‘I’m not proud of it’: Man says he ‘always’ lies to IHG when booking hotels. Then IHG responds

A TikToker revealed the unusual trick he uses whenever checking into airport hotels. The trick? He claims to have a son with special needs. The catch? He doesn't actually have a son.

In a viral post with more than 4 million views, Ben (@ben302279) shared a trick to supposedly get better hotel rooms. Ben explained that when checking into a hotel, he always claims to have a son with autism who loves planes. 

The truth, however, is that Ben is an aviation enthusiast who seeks rooms with a window or view. He said he enjoys watching a flight-tracking app by the window. According to him, the story often results in room upgrades with a view where he can comfortably watch and track the planes overhead.

How did the hotel chain react?

Ben's post received a large amount of attention. Notably, IHG Hotels & Resorts' public TikTok account joined the comment section.

Rather than criticizing the claim, the company appeared to play along with the joke.

“This can be our little secret,” the comment said.

The account also offered to send branded swag for a future stay. This surprised viewers who did not expect a major hotel brand to engage so casually with the story.

“IHG is the best,” said one person with a love emoji.

Do guests actually need a hack to get better rooms?

According to IHG's terms and broader reservation policies, room requests and preferences can be made at any time. However, room upgrades and guest preferences are handled at the hotel's discretion and are subject to availability. 

Guests, then, can either choose to fabricate details for better accommodations or simply request them. Ben's trick may have worked for him, but for others, it can be a slippery slope.

@ben302279 We love a runway #planes #fyp #work ♬ original sound – Ben3022

What did commenters discuss?

Despite Ben's admission, the comment section quickly shifted into a hub for aviation fans.

Plane enthusiasts shared favorite spotting locations near airports, along with photos of aircraft flying low over beaches, hotels, and public viewing areas. Plane spotting has grown in popularity thanks to flight-tracking apps and online communities. Aviation fans can identify planes in real time, log sightings, and share photos with others around the world.

“You gotta stay at the TWA hotel at least once in your life. Its got a rooftop pool where you can sit and drink and watch planes take off from JFK. You can also get a room facing the runways. 10/10 experience,” one person recommended.

Several users also discussed Skycards, a mobile app often compared to Pokémon Go for aviation fans. The app uses real-time flight data to let users collect digital aircraft cards as they're spotted overhead.

“Bro you gotta get the sky cards game app and catch the planes. it's dope, Pokémon for planes,” another person said.

Buzz News reached out to IHG via email and Ben via TikTok comment and direct message.