1) canadian kilometers writes about the $20 trick in vegas to get a free upgrade. this is a well-written about trick that i honestly don't know if i have the guts to try out for myself. but he tries it by slipping a $20 in his passport photo page, and innocently asking for a complimentary room upgrade to a higher floor. and it works. i'd rather get the complimentary upgrade because i've earned it with status, though.
2) hack my trip has a screen shot of the new united interface that gate agents use. it appeals to the airline enthusiast in me to figure out how they determine if involuntary denial of boardings (bumps) are required.
3) on an older note, there was a wonderful post done by a united gate agent in 2006 which described the rules as to how he would assign operational upgrades in the case where planes were oversold in the back but not in the front, or at least how they were processed. it would appear that the common held belief that schmoozing up to the gate agent makes an upgrade no more or less likely. upgrades, as he explains, are done solely to help the company.
4) late on this, but view from the wing notes that you can get free virgin atlantic silver status. they don't have any meaningful partnerships which would impact my own travel. if they were a part of an alliance, then i would probably sign up as it would likely give me an increased free luggage allowance on those member airlines. but because they're not, and because there are no free miles being handed out here as well, it's an offer that i'll just let sit. (the benefits of silver status are here, and there is note that there may be a partnership with delta in the works).
5) from my favorite canadian deals blog, smartcanucks links to a 15-20% off coupon for all purchases at the hudsons bay company valid until sunday, jun 16, 2013. i remember how when i was growing up, that was the only place where i used to shop. pretty much now, it's still the only place i go to for household stuff.
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