Got to the Airport around 2pm and the wife went to get the bags while I checked in at the Harrah’s Airport Check-In counter at the baggage claim. Stood in line about 5 minutes and there were 3 clerks, one young male, one young female, and an older female. Of the 3 I got the one I thought would have no chance with the upgrade (the older female) but low and behold she was great – put the $20 on between license and CC and she handled it like a pro, put it on the keyboard and started typing away. I had reserved Classic Room for Saturday (since Palace tower was like $500+) and Palace tower for Sunday night. Told her I didn’t want to move and if I could get an upgrade for Saturday to the Palace or Augustus that would be great. 3 minutes later she found the perfect room on the 23rd floor of the Palace tower with a wonderful view, granted it was a view of the north side of the strip but still was just great to lay there at night and look out the window at the lights on the strip.

Now if I could only tip the blackjack dealer $20 and get my $300 loss back

Just walked up and gave him the 20 sandwiched between the cards. Made a little small talk and told him if there were any upgrades they would surely be appreciated. He looked for a second and then said everything in the new towers was sold out this weekend so he didnt think he could do much. Asked what kind of room we would like, high floor with a view? I said yes. Kept looking. Found a parlor suite in the old tower. Said it was 700 sq ft as opposed to 300 for regular room. I said that would be perfect. (only catch was it had only 1 king bed and we were planning on sleeping 4 but he got a rollaway for us and we had a couch) Also had big bathroom with jacuzzi tube, wet bar, nice view of strip and was on second highest floor. Very good deal for 180 a night! (190 if you count the 20 tip)

Reserved a Classic room at the internet promo rate for $180 a night (weekend). The line was long at check in and we didnt think there was much chance at an upgrade. Made small talk with the young girl who checked us in, and asked if there were any complimentary upgrades for our anniversary. Gave here the DL and credit card with the $20 slipped in between. She started typing right away and was able to get us a Palace Tower room. It was fantastic, new beds and renovated to look like the Agustus Tower room, with the only difference being a TV in the bathroom and a slightly larger room size. Looked up the room online and realized that the price difference was $150 a night, not bad for $20 total!

After standing in a long check-in line for more than half an hour, I approached the friendly-looking young woman and asked if a complimentary upgrade was available.

She smiled and took my license and credit card, and seemed genuinely surprised and delighted to find the $20 bill in between. She thanked me sincerely and said, “Let’s see what we can find.”

A few keystrokes later, she said “I think you’ll like this much better,” and thanked me again.

Was she ever right.

I ended up with a room on the 44th floor of the Augustus Tower, overlooking Bellagio’s lake and the Strip. In addition to the view, being that high meant that my elevator bank only served eight floors, so I never waited more than 10 seconds for an elevator all week.

Best $20 I could have spent.

Long line at check-in, which pretty much gave me no choice of clerk. Ended up with a woman in mid 30’s. Did the 20 between CC and ID, asked if there happened to be any complimentary upgrades available. She replied with “Im sure there is, let me check for you” without seeing the $20. Upgraded to the augustus tower for 5 nights. jetted tub, plasma, flat screen, 39th floor view of the bellagio fountains. All for $20 Yes please.
She even tried to give the $20 back to me when we were finished, I declined

Worked like a charm. My wife was concerned that it would be insulting to the clerk, but she sat attentive when she saw the $20 bill with my ID and CC. She searched diligently and found us a great room, with a giant deluxe bathroom and large room with separate sitting area. We were very happy.

Lesson for next time: I will be more discrete next time. I placed the 20 on top of the other cards and I notices that she was checking over her shoulder as her manager walked by. I will try to keep it more on the D-L.

Out in Vegas for Wedding.
Same as all before. $20 slipped between CC and DL.
Clerk does not go behind the curtain, but punches furiously on the computer.
Also, acted very suprized that the computer would let him put us in the room.
(Got the same room as the Bride/Groom who paid for an upgraded suite, on a higher floor and better view.) Key here I believe was to have the duration of my stay fall during the week.
Another member of the wedding party tried the same technique, with no luck and got stuck in the crappy Palace Tower as he was staying Fri night as well.

So I had reserved a classic room for this “sold out” 4th of july wknd and didnt expect much luck. I was also planning to sneak 4 people into a room without the additional costs. I checked in for the room by myself and slipped the $20 between my CC and ID. The girl seemed shocked and kept saying “thank you very much”. I told her I’d appreciate anything she could do to help me out and after typing away for about a minute she hooked it up with a free upgrade to a room in the palace tower (right next to the pool)!

Worked fantastically! I had booked basic, standard Room at Caesars. Checked in at 1:30pm. I was staying for 5 days, so I slipped $40 between the license and credit card. Asked for complimentary upgrade and said I was hoping for the Augustus tower… He took my ID and put the money aside on the lower counter, and said that this was their very busy July 4 weekend, but he would see what he could do…

Said if I did not mind a smoking room he had one suite available on the 43rd floor of the Augustus tower! I said perfect! He called his supervisor on the phone (I heard him say something like there had been a problem and I was in line a very long time); he hung up and said the room was mine! He wrote his name on my room card and said if there was anything I needed, to give him a call.

The room did not smell smokey at all. It had a fantastic view of the strip; marble bathroom, two plasma TVs…. Worked like a charm!

We arrived at check in at 11:45 am. The lady at check in saw the $20 and knew what we were looking for. Asked her for a room in the Augustus tower with a view as I had read horror stories about the other towers. After looking around she finally offered an upgrade for $40/ night. Tried for a complimetary one but she refused so we took it. Although we paid, the room was AWESOME.. 39th floor.. a view of the srip, bellagio fountains and Paris. It was totally worth it.But the $20 did not work.