Dressing up used to get you moved to first class. Does that trick still fly?
Every so often, travel media trots out tips and tricks for scoring free or deeply discounted upgrades to first or business class. Even though I already know how airlines do this, I still click on those stories when they come across my feed, and a surprising number of them have the same tired old advice: Dress up. The reason? Because airlines look for well-dressed passengers when they need to upgrade people for free.
It’s a lovely thought. Put on a blazer, polish your shoes, and maybe you’ll find yourself sipping Champagne up front instead of wedged into economy. No miles, no elite status, no expensive upgrade offer. You just need the right outfit.
But is there any truth to it? I have a rather unusual perspective on this particular tip: I used to work as an airport agent for Singapore…
