The editors of InsideFlyer are doing some research on upgrades, and are soliciting some real-world stories. If you've got one to share, we'd really appreciate it:

What is the most unusual thing you have ever done to secure an upgrade?

As I am currently wait-listed on American for an upgrade to First using a 20N award, I'm interested in any ways to get off the wait-list and on to the confirmed list!! Don't be shy, share your secrets!

Why would we want to tell our secrets to the airlines? ...let me think...so they can figure out ways to stop us! But if you must know...just be nice to the airline employees. OH NO! now the airlines are going to tell all their employees not to be nice anymore *L*

Being nice to the gate agent has its plus side. I got into a pleasant chat with a gate agent in DTW a month ago. I came right out and told her she had incredibly beautiful eyes. Without even asking or thinking about it, I got to fly home to SEA in first class.

Beeing nice to the employees helps in many cases (I some times bring "my" local Airline-employees some Swiss chocolate).

One more story: On the Sunday, when Germany played the US in the world-soccer-championship-tournament, IAD was closed because of bad weather for about one and a half hours, which made the last flight to Europe totally overbooked of late coming-in passangers - economy and business on UA to FRA was overfull, the lady at the Red Carpet (I shared some Swiss chocolate with her before), after a short phone-call with the gate, gave me a free double-upgrade from eco to first (because of my status 1K she said).

True story......I volunteered to "bump" on an AA flight. They did not need me, but did give me a first class upgrade for volunteering. I found my seat and moments after the flight was air bound a flight attendant was trying to help a passenger in the front row of "coach" class (elderly) who had leg problems. He had all of the leg room coach class could offer. I offered to give my first class seat to this elderly man so his leg was not as painful for him as it would be in the limited legroom area associated with coach class. (He was not trying to "con" the attendant.) The flight attendant was very grateful, but could really do nothing for me at the time. She suggested that I explain to the airport reservations supervisor on my next trip the sitution I had encountered. I did! The supervisor gave me a first class upgrade. I really like American Airlines! Their food service has deteriorated (in my esimation), but the PEOPLE are GREAT!!!!!

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

Catman it will be 99.5% next year on United (you will reach 1K don't you?)

I am a Premier Executive flyer on United, and nearly every time that I want to upgrade, I have not had any trouble. There have been two or three occasions when I have gone stand-by on earlier flights, then upgraded ahead of other flyers because of my status.

I have only had two complimentary upgrades. Both happened this summer.

The first was a packed flight from DEN to MCI (Kansas City). They wanted to pack the coach cabin, so they bumped me up to first class.

The second was part of very long tale. I was planning a move to Dallas from San Francisco, and I was already close to Executive status on United, so I wanted to improve my status on American since they dominate DFW. I had a trip to Sao Paulo (GRU) from SFO planned in July. I was going to take AA through JFK down to Brazil. My flight to JFK was fine, although you do NOT want seat 2B on a 767 since people will walk all over you during the boarding. When I got to the Admiral's Club at 9:30 PM and learned that my 10:30 departure was now 1 AM. On a full fare Business Class ticket, I could change to any airline, so I asked them to call United--I had taken the United flight in June. Talking to the ticket counter was not a help (they could not confirm a seat for me), so I had them call the Red Carpet Club. The Red Carpet staff put me on the plane in Business Class, and then I raced over to terminal 6 in a cab (for my 10:45 departure). Once I was on the plane, the gate agent came on and upgraded me (and another gentleman) to First Class for the long 10 hour flight.

Had one case of an upgrade which is a little unusual. Flying from SNA to DEN on UA, my travel agent had unknowlingly to me requested a complimentary Premier 1000 mile upgrade. I got to the gate and the agent told me that my upgrade had gone thru. I mentioned that I did not want to upgrade and that I did not have a certificate. However, UA had in the meanwhile filled my coach seat. As the agent looked thru the computer, she decided that since coach was now oversold, she would have to put me in First with no certificate. I told her I would be glad to send the certificate, she said that it would not be necessary. It occurred to me that you could use this technique over and over, but each of the next few times I was waitlisted for an upgrade, the agent asked me if I had my certificate, which leads me to believe that the agent at SNA had entered something in the computer. As a result, I have not nor will not ask for an upgrade without a certificate.

Once (and only once) about two years ago I was checking in on a coach ticket on a 3-class trans-continental (UA). The RCC agent told me that I had been given a "complimentary 2-class upgrade." I was only premier at the time, and the plane was only about half full, so I never could figure out how or why. At the time I assumed it was thanks to my having just surpassed 25,000 miles for that year, but in retrospect, I can't see why they'd appreciate that so much...

MATT WALD: I would need to see a picture of you - before I can judge why ...

A two class upgrade, Matt Wald? I salute you, because I'm lucky to get a one class
upgrade. Never heard of jumping two classes,
and I've been at least Premier for five years.

British once upgraded me from coach to first
but the very nice flight attendant said
they needed to balance out the weight of the
plane (I was 6 foot two and had a little bit
of weight on me, which with all this traveling has since gone except in the gut.) CATMAN

So Catman, did the plane get out of balance and wobble everytime you left your seat?

I really envy all these upgrade tales in the US. As a frequent flyer in Asia with elite status at various points in time with Qantas, Ansett, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific, I have to say that the number of "free" upgrades have been few and far between, say a 2 p.a average over the last 5 years despite averaging anywhere from 300 - 700 kms p.a. (60 - 100 flight segments approx) over this period generaly on Business Class. And when I mean elite, I mean elite as in Qantas Gold (the highest level), Ansett Diamond (the highest), PPS on SIA(need 5 years consecutive to make Solitaire, I am on 3rd), Marco Polo (just joined, will make Diamond before long). But then again, I guess the frequent flyer game is still young ou here. There aren't even that many affinity cards for the programmes out here.