I have seen this mentioned several times. What exactly is it? Sorry, I should probably know this.

See this classic thread (from the United FAQs above):

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=328066

Honestly, I've never really thought anything of "the speech"... its just being human. I've never once asked for or discussed op-up's with any UA agents, and I believe I've had far more than my fair share based on reading the posts here...

Make of that what you will...

I imagine any of us who have never flown coach in quite some years have our very own tried and proven 'Speech' that works perfectly well.

The accents and content may vary, but the results are the same.

Glen

I gotta say... that if you can get a busy gate agent who is trying to accomodate all the other passengers with seat assgnments, upgrades, VDB's/IDB's, finalizing departure etc to sit still and actually listen to you say all of this...

quote:
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Hi. I'm Mark Love. I'm traveling with you in Economy today [insert mention of Full Fare if applicable] and I've got a nice aisle seat which I'm very happy with. But if at any time, you should need my seat for any reason, I'd be more than happy if you wanted to move me up. I'll be sitting right over there. I've got an easy name to remember...Love. Thanks!
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then I'd be pretty suprised. I usually have enough trouble askng a smiple question like "do you have any isle seats"

I find that just relaxing, taking a seat, listening to pages and letting them do their job works very well as far as op-ups go

Still... whatever works for you

Years ago in college, on numerous transatlantic flights, a bit of charm, a bit of flirtation, and a touch of conversation in the gate agent's mother tongue (for the German GA's) landed me a near 100% success rate with "The Speech". A few of those op-ups kickstarted some of my best memories of summer backpacking.

I later noticed a dramatic increase in the number people attempting to pull this off, which was accompanied by an increase in the frequency with which GA's simply rolled their eyes.

Later came simple frustration on behalf of GA's who were busy and didn't want to deal with Speech #32 from among the hundreds of folks waiting to board the 747 or 777.

I still managed to have tremendous success over the years by picking and choosing my moments.

Then I got out of grad school and became, quite simply, disintereseted in international Y. This was accompanied by career advances and knowledge from being a lurker on FT for years that enabled me either to purchase or ensure upgrade into C or F.

I, thus, retired from the Speech corps.

I still delight in bearing witness to successful Speeches and do not doubt that there are seasoned veterans, professionals if you will, whose success rates may merit a SECOND entry into the Guiness Book of World Records.

I agree. However I think Mark agreed too, recommending folks select a time when staff are quiet. It is just common sense more than anything.

I have seen folks march up when 747 gate folks are juggling/shuffling/and jiggling 20 boarding passes and vouchers and stuff, and some clueless turkey struts up to ask how his upgrade is coming along and waves his silver Premier card around like he is a UGS. I wince inwardly and think: "Man you have just instantly gone DOWN at least 10 places in the list."

Frazzle ME when I am up to my ears in crocodiles at work, and I'll not be too responsive. Pick a moment when I have calm waters all around, and different story. Human nature really.

Years ago, it was all different. As I have said before, I'd gladly trade my 1KMM *and* my Senator stati for the way I was treated by LH as a lowly FTL before M&M. Or either one of those two for the way I was treated by UA itself (Halleluja, brother!), as a 1P five or six years ago. As to this thread specifically, I would advocate rename "The Speech" to "The Grovel":

Hi. I'm Mr Million. I'm traveling with you in Y-class today [insert mention of S-Fare if applicable] and I've got a center seat in E- which I'm not at all happy with. So, if at any time, after you have op-upgraded all the UGS from C and processed all other upgrade requests for miles and vouchers, you should need my seat for any reason, I'd be more than happy if you wanted to move me to a seat in E+. I'll be sitting right over there. I've got an easy name to remember, like UA's daily cash burn:...Million. Thanks!

Frankly, my experience is that it just ain't gonna happen (speech, grovel or not) as one would like to delude oneself that it would. In the last 24 mos I have received one (count'em: 1!) op/upg from UA. Without a speech or even a request. West Coast to London. Flying as a LH*G instead of as a 1K. And, no, I am not surprised.

Hi. I'm Mr Million. I'm traveling with you in Y-class today [insert mention of Q-Fare if applicable] and I've got a window seat in the last row which I'm...

1. "The Speech" is not a grovel. It's a mooch. A grovel implies an act of desperation or subservience. A mooch does not insult the intelligence of the agent and even implies a bit of an unstated "wink" that "we both know what I'm after here" but when done correctly, imparts the knowledge that you are a savvy and (by extension with some agents) worthy candidate of the Op-Up. I'd rather be a candidate, than not in the running at all!

2. While I don't doubt that many just don't have much success with The Speech at all...due to the dozens of Double Upgrades and upgrades on free award tickets that I know the Speech helped me and many other FlyerTalkers obtain (not even counting the ones where I'm not sure it helped but I got 'em just the same)...I think I'll continue to delude myself at every opportunity.

3. The Speech is not science. It is art. You don't just copy The Speech word for word. You should try to understand what it's communicating and then adapt it to your own personality and presentation so that it doesn't look rehearsed or something. The more natural and friendly the presentation, the more effective it's going to be, IMHO.

It's one of the reasons I am loyal to UA. While it does not work all of the time the wink to you for being a good custormer is good PR and a nice thank you.

"Hi! I'm MrMillion. Has anyone ever told you that you have the most beautiful operation upgrades?"

"Hi! I'm MrMillion. Is that an upgrade in your pocket or are you just glad..."

Traveling with my consultant, I've TWICE seen him wangle upgrades for us both (well, we ARE 1Ks, but that of itself does not necessarily mean ANYTHING) from exit row seats in E on transpacs, to biz seats

WITHOUT OPENING HIS MOUTH.

Well, at least, not at the beginning of the "act" he pulls off. Once everyone is rolling on the floor laughing, he follows through with an "any upgrades available today?" request.
"Speech", shmeech; this guy does it NON-verbally.
Why I hired him years ago.

dcuthcher, how did he do it?

Maybe this?