Here are some of the things that I do Join the airline's frequent flyer programme. Use the right travel agent. Depending on where you are, make sure that you frequent a travel agent with enough clout to see that its customers are always first in line for an upgrade. Look the part. As I said earlier, shell suits and T-shirts may be comfortable but they will not get you into the front cabin.
Suits are de rigeur and a briefcase helps even if it only has a magazine and a walkman inside.
Convince everybody that this is all second nature to you and that you have done it a hundred times before. Have a reason. Of course, a veteran traveller such as yourself would never have purposely chosen to travel coach class. Then start bluffing. I have a very tall friend who tells the clerk that there is insufficient leg room.