I recently experienced something even better and apparently it was allowed. I checked in for a flight and was told I owed a $100.00 "change fee" for coming home a day later. I said, (with a big smile,) "You would actually charge a guy a "change fee" on his 50th birthday?" The agent asked to see my ID (a second time) and said, "Wow, it really is your 50th birthday!" She waived the fee and actually entered, "50th birthday" into the computer for the reason the fee was waived. But I was kicking myself later for forgetting to give her an SOS.
[This message has been edited by Neal (edited 09-30-2002).]