Anyone have any successful stories about how they've convinced an airline agent to upgrade them from coach to business or first class?! Hahaah. Yes, I know it's a long shot. Will it help that I've purchased two tickets -- one in first class and the other in coach? I'm hoping to have a shot at getting my husband upgraded so he and I can sit together. I went ahead and asked the American Airline telephone agent today when I booked the ticket to see if my gold status member card would help -- but she basically said absolutely no way. I want to try again at the airport in case there's any open seats in biz/first class and thought I'd check with the Fodorites to see if they have any tips on negotiating this.... Thx!

With your gold status you can purchase 2 full fare tkts and will be upgraded IF seats are availible on your flight. You can request the upgrade at booking time and if the seats are availible they will be processed 24hrs before your flight.

If you're asking if you can get something for "free" from the supposedly "cash-strapped" airlines..perhaps if you have a BIG smile and a few other attributes, too. Good luck!

I too would like to wish you Best of Luck.I have seen and heard of good luck stories.More "authoritative" respondents will tell you Absolutely Not.It will not happen.But you asked, and I have responded,truthfully.

OK, I can give you a success story, however, it *was* before 9/11.

A friend of ours is a travel agent. She told us to request seats (whatever the business class seats are) *at the airport*. We were going to Hawaii from San Francisco. We didn't get our request on the way there, but at the Kona airport, I tried again, with a big smile. I didn't say "can we be upgraded to business class," I just discretely said "can we have seats xxx." The ticket agent just smiled. Then he handed us our bording passes - in business class - for the same price as our coach seats. I'd say it's worth a try, if you can find out what aircraft you'll be in and what rows are business class. I haven't tried it since. Business class really was nice. I think the only thing we didn't receive that first class did, was the little warm, damp washcloths.

Good luck!