Being nice gets you upgraded. And patience
helps too. I put in my upgrade requests as
early as possible and only ask for them once.
Then I sit and wait.

Twice on United the gate person would wave me
over and say "We found a little room for you
up front, thanks for waiting" because I did
not go up every two minutes and say "are all
first seats full?"

Most time the airlines put me in the first few rows in coach in the aisle anyway when I can't pay first.

Twice with cancelled flights they upgraded me
to first because they probably saw my face
was nine different colors from running between terminals, I was tried and had to
get home. I'm guessing maybe more it was
because there was space.

So my record for upgrades this year is about
65-70 percent. Passing. CATMAN