A lot of this kind of *Best* was also before the advent of the two-edged sword loyalty programs that rationalized, codified and mostly limited the favors by a "cultivated" CSR.

As part of this discussion, I want to add a blanket shout out to the United Concierges, followed by the 1K Room, followed by United's Room 3333 (shhhh!). Miracle workers, all. "Yes. No problem!" Chasing you down the corridor unlimited times with upgrades for no instruments, hotels for Wx, and the most miraculous - knitting together separate PNRs when one trip ran into the next and you were at the other end of the world. And concluding with: "...Thank you for flying with us!"