in a suit was ahead of me.

There is a reason why the NBA forced all those players into suits.

Mar 17, 2006 | 9:58 am

Doc Fraud

Join Date: Nov 2003

Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

Programs: SPG - Platinum, Hertz - 5 Star

Posts: 2,387

Personally I think the effect is psychological....for the wearer! It makes you feel better by all means go ahead and do it, but I'm not convinced that it has much effect.

The upgrade rules are much more consistently enforced these days....not perfectly.... and there is nothing in there about tie wearers going first, unless they also happen to have 3 or 4 stripes on their shoulders.

DF

Mar 17, 2006 | 11:47 am

Fermat

Join Date: Jul 2001

Location: Citizen of Canada, Member of the World!

Programs: AA, AB, AC, AD, AE, AF, AG... you get the picture

Posts: 2,091

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukonprince

it's a myth these days. Unless you're fortunate enough to secure the lone I class seat in advance, the gate is much more consistent in enforcing fare basis, checkin time and member status than in the past. An SE in jeans on a higher fare will beat an E in a Boss, Ferragamo, or Versace any day.

You're right about the thank yous though - spreading politeness around benefits everyone's social interactions... just think of the next person in line who deals with an agent who is frazzled vs the one that has been kindly thanked.

Mar 17, 2006 | 11:55 am

airbus320

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2000

Location: Southern Alberta

Posts: 20,547

Please notice that my observation on dress and upgrade success was dated by the observation " in the days when we could upgrade from almost any fare"

Those days are gone ... as are the days of upgrades based on upgrade criteria that were not always clear.

Mar 17, 2006 | 4:41 pm

Q Shoe Guy

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: Thanks for the Memories !!!

Posts: 10,737

Anecdotal evidence (oxymoron,I know) at YVR before boarding flights to Japan that the gate agent had their translator go around the waiting area and contacting well dressed passengers and those of the older generation for OP-UPs. This of course after they have op-uped all the status members first.

Mar 17, 2006 | 4:47 pm

yyznomad

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2004

Location: YVR

Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC

Posts: 35,626

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukonprince

Regardless of what I wear, I get my upgrades based on my status. This question might be better answered by those who have no status and dress well or crappy.

Mar 17, 2006 | 4:49 pm

#10

shore9

Join Date: Oct 2003

Location: YVR

Programs: WS Platinum, former AC E35K

Posts: 6,338

Quote:

Originally Posted by yyznomad

Regardless of what I wear, I get my upgrades based on my status. This question might be better answered by those who have no status and dress well or crappy.

It shouldn't matter what one is wearing, they should get their upgrade based on their loyalty, which is how it works. If an agent was to refuse someone an upgrade based on their dress, yet they deserve the upgrade, that agent is not doing their job, and I hope that they get fired for that.

Mar 17, 2006 | 4:51 pm

#11

yyznomad

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2004

Location: YVR

Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC

Posts: 35,626

Quote:

Originally Posted by shore9

What's your point? That's essentially what I just said, but the dress code part I am apathetic to.

Mar 17, 2006 | 10:03 pm

#12

cattle

Join Date: Jun 2002

Posts: 5,284

Quote:

Originally Posted by shore9

If an agent was to refuse someone an upgrade based on their dress, yet they deserve the upgrade, that agent is not doing their job, and I hope that they get fired for that.

Why do you always want everyone to get fired?

As per the discussion at hand. I have had plenty of Op-Ups in my day when wearing jeans and a button down ..... Attitude, more than dress, has always seemed to be the winning thing for me because it sure isn't my looks

Mar 17, 2006 | 10:13 pm

#13

GoldFlyer

Join Date: Dec 2002

Location: In Exile

Programs: QFF WP :-0, AC, FlyBuys, Porter's Liquor Store, Mother's Helper

Posts: 2,496

Quote:

Originally Posted by shore9

Ho hum. If an agent was casting about the boarding area and looking purely on the way people were dressed then I would doubt they would necessarily choose the "loyalty" character - they (loyal AC flyer) just might be the one in shorts and t-shirt on their way to HNL (like you perhaps)

So you have the poor bugger fired for not picking you and where then does that leave you next time?

Last edited by GoldFlyer; Mar 18, 2006 at 8:29 am

Mar 17, 2006 | 10:54 pm

#14

CrampedInY

Join Date: Sep 2002

Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold

Posts: 181

For my first ever AC op-up, I was wearing jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers, but I was clean

. I also had no status. I probably received the upgrade because I wasn't screaming at the GA for the flight which was oversold in the back. Attitude is more important than appearances.