There is nothing that makes me shake my head faster. What? A mainstream article that gives misleading travel advice to the masses.
My “favorites” include the regularly circulating tips I see on how to score upgrades on airlines. These generally run along the lines of “show up dressed nicely and let the gate agent know that you’d like to sit in first class.”
Not This… Yet Again
This piece on the Huffington Post is an example of the ones that really made me laugh. It’s nuggets of wisdom included suggestions to:
- Drop a hint that there might be a tip in it for the counter or gate agent
- Stand around the gate agent’s desk and make small talk
- Offer the counter or gate agent a small gift in hopes that they will favor you over others
The Reality Check
Now I’m all for being nice to counter and gate agents. Anyone who has traveled frequently can tell you that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar (as we say here in Texas)—but standing around trying to chat up a busy gate agent while they’re doing their job? That is unlikely to endear you to them, unless they think you are flirting (and they are interested). And the suggestion that you offer to bribe them with cash? The last time I checked, it was not within their rules to accept. The suggestion is just silly.
Listen… the bottom line for getting an upgrade is knowing that airline’s upgrade policy. It’s important to know how to obtain them, the order in which they are processed, and your chances of getting one. That is highly variable depending on whether you have status or not. Even then, with status, you are still limited within those boundaries.
Yes, purely operational upgrades DO happen. But those are rare on most carriers these days. The exception is if you have status or are flying on an expensive ticket.
The article does have a couple of good tidbits. For example, advice on swapping seats (which I’ve shared previously) and on getting bumped to a later flight. But it’s hard to take those as seriously when mixed in with misleading travel advice.
Frankly, the best tip in the article has been one that frequent flyers advocate. That’s to HUCA (“hang up, call back”).
What Do You Think?
This is where having a seasoned travel advisor on speed dial can be helpful. In 30 years of frequent travel, I’ve pretty much seen it all.
Have YOU tried any of the techniques that the article suggests? Or has someone given you misleading travel advice? I invite you to share your stories in the comments below.
I totally agree with your take on the misleading travel advice out there—those ‘get an upgrade by being nice’ tips are frustrating because they often lead to disappointment. It’s a shame when well-meaning but outdated advice makes people feel like they have to go above and beyond just to get basic service. Thanks for calling out the reality so clearly; it’s a helpful reminder to focus on what actually works.