zrs .. maybe read Rudi's "strine" thread ... no such thing as 'brownies' here (well that word has a WHOLE other meaning I should say!) .. try "Anzac biscuits".
Yes AN will upgrade you if they are in the mood, on a non AN flyer scheme.

United put us earlier month on a LAX-MEL flight, as the similar timed LAX-SYD had left. They also gave us free MEL-SYD connection. ( And a couple of It'l upgrade certs too! )

Anyway, the boarding passes I got from Ansett were for business class as I explained we'd come in via 24 hours flying on (upgraded) C and F from Brazil via USA, and were not going to cope with the final hour being in coach! We go the upgrade, and we are talking here SERIOUS front end service folks, on a short 1 hour flight, that KILLS UA airline Domestic "First".

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~ Glen ~