Comments on: Need your thoughts: how best to execute this plan? http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/ Tips, Tricks, and Travel with Lucky Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:58:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Douglas http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Douglas Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:12:52 +0000 http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/#comment-179 Big difference in treatment when dressed down. Making 1K on 130 segments a year, mostly Domestic, and flying Int'l on holiday, many different interactions can change based on attired. From GA to the Ticket Agents, if I walk up as a 28 yo in blue jeans, t-shirt, bit different service. Oddly, I find other customers act different. I was flying from BWI to ORD 3 weeks ago on a 6 segment trip that week. The BWI portion was the final leg, and the standby flight was delayed 3 hours. The RCC moved my flight up and managed to get me home about an hour earlier. I changed out of my suit before boarding. While I boarded, a person stated "No cutting, no cutting" as I boarded to the right. The GA told them I was not, which the person continued to mention. I guess it proved funny when the guy was trying to board the ORD flight and was confirmed on the DEN. I can follow instructions and read. :-) I have received upgrades to business / first using miles, certs and complimentary. I have received complimentary upgrades more then anything. Many flights have crew members that know friends that I have made on my routes, so the crew welcomes me and really goes above and beyond. Going to AMS a month ago, despite a baseball cap, sweatshirt and blue jeans, they were awesome. Big difference in treatment when dressed down. Making 1K on 130 segments a year, mostly Domestic, and flying Int’l on holiday, many different interactions can change based on attired. From GA to the Ticket Agents, if I walk up as a 28 yo in blue jeans, t-shirt, bit different service.

Oddly, I find other customers act different. I was flying from BWI to ORD 3 weeks ago on a 6 segment trip that week. The BWI portion was the final leg, and the standby flight was delayed 3 hours. The RCC moved my flight up and managed to get me home about an hour earlier. I changed out of my suit before boarding. While I boarded, a person stated “No cutting, no cutting” as I boarded to the right. The GA told them I was not, which the person continued to mention. I guess it proved funny when the guy was trying to board the ORD flight and was confirmed on the DEN. I can follow instructions and read. :-)

I have received upgrades to business / first using miles, certs and complimentary. I have received complimentary upgrades more then anything. Many flights have crew members that know friends that I have made on my routes, so the crew welcomes me and really goes above and beyond. Going to AMS a month ago, despite a baseball cap, sweatshirt and blue jeans, they were awesome.

]]> By: NickP http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-113 NickP Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:54:14 +0000 http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/#comment-113 I flew for work in my twenties quite a bit, I made 1K on segments alone one year. On occasion I got the "WOW, you're 1K' But I guess it had more to do with my attitude. I didn't act like a twenty something and on occasion got guessed as being in my 30's. The standard comment was "You look really young, but you act older than your age". I never got hassle on any UA flights, even when I did my first C class bookings on UA international flights with award miles. Now in my 30's I get the "Wow, your a million mile flyer, aren't you kind of young"... So I guess it's all perspective. I flew for work in my twenties quite a bit, I made 1K on segments alone one year. On occasion I got the “WOW, you’re 1K’ But I guess it had more to do with my attitude. I didn’t act like a twenty something and on occasion got guessed as being in my 30′s. The standard comment was “You look really young, but you act older than your age”.

I never got hassle on any UA flights, even when I did my first C class bookings on UA international flights with award miles.

Now in my 30′s I get the “Wow, your a million mile flyer, aren’t you kind of young”… So I guess it’s all perspective.

]]> By: AJ http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-104 AJ Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:05:19 +0000 http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/#comment-104 I travel all the time in "college attire" and get the looks and questions often. I think its a good idea(eye opener for you too in some ways)...if you can survive! I travel all the time in “college attire” and get the looks and questions often. I think its a good idea(eye opener for you too in some ways)…if you can survive!

]]> By: lucky http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-103 lucky Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:57:21 +0000 http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/#comment-103 Yep, the good thing is that I'm flying TPA-IAD-SFO-LAX-SFO-EWR-IAD-TPA three times within a week, so I'll do one in middle seats in Economy "Minus," one in First wearing torn clothes, and one in First dressed "normally." Yep, the good thing is that I’m flying TPA-IAD-SFO-LAX-SFO-EWR-IAD-TPA three times within a week, so I’ll do one in middle seats in Economy “Minus,” one in First wearing torn clothes, and one in First dressed “normally.”

]]> By: Deborah http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-102 Deborah Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:50:21 +0000 http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/#comment-102 To make it an accurate study, fly the exact same routes on the exact same days in various cabins. I find that I get treated better on certain routes on certain days (I'm 1k) by both passengers and employees. There are some "business heavy" routes where I feel lucky to make it to my destination alive after all the pushing and shoving, and I in no way look like a college student (although I wish I did) To make it an accurate study, fly the exact same routes on the exact same days in various cabins. I find that I get treated better on certain routes on certain days (I’m 1k) by both passengers and employees. There are some “business heavy” routes where I feel lucky to make it to my destination alive after all the pushing and shoving, and I in no way look like a college student (although I wish I did)

]]> By: peteropny http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-101 peteropny Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:42:39 +0000 http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/#comment-101 Well don't try for E- for one of your convoluted trips :) Well don’t try for E- for one of your convoluted trips :)

]]> By: lucky http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-100 lucky Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:23:44 +0000 http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/#comment-100 You're exactly right Nick. I would not be able to use any 1K resources at all, and I would reserve Economy "Minus" middle seats. That being said, I can try to talk the agent into giving me an Economy Plus seat or an aisle seat, but it would be totally unrelated to my status. I think that's fair enough, right? You’re exactly right Nick. I would not be able to use any 1K resources at all, and I would reserve Economy “Minus” middle seats. That being said, I can try to talk the agent into giving me an Economy Plus seat or an aisle seat, but it would be totally unrelated to my status. I think that’s fair enough, right?

]]> By: Nick http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Nick Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:39:55 +0000 http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/#comment-98 I like the idea of doing both. They're different experiments, and each could be interesting. A question: when traveling as a "no status" passenger, do you try get to act like a no status passenger? What about in irrops, are you allowed to bust out your frequent flier knowledge? Call the 1K line? I think maybe the answers should be yes, no, no... others? Also, if possible try to do the "no status" experiment on the itinerary with the most potential for irrops, too. The general consensus seems to be that this is when status makes a big difference. Since you can pull your MP number reasonably close to the departure date, you might look for a bad weather or other anticipated delays. I like the idea of doing both. They’re different experiments, and each could be interesting.
A question: when traveling as a “no status” passenger, do you try get to act like a no status passenger? What about in irrops, are you allowed to bust out your frequent flier knowledge? Call the 1K line? I think maybe the answers should be yes, no, no… others?
Also, if possible try to do the “no status” experiment on the itinerary with the most potential for irrops, too. The general consensus seems to be that this is when status makes a big difference. Since you can pull your MP number reasonably close to the departure date, you might look for a bad weather or other anticipated delays.

]]> By: lucky http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-97 lucky Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:28:26 +0000 http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/#comment-97 Deborah, that's the feeling I get, and that's what I'm hoping the result will be from my little experiment. I always get treated very well, but I read all these horror stories even about people in their upper 20's that get treated poorly, especially by other passengers. I'm hoping I come to the same conclusion, but we'll see! Right now I'm leaning towards doing the one trip in First as stated above and then reserving Economy "Minus" middle seats, and then seeing how well I can work the system, how often I can get myself into Economy Plus without status, etc. I figured that could be the most beneficial for those that read about it. Deborah, that’s the feeling I get, and that’s what I’m hoping the result will be from my little experiment. I always get treated very well, but I read all these horror stories even about people in their upper 20′s that get treated poorly, especially by other passengers. I’m hoping I come to the same conclusion, but we’ll see!

Right now I’m leaning towards doing the one trip in First as stated above and then reserving Economy “Minus” middle seats, and then seeing how well I can work the system, how often I can get myself into Economy Plus without status, etc. I figured that could be the most beneficial for those that read about it.

]]> By: Deborah http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Deborah Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:20:36 +0000 http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/2008/03/10/need-your-thoughts-how-best-to-execute-this-plan/#comment-96 My children, 1P (college student) and 2P(High school student) get treated very well while traveling alone. No problems with upgrades, boarding, etc. I think the disparity of treatment may be more of an issue of an isolated employee rather than a general attitude. (Why would you fly coach if you didn't have to :) ) My children, 1P (college student) and 2P(High school student) get treated very well while traveling alone. No problems with upgrades, boarding, etc. I think the disparity of treatment may be more of an issue of an isolated employee rather than a general attitude. (Why would you fly coach if you didn’t have to :) )

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