Originally Posted by yogimax
On a Shanghai-Narita flight earlier this year, Mrs. Yogimax and I were both upgraded. The boarding passes were already printed and waiting at the counter so it had nothing to do with appearance. I'm actually quite glad because I certainly do not appear to be a platinum elite in the way I dress. Just as an aside, though, I have noticed priests in clerical collars sitting up front. Who knows, though, if they were upgraded or travelling on a paid ticket.
From the responses so far, as well as personal experience, it looks like the "easiest" international op-ups are the feeder flights into Narita
I have taken many feeder flights into NRT and have never received an op-up (usually to/from MSP and the flights are usually packed.) Coworkers on the same flights have been op-uped, though (same class and status.) I normally travel in my jeans and golf shirt. My company has a policy of purchasing the cheapest fares so the only time I have a prayer of upgrading is on a last minute purchase.