And I m not sure I d have the same success that she an attractive woman with a soft, Southern lilt that would soothe Conan the Barbarian has enjoyed. But there are other ingenious ways of snaring an upgrade. I once landed on the West Coast after a long flight from Asia. Still facing a five-hour flight back to the East Coast, I threw myself on the mercy of a gate agent. I ve seen book authors autograph copies of their latest.
Technique is important.
Nothing should ever smack of being a bribe. A great attitude and warm smile help. If you are flat-out asking for an undeserved upgrade, it s important you do it very quietly so a gate agent isn t put on the spot in front of other passengers. Usually, the best you can hope for at first is a request by the agent that you take a seat and wait until other passengers are boarded. If you make that hurdle, fade quietly into the woodwork and wait patiently.