I have some empirical evidence on this one.... MSP-LAS on Friday 5/18 5pm departure. My co-worker and I are both upgraded 5B & 5C on a 753, chugging down a Miller Lite (ugh) on the ground... chit chat, looking forward to a week in Vegas, not really paying attention to anything.

Pretty much everyone has boarded on a full flight, when the FA, a Fabio-type guy stands up in front of F and announces: "The gentleman in seat 4A would like to get his wife upgraded, and is offering $100 for anyone willing to switch seats with her. She has an aisle seat in coach."

At this point, I'm thinking, hmm... sweet deal for someone, but this is a Vegas flight, I think I'll stay up here and hit the sauce a bit. Plus I'm a little more than snackbox-hungry, and I've been flying in Y a bunch lately, think I will keep my seat.

Apparently, everyone else was thinking along the same lines, b/c he didn't get any takers... I see the high-roller flash a hand signal to the FA, and he says "Anyone for $200?" Here, I'm starting to think, whoa... maybe I need to switch. But It's such a strange thing going on, I just can't pull the trigger. Impatient, the high-roller guy in 4A gives another signal, and the FA says "$300, anyone?"

At this point my co-worker raises his hand quick-draw wild west style, beating myself and about four other passengers to the punch. He takes his $300, and his Miller Lite, and walks to the back... about a whole trip's worth of Pai-Gow losses in his pocket. The high roller guy says "small price to pay to save my marriage".

Passenger next to me and I reviewed the events afterwards.. he told me that he had paid an extra $500 for his seat in F, so that price point was still a bargain.

Getting away from the story, if I were you, I'd look into what it costs for F on the ANC-MSP flight. That's a grueler in Y. i don't think it will be offered to you in OLCI as this is a very platinum heavy route with all the oil commuters. I've been upgraded every time as a plat, but some gold co-workers have had almost no success.