I flew from ORD to SEA last night on United Airlines. As a Premier Executive member, I was able to reserve an exit row seat in coach a week ago. When I went to check in, they had given my seat away to someone else. All that was left were middle seats on the 767. I was very pleasant about the dilemma and let the gate agent know how dissapointed I was and how I was a Northwest Gold convert. He asked to hold on to my boarding pass and have a seat in the waiting area. Not once did I ever go up to him and disturb him again and I waited for everyone to board the plane. When the line for boarding was down to a few, he paged me up to the podium and gave me a new boarding pass and thanked me for being so pleasant. I glanced down to see my seat assignment was 1J. Gave him a big smile and handshake and was on my way!

The grilled halibut dinner was very good and I thoroughly enjoyed the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and milk during the movie...

This is the 6th time this year I have been able to get upgraded without coupons (first time on United). It goes to show you how a little bit of respect and civility can get you more in the long run.

MileageAddict, you old smoothie. Just goes to prove that the main thing you have to do is "be nice". Which, incidentally, works in most of the day-to-day situations.

Way to go, MileageAddict!

Cheers from Catman to you Mileage Addict. I
too use the same philosophy, I only ask for
something once, try to inject a little humor
about something (my humor is a matter of
taste, my friends say, but it's very "G" rated) then I sit down and wait.

In about 90-percent of the cases I get a nice
surprise upgrade. I always thank the agnet
and tell him/her "I hope you get home soon."

Being nice gets you the cookies! CATMAN

I got an upgrade on Continental, of which I am not even an elite. Two passengers had become very irate at the gate agent and after they left, I told the gate agent how good the service had been on Continental and then myself and two others even wrote a short letter explaining how we witnessed the irate passengers and how the gate agents were only going by the rules. From our support, the gate agent nearly started to cry. Of the passangers that volunteered to give up their seat, I was the only one that got an upgrade on the next flight. This makes the 3rd time in 3 flights that I have been upgraded on Continental; and I do not even have elite status!!!

Justin, congratulations on your upgrades but
for those elite members who are not as nice
to gate agents, I wouldn't say you are not
elite too loud. But you teach us all a great
lesson... be nice and you'll get some ben
and Jerry's Ice Cream in first class on an
upgrade (My latest last minute upgrade for
keeping my mouth shut!) CATMAN

So! Now I know why my complimentary Gold upgrades are scarce. Justin, may the upgrade gods continue to bless you. Get 'em any way you can. And, Catman, everyone knows that Blue Bell Ice Cream, brewed right here in Texas, is the best in the world.

Catman, well, of my 3 upgrades on Continental, one was for an apology, which I didn't even ask for, but the gate agent wanted didn't want any bad feelings, so she gave it to me without me even asking; one was bargained for while volunteering to give up my seat - I was taught to always ask for an upgrade if you give your seat up. So if you are an elite on Continental, I don't think you should be upset that Continental does things like this. No hard feelings I hope.

A few years ago I had to fly USair for the first time. I joined their FF program before the flight. I knew that as a brand new member, there was no way I could upgrade.

But when I checked in, I asked the agent anyway and of course she confirmed that I couldn't. But then, she proceded to issue me a boarding pass. The machine jammed and she kept apologizing for the delay as she was struggling yo fix it. But I kept smiling and saying "it's OK, just take your time."

When she finally issued me my pass, it was for first class!! Once again, to prove what
the rest of you said, it's because I was so pleasant!

Neal

Justin, No hard feelings from this Gold Elite. Get those upgrades anyway you can, especially by being nice to the gate agents.
I have had them tell me that being nice and,
above all, patient goes a long way. Apparently, the gate people have enough people yelling at them and constantly bothering them in one way or another, that a
nice, mannerly person is refreshing. As I said before, "May the upgrade gods bestow many 1st class seats upon you".

Justin, there NEVER was any hard feelings, I
just made my suggestion because if you should
slip and mention you are NOT Gold Elite and
someone who is doesn't get upgraded, there
could be hard feelings. (Worst case
situation: fists fly and I get to write about
it the next day. I like writing travel related stories!)

But that fist part is very very unlikely.

I intend to live a very very long time and
I will not get completely stressed out over
upgrades (UNLESS I use miles to get them,
it's confirmed and then POOF they are NOT!)

I salute your niceness and your luck, and
I suggest the next thing you do is buy a Lottery or Powerball ticket.

And may the Upgrade gods smile upon us all
especially you JAWS43. CATMAN