Most of our communication is nonverbal. It’s not just what we say, or even how we say it, but how we look and what we project while saying it.
As I learned in high school debate, “don’t just polish your thesis, polish your shoes.” While I was successful at that stage, as I’ve aged I’ve learned that I do better at written communication.
Still, there are some people who swear by red ties for men, conveying passion, dominance, authority, and strength. They’re “power ties.” But does wearing red improve your travel game? Will it help you breeze through security, get an upgrade, and get dates?
It shouldn’t surprise me that, in the same “one weird trick” genre as whispering the words “revenue management” to get an upgrade, some people believe that the way to score a hookup while you’re flying is to wear red.
That Empty First Class Seat Could Be Yours
Now, in fairness, the ex-flight attendant who tells you all the tricks to join the mile high club (that are wrong) does wear red in her scarf.
This girl pic.twitter.com/gKPMWaGM4R
— vote.org ivote.fund @VoteSmart (@nutinliket) December 20, 2023
However neither passenger who had the lavatory opened on them on an easyJet flight were wearing red. Also not wearing red here. And the fastest onboard coupling I ever saw didn’t involve red at all, either.
World record inflight hookup: 2B helps 2A her stow her bag in Austin. She tells him about her kids and shows him her Priority Pass and Amex Platinum. They held hands for descent into Houston. A new couple is @United. #love #upintheair
— gary leff (@garyleff) May 6, 2018
If you literally want an inflight hookup, be seated next to someone that’s had too much to drink. Alcohol, rather than color of attire, will have a much greater correlation with hooking up inflight with someone you’ve never met before.
Red stands out. People notice you more in red. That’s why it’s good advice to obey traffic laws in a red car, since you may be more likely to catch the attention of police. But there’s nothing to suggest that red gets you “preferential treatment” from airline staff and TSA.
Wearing the powerful color red to the airport can transform your travel experience in many positive ways. With red’s ability to grab attention, incite feelings of attraction, and project confidence and authority, airline staff and security personnel view red-clad passengers more favorably.
For a smoother, less stressful travel journey, be sure to incorporate red into your airport outfit.
My advice?
- If you want TSA screening to go better, get PreCheck and CLEAR
- If you want better treatment from airline staff, have elite status and be nice.
I did always think that the Delta cabin crew “red dress” really popped, way better than the Zac Posen-designed ‘Passport Purple’ which is far more muted. Red can work at the airport! But it’s not that weird trick that will boost your upgrade odds for first class or for dating.
If you really want attention, shave all your body hair and wear a Hamas headband. That’ll get attention!
Gary writes, “People are wearing red to the airport, trying to get first class upgrades – and dates.” Inquiring minds want to know, did Deltalina (Katherine Lee) and other Red Dress Qualified (RDQ) Delta Air Lines flight attendants get more dates while wearing red?
More info: https://www.ajc.com/business/delta-red-dresses-don-fit-northwest-union-says/x6qA4a8moPtfHZJvJeUdbJ/
That’s a girl?? Looks like a guitarist from any number of ’80s hair bands. I honestly thought it was some metal dude until I saw the pink Wonderbra. And even then…
It used to be said that a red car is more likely to get pulled over by the police. Are people wearing lots of red more likely to get pulled over for cabin baggage compliance checks?
It could be a flag for those who have nothing better to show. There is a certain gross and heavily indicted politician, already convicted of rape, who often wears a red tie. I guess this would-be emperor has no other clothes.
Your most vapid, shallow subject ever, Gary.
I prefer the typos rather than this silly topic.
Wearing red to get first class upgrades. Maybe that happened in 1975
That’s the most asinine thing I’ve ever heard. 1st class upgrades are based on airline status and mostly automated
Can’t say much about being comped upgrades on flights nowadays — as I rarely get them even when they may have been somewhat relevant to a trip of mine — but I am pretty certain that I get more than my fair share of comped upgrades at hotels when the hotel front desk employees are on personally friendly terms with me. Airline employees, however, are less empowered to play seat upgrade and assignment games than they used to be, and so the personal relationship dynamics with legacy major airlines’ check-in employees just doesn’t do what it used to do.
If this is true than how is it that the Cincinatti Reds don’t win the World Series every year?
“drrichard” 0h you mean our next President ?
I always used to wear ties with red in them for interviews. I was aware of the stories about red ties but I also liked the flash that they gave to an otherwise subdued suit.
@ CMorgan. That’s funny . . . true but still funny. (I ‘m still searching for the “like” button” on VFTW comment section”
What a joke.