True. In case of a badly oversold flight with LOTS of seats available up front, I go through my lists of SEs, Es, and Ps, then Lat and Lat + fares and put all of these up front. It only happened a handful of times where I ran out pax to upgrade lol... (CDG, YHZ, and FLL). That's when I glance around gate area, looking for pax who are well dressed.

But of course, sometimes I use my own judgement. For example, on one FLL flight where it's mostly vacation passengers, I remember choosing a quiet, elderly couple. They always appreciate it. Also I remember there was a mother traveling with her child who was VERY well behaved, and didn't have seats together. So I "upped" them. I also had a newly married couple who are on their honeymoon and are not sitting together... so when they asked me if I had 2 seats available, I said "Show me your marriage certificate" , with a little wink and gave them Executive. But again, these are very rare exceptions when I need seats in Economy. Upgrades are closely monitored by our airport managers.

AC_boy

I have met cattle and I can confirm this :p

Welcome back. I'm glad you're now spreading your criticism more equally around :D

When in J, you can tell who paid: the guy wearing fubu that's actually a successful record label owner, the middle aged man that hasn't shaved in a few days that's actually the CEO of imperial oil, the kid with the skateboard that's sponsored by nike. The people that didn't? The guys wearing the suits.

..unless they're coming right from work or their company has a travelling dress code of course :P

going OT, great lyric from Mos Def:

Like, late night I'm on a first class flight
The only brother in sight
The flight attendent catch fright
I sit down in my seat, 2C
She approach officially talking about, "Excuse me"
Her lips curl up into a tight space
She don't believe that I'm in the right place
Showed her my boarding pass,
And then she sort of gasped
All embarrassed put an extra lime in my water glass
An hour later here she comes by walking past
"I hate to be a pest but my son would love your autograph

I firmly believe it is attitude and civility that counts. Even as an SE there are situations where the GA has to make a judgment call -- who is he/she going to pick? Someone who is mature, polite and civil -- or some snotty-nosed youth who is proclaiming loudly that they have earned their upgrade?

One has to be subtle about this. I can remember two separate instances clearly where men, 50ish, non-status, in full suit & tie, flying overnight from YYZ to (different) South American locations were being over-friendly to the GAs and flight attendants and were clearly angling after an upgrade. After each exhausted their supply of faux charm they could no longer contain themselves they asked outright (whispering conspiratorially) for an op-upgrade and got turned down flat, dead cold. A bit pathetic really – particularly after 8 and 11 hours respectively in the suit.

It is quite surprising to me how often you do hear people ask for upgrades when on the plane.

...or at least a dressing down ;) :D