Hello!

This may be a stupid question, or perhaps one that has been asked many times before, but here goes.

I am a very "in"frequent flyer, but the last time I flew from cle to las on CO for my wedding(10/02), I enrolled in the OnePass program. Haven't flown since, but this November I am booked on a cle-las flight(sat-mon) to take my son out for his 21st birthday(my son from my 1st marriage).

While I know I don't have enough "points" to upgrade, or the requisite $$ to buy a 1st class ticket(I'm a simple factory schlub), I think if there is a way to score 1st class it would add to the whole "cool" factor for this trip.

So my question is basically how does one go about asking for an upgrade, who to ask, or is it even possible?

Many thanks for any and all advice or opinions.

If you do not have the miles or cash, you will not be able to upgrade. Unfortunately, asking nicely does not work either.

You can look into buying full Y fares (usually cheaper than an F fare) which can give you a small chance of being upgraded after all elites.

Unless one were to ask a Platinum or Gold customer at the gate and they were to agree to companion upgrade them. I am not saying that I condone this, nor have I done it myself.

Welcome to FlyerTalk opus65 !CLE-IAH is a hub route, and as a Plat I've NEVER been upgraded, so you figure the odds My status will trump your Y fare, and you just saw my u/g percentage (though I've actually had a good run lately on not so heavy elite routes, something that is coming to a screetching halt Friday, as I will fly LAX-IAH)

See my response above about CLE-IAH. IAH-LAS is not hub to hub, but will most likely be booked full in First by the time you could try this tactic.

Sorry, if you ain't got status or cash, accept a ride in the back. My company doesn't pay for First, so I see plenty of it my own self

EmailKid

The OP is talking about CLE-LAS, but I agree that the chances of even getting a non-elite Y-up are slim.

agree with all the above, "No points , No cash: no first class"

Welcome to FT.
you can use the search feature and usually you get plenty of information.
Maybe getting into the President's Club will give you the wow effect without going first class.
if you have no miles, no status and don't want to pay, then it is extremely unlikely that you will be able to score an upgrade. the days of asking nicely are gone, at least in Continental.
If you post here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=420840 your travel plans, somebody can get you and your son into the PC and you can have some drinks and enjoy the amenities.
I dont know where you are staying in Las Vegas, but sometimes, if you smile to the right person (and some people say slip a 20 or a 50), you may get upgraded to a suite and that is pretty wow.
Enjoy your trip. It seems like a trip to Las Vegas on your 21st b-day is becoming a right of passage. What happened to just go to the local bar and get drunk?

The no-miles/no points upgrade approach reminds me of a story.

So, my just-married wife and I are living in South America and want to go to Europe for our honeymoon. We give our proposed itinerary to our travel agent and, lo and behold, he comes back with this great price. We pack our bags and get set to head out.

As we're leaving, we tell him of our upgrade plan: we'll tell the folks at check-in that we are newlyweds and are heading out for our honeymoon, hoping for a "congratulations" upgrade.

Our travel agent's response: "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Us: "Why not?"

TA: "The reason you have a great price is because I told the airline that you are a priest and a nun heading to Europe on a pilgrimage. Safe trip and God bless..."