Originally Posted by
Nuff Said
but it was once done on appearance. My first two were done by this method at the gate
Your theory on this being that the ground staff took one look at you and thought to themselves "now that's one finely dressed chappie/lassie! I like the cut of his/her jib!" and that's how you got upgraded?
Having also been upgraded at the gate a few times back when I used to fly Y, I can attest that looking like I just emerged from a three day meth bender had no apparent negative consequences. Perhaps we both just carry that elusive Star Quality...