Complimentary deodorant is apparently the number one wish from airlines by UK travelers. *

I think this is misguided.

1. Most people don’t smell because others fail to give them deodorant.
   
2. Very few people who say they want deodorant are the same people who smell.
   
3. We don’t really want to be given free deodorant. We want other people to be given free deodorant.

Deoderant is cheap. Price — at least for those with incomes to support air travel — really isn’t a barrier.

According to the CheapFlights UK survey, 40% of English adults have flown business or first class. If that were true, British Airways’ financial performance would be stronger. This is simply a reason to doubt the survey. Along with the following claim:

Passengers who have received a free upgrade from economy are more likely to get one by flirting than by pretending to be ill or other deceitful means.

Or their deceitful means are focused primarily on answering survey questions. Most passengers receiving complimentary upgrades are not doing so by flirting or faking sick. Although I suppose it’s possible that “more likely” means that 1 customer reported getting an upgrade by flirting (they could simply have been delusional) and none reported getting an upgrade by faking sick. We haven’t seen the underlying data…

(HT: Alan H.)

* I might have expected responses of “free dental work” or “food with flavor.”

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