Let's see... I've upgraded Vince Neil & his drummer from BUF-DTW when Vince had a broken leg and was in a wheelchair in coach. I've upgraded military personnel. I've upgraded colleagues who are separated (e.g. silver gets the upgrade, colleague heads for the back of the plane in coach. I've upgraded people by letting the GA randomly pick as many people as they have free seats for. I've never upgraded anyone with ulterior motives or ever expected anything in return. I just hate to see first flying empty. I used to do BUF-DTW and DTW-BUF a lot, and there were many flights with 3-4 elites up front and the rest was empty. Those were the days.... now I'm lucky to score an upgrade on an $800 ticket between MSP & SFO, as a Plat.