Wannabe
... empower check in person ...
In many discussions in PPRUNE, we have heard how all airline staff (ground/air) have had flexibility reduced in the last 15 years. This is to save money. If staff are empowered to make changes to routine for the benefit of customers, just think how much they would give away? So this is not going to happen.
The big days of complimentary upgrades are long gone and I find it amusing to hear/watch other people ask for it at check-in or even, last month, on board. I was in a full BA WT+ cabin and CW was only half full. The bloke behind me asked for an upgrade. I think that the relatively short period of upgrades (no more than 15 years start to finish?) has stuck with many people as being 'normal'.