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Getting F by lying - would this tactic ever work?

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Getting F by lying - would this tactic ever work?

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Old May 3, 2006 | 10:32 am
  #1  
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Talking Getting F by lying - would this tactic ever work?

http://www.lifehacker.com/software/t......-170947.php
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Old May 3, 2006 | 10:41 am
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I hope not, not ever. Someone who does that is a liar, and untrustworthy.

Of course, the rest of the article is pretty much bullcookies too, avoiding mention of things like earning elite status in an affinity program that rewards one for actual utilization of the company's offerings.
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Old May 3, 2006 | 1:24 pm
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I think he's guessing anyway. "...they might put you in first class." I agree with one of the comments that the gate agents have had to have heard every line there is.
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Old May 3, 2006 | 1:49 pm
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Sounds like every article about getting a free upgrade that doesn't originate from Flyertalk. i.e. a load of rubbish
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Old May 3, 2006 | 1:52 pm
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Any article that advises pax to arrive as late as possible for a flight is irresponsible. You have a far greater chance of missing your flight than you do of getting an upgrade.

Besides, with today's loads, it is rare that they have upgrade room available at the gate.

Aside of the fact that the approach itself is horsepuckey to begin with...
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Old May 3, 2006 | 3:40 pm
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It's a little too "I'm so clever" in its tone for me. There are better ways to get upgraded.
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Old May 3, 2006 | 4:20 pm
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Originally Posted by alanh
I agree with one of the comments that the gate agents have had to have heard every line there is.
And many we haven't thought of yet.

Looks like someone needed a blog to fill.
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Old May 3, 2006 | 6:05 pm
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Originally Posted by alanh
I agree with one of the comments that the gate agents have had to have heard every line there is.
And people wonder why the agents are often so inflexible...
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Old May 3, 2006 | 6:52 pm
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The Wall Street Journal article at the bottom was interesting - and free. ^

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114653336888641120.html
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Old May 3, 2006 | 9:45 pm
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Dress smart...
Back in the days before I fully understood FF programs and before I had found FlyerTalk, I heard this as the way to get upgraded. Has anyone ever been upgraded because they are dressed smartly?

I know I've been upgraded when I've been dressed smartly but the upgrade was because I was top tier on that airline's FF program and my class of travel was oversold. I've also been upgraded from Biz to First on a long haul flight when dressed casually (thank you Cathay Pacific! ) so I know that a suit is not a pre-requisite.

After flying SYD > LAX > LHR > HEL in economy in a suit years ago, I gave up on this as a method of getting upgrades. I have wondered though if there is any truth to it or if it's just another urban myth.
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Old May 4, 2006 | 12:34 am
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Originally Posted by grahamb
Has anyone ever been upgraded because they are dressed smartly?
I'd ask a slightly different question: Has anyone ever NOT been upgraded because of how they are dressed?

That has not happened to me, but it did happen once to a guy I was travelling with. I ended up in F and he ended up in C, where he had been booked. You should have seen how he was dressed for the next flight!!! Looked like he was going to the opera.
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Old May 4, 2006 | 1:36 am
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Originally Posted by Snoopy
I'd ask a slightly different question: Has anyone ever NOT been upgraded because of how they are dressed?

That has not happened to me, but it did happen once to a guy I was travelling with. I ended up in F and he ended up in C, where he had been booked. You should have seen how he was dressed for the next flight!!! Looked like he was going to the opera.
But was the way he was dressed the only difference between you? I've had that happen but it's because I've been on a higher tier in the FF program.

And more importantly, did he get an upgrade on the next flight - that would be convincing evidence for me (still wouldn't make me wear a suit on a long haul flight though...)
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Old May 4, 2006 | 6:04 am
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Originally Posted by grahamb
... Has anyone ever been upgraded because they are dressed smartly?
It's pretty much impossible to say for sure, but I think the best strategy is to dress smartly (my favoured uniform is blazer, khakis, dressy shirt), be pleasant (especially when other pax are being unpleasant) and show empathy to the GA/TA of things are rough. I try to be like that regardless, but I'm quite positive it's gotten be upgraded.

In fact, on one occasion in SCL I'm quite positive that it was my sportsjacket that brought a T/A back to me in the lineup to check my ticket and offer me an upgrade if I took another flight two hours later. Made no difference to me as I had a 7 hour layover in Sao Paulo.
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Old May 4, 2006 | 8:05 am
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Originally Posted by AC110
It's pretty much impossible to say for sure, but I think the best strategy is to dress smartly (my favoured uniform is blazer, khakis, dressy shirt), be pleasant .
Sounds reasonable, but if you overdo it, (like a guy I saw recently) you take forever to clear security. Remove jacket, remove cell, remove blackberry, take off belt with lots of metal, remove huge watch, untie and remove shoes... you get the idea...

...and of course he waited until right before the screening to do all this because he was closing a big deal (I think with Domino's) on his phone while waiting in line.
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Old May 4, 2006 | 9:37 am
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Originally Posted by grahamb
But was the way he was dressed the only difference between you? I've had that happen but it's because I've been on a higher tier in the FF program.

And more importantly, did he get an upgrade on the next flight - that would be convincing evidence for me (still wouldn't make me wear a suit on a long haul flight though...)
It was on Philippine Airlines and the station Manager apologised for not being able to upgrade him because of his attire. So no doubts there...

As for the next flight, neither of us were upgraded, but he still dresses better than he used to and I understand that he has been lucky on a couple of occasions since then.
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