In a previous life I was working as a red-cap in CPH for a handling agent (still got fond memories of KL crew F40 <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> ) and the procedures for upgrades varied from one airline to another, but went someway along the lines of :. .. .1/ Airline Representative. Obviously, being a handling agent you responded to the requests of the airline rep. Could be a goldcard holder, staff or just a friend. Never asked, just complied.. .2/ The Cabin Chief. Would sometimes ask if it was
possible to get an upgrade for this or that person. Would depend on seat and meal availability. Sometimes had to move the curtain or make a rush order for a meal, but always complied. .3/ The gatestaff. If overbooked on monkey, gatestaff would look at the pax list and select eligble pax for upgrade, frequent fliers suitably dressed as no. 1 priority, then staff, then anyone.. .4/ Me. After checking with gatestaff and Cabin Chief would try to get an upgrade if a friend or collegue an upgrade. If an excuse was needed, "for weight and balance purposes" seemed to work just fine. Alwyas got it (also for myself) on KL <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> and on most others. With an airline, or crew, that didn't like upgrades, obviously you didn't ask for it.. .. .Never once did I meet a pilot asking for an upgrade. Maybe they communicated through the cabin crew though, I shall never know.. .. .PS. .Once handled a B733 with around 60 pax, 10C 50M. No matter what I did, the computer would display "too tailheavy on the TOW MAC" and I scratched my head a bit. Upgraded 1, then 5 and finally 20 from Economy to get the ****** in trim. No cargo to trim with, only bags and they had to be split very specifically between the holds. Had handled numerous B733 flights previously, so was rather surprised. Told the gatestaff to proceed with the upgrades and went to the cockpit to pick up an old loadsheet. Ahhh, there it is. The aircraft had an incorrect DOI in our computer .... Told the skipper and no. 1 about the mistake we made, and also told them that around 20 pax had been upgraded. Skipper laughed "I've seen that one before with this particular aircraft" and the no. 1 merely asked if we had arranged for extra C-class meals. Oh yes, this was of course on KLM .... and luckily for me the aircraft would trim with the correct DOI and all the upgrades. Made quiet a few passengers happy that day <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="smile.gif" /> . .. .And .....