Hypothetically :)
Jun 9, 2013 | 3:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Canada
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Hypothetically :)
Just curious......I'm not a super flyer meaning I don't have Elite status and don't fly 100 times a year especially with my job changing.
Like anywhere else money always talks...........I have never tried this nor actually have never thought of it ( not sure why cause it seems to happen in every other area
) If a guy were to approach the gate agent and say offer a couple hundred bones for a couple of seats in business...........would that fly ? or does a guy do that when checking in..............or does a guy just not do that
Just curious if anyone has done that and if it ever works. I'm sure the percentages are low but I guess you could call it a courtesy upgrade !
Like anywhere else money always talks...........I have never tried this nor actually have never thought of it ( not sure why cause it seems to happen in every other area
) If a guy were to approach the gate agent and say offer a couple hundred bones for a couple of seats in business...........would that fly ? or does a guy do that when checking in..............or does a guy just not do thatJust curious if anyone has done that and if it ever works. I'm sure the percentages are low but I guess you could call it a courtesy upgrade !
Jun 9, 2013 | 3:08 pm
#3
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Are you talking about buying an upgrade (you can do that at check-in if there's space), or bribing the gate agent?
If the former, yes, you can do it.
If the latter, I don't want to say it will never work, but on a flight that's long enough that you'd be willing to pay "a couple hundred", but not do a real LMU, there are going to be multiple gate agents (watching each other). And I don't think any of them would want to risk getting fired for a couple hundred dollars.
Just imagine if you were on the upgrade waitlist, saw this happen, and didn't get your upgrade. I would make a huge scene at the gate, and I would do everything in my power to get that GA fired.
So in short, don't count on bribes to work.
If the former, yes, you can do it.
If the latter, I don't want to say it will never work, but on a flight that's long enough that you'd be willing to pay "a couple hundred", but not do a real LMU, there are going to be multiple gate agents (watching each other). And I don't think any of them would want to risk getting fired for a couple hundred dollars.
Just imagine if you were on the upgrade waitlist, saw this happen, and didn't get your upgrade. I would make a huge scene at the gate, and I would do everything in my power to get that GA fired.
So in short, don't count on bribes to work.
Jun 9, 2013 | 3:20 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,653
Are you talking about buying an upgrade (you can do that at check-in if there's space), or bribing the gate agent?
If the former, yes, you can do it.
If the latter, I don't want to say it will never work, but on a flight that's long enough that you'd be willing to pay "a couple hundred", but not do a real LMU, there are going to be multiple gate agents (watching each other). And I don't think any of them would want to risk getting fired for a couple hundred dollars.
Just imagine if you were on the upgrade waitlist, saw this happen, and didn't get your upgrade. I would make a huge scene at the gate, and I would do everything in my power to get that GA fired.
So in short, don't count on bribes to work.
If the former, yes, you can do it.
If the latter, I don't want to say it will never work, but on a flight that's long enough that you'd be willing to pay "a couple hundred", but not do a real LMU, there are going to be multiple gate agents (watching each other). And I don't think any of them would want to risk getting fired for a couple hundred dollars.
Just imagine if you were on the upgrade waitlist, saw this happen, and didn't get your upgrade. I would make a huge scene at the gate, and I would do everything in my power to get that GA fired.
So in short, don't count on bribes to work.
This is not the same but I can say I did have two upgrade certificates that actually expired or something ( this was a few years ago and honestly can't remember why they were not accepted at the time ) - Anyway long story short, I asked the lovely lady if there was anything she could do for us. It was not a super long flight or anything but was brutally honest with her and told her I would put a $100 bucks in her pocket. Done deal
As I said that was a little different though.
Jun 9, 2013 | 5:08 pm
#5
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In a third world country maybe not here! You cant do that as everything has to be justified! Then again, try it and see if that works and then let us know who they are so we can all try it
Jun 9, 2013 | 5:15 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Well just be aware, if caught - both the gate agent AND the passenger could be liable to a criminal fraud charge....................take your chances.
Jun 9, 2013 | 5:34 pm
#8
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The passenger would have an easy out though. "I was just seeing if I could buy an upgrade for $200. I thought it was a legitimate purchase!"
Jun 9, 2013 | 6:52 pm
#11
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Jun 9, 2013 | 7:03 pm
#12
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With eCerts, might be more difficult for these people to let themselves be bought. Since the whole process is done by the computer. Of course, there may be opups.
But yes, by all means a crackdown would be very welcome.
But yes, by all means a crackdown would be very welcome.
Jun 9, 2013 | 7:28 pm
#14
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Jun 10, 2013 | 5:56 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: YYZ
Posts: 969
When Canadian was around, there were a few routes that could be upgraded with cash and one of those was YYZ-MEX. The funny thing is, that when upgrading from MEX-YYZ, it was cash only...and the checkin agent would follow me to the bank machine while I had my boarding pass in hand...