Originally Posted by channa

The last word is not the point. The point is, and I'm still not sure everyone gets it, is that it's not a right you have on your ticket.

People posting that they've done it a dozen times gives the naive customer a false sense of security, that they may go up to the agent and ask (or demand) it like it's something they're entitled to. The agent is fully within his or her right to deny it.

Technically they're not entitled to it. There are a number of circumstances, which both you and I have pointed out (oversell, delay, harried agent, nice agent, etc.), that can make this work for you.

But a little humility goes a long way in helping this happen. If you have nothing to stand on, just ask as a favor. If you know something is up (e.g., delayed flight), it wouldn't hurt to point it out. That sort of thing.

But going up there as if it were an entitlement because of past success may not be the best method to go about it...