Every once in a while you will see unfriendly or preoccupied agents. They have other things going on besides your upgrade request on a 1000 mile flight. Just because the upgrade is your top priority, don't kid yourself by thinking that it is everyone else's.

The vast majority of the agents are considerate, polite, and do their job well. You can't lump them all in with this one agent.

You know the rules. You can be polite. You can get mad. It may work or it may get you taken off the list by *mistake*.

Bottom line is that they hold the cards and it is up to them to deal you into the hand.