I handed a nice lady behind the counter $20 bill sandwiched between my credit card and driver license, and asked “Do you have any complimentary upgrade?” The lady smiled and said “Yes I’ll take good care of you.” Eventually she gave us a room with two windows, viewing the Strip from two different angles, on one of the top floors, for 3 nights. Turned out we could see the volcano show at Mirage from one of the windows. Really felt great. No complimentary breakfast though. And didn’t get the resort fee waived. Got a two-for-one buffet coupon, but didn’t get a chance to use it, because we were usually outside at other more famous buffet or skipped dinner to catch some show. But the view is well worth the money.

We had a nice girl, about in her mid 20s. while in the que I overheard her giving a bottle of champagne to a couple checking in, so she seemed nice. As I got to her counter she asked for my last name, confirmed my first name and then asked for some ID and credit card. Handed it over and as soon as she took it the cash fell out So I just bit the bullet and asked if there was any comp upgrades. All she said was ‘I’ll look after you’ and that was it. We did some small talk while she was entering in all the details, where you from etc. She upgraded us to a corner suite on the 21st floor, champagne in the room, heaps of coupons for the buffet and cocktails etc. I paid for the resort fee because I didn’t want to push my luck but seriously the $20 trick worked magic and now we are in a massive corner suite overlooking the strip!

My story is good and bad. I explained to my brother in-law how this is done and he checked in right after me. I slipped the sandwich and asked the younger girl if there was any comp. upgrades as it was the day after birthday. She hesitated and was afraid to help but offered free champagne. I asked for a buffet coupon and was denied also denied for waiving the resort fee.
I motioned to my brother in-law to try a different person. He went to a man a did the $20 and they guy gave him a room upgrade and a 2-1 buffet coupon. I told him if you get those items then get aggressive when he mentions the resort fee and show him another $20 and ask if he can do anything about waiving the fee. The clerk said he could take care of it saving him $70.
So he got a tower suite, a 2-1 buffet coupon, and $70 waived resort fee for $40.
The moral of the story is make sure you get the right clerk when you check in. I think my clerk was hesitant because an older lady clerk was sitting next to her and seemed to be watching us closely and listening in.
Good luck

4:30PM Vegas time. Not extremely busy but every front desk clerk was attending to guest check ins. In Vegas to celebrate finances birthday. Slipped neatly folded concealed 20 between ID and CC. Discretion seemed of top importance when seeking an upgrade here. Front desk attendant was a very nice lady, was very grateful. Received upgrade from standard room to Panoramic Strip View, which is a strip view corner room. I’ve stayed in about every hotel on the strip and this is one of the greatest views you can get. Treasure Island is an exceptional forgotten gem on the strip. We also received two days of 2 for 1 dinner buffets, various two for 1 drink coupons, steakhouse coupons, two tickets to Mystere and a complimentary bottle of champagne.

Stayed at the TI several times before and have had 100% success rate with $20 and have been upgraded to the petite suite. This time was no different. Had $30 (bumped it up to see what I could get) via the sandwich method and asked if he could help me out. The guy said sure and just like that he worked his magic and this time I landed a Tower Suite. I was staying from Saturday – Monday and checked in at 1p.m. I had to wait for 3 hours before I could check in because the party that stayed in the room the night before had a late check out. Well worth the wait!

No target agent just who I got. Presented 20 between cc and license asked if any complimentary upgrades were available. Agent said none available because of holiday weekend,she then hit her keypad and a little bit later said we could have an upper floor strip view. She then waived resort fees , gave us late checkout. Said thanks and she returned the twenty

Friendly clerk. Took the money. No upgrade possible (no rooms), no coupons or other discounts. Should come another day and left a remark in the system.

Talked with another agent. Plenty of rooms available for upgrades she told me. However, no upgrade without extra payment.

In short: got nothing for the money.

Arrived at TI and had a $20 sandwiched between my ID and credit card. Was called next in line, was asked for my cards and gave the receptionist my sandwich. I immediately told her it was our anniversary and asked if she had any complimentary upgrades. She said “sure, let me check.” What threw me off for a second was when she asked when we got married. I was nervous enough about the sandwich trick and now I had to remember the date immediately! Thankfully I remembered right, just something odd I thought she asked, maybe just to see if they tell you the truth. We were finally offered a strip view from the 30th floor, a free bottle of champagne delivered to our room, and a ton of coupons which included 2 free buffets. I do wish we got a bigger room suite, but the standard room was still nice and the view you can’t beat! All in all, worth the $20. Next time I’m going to specifically ask for a Tower Suite though.

Checked in at 330pm on a Wednesday via Priceline for 2 nights. We had never tried this before so we were extremely nervous but tried it anyway and IT WORKED! I flashed him my CC and ID with the $20 inside and he grabbed it out of my hand and said, “thank you for taking care of me, let me see what I can do for you”. He then gave us a deluxe corner room with a strip view on the 18th floor! This room had two windows instead of just the 1 and an extra 400 sq ft (great view of both the strip and the pool)! He also comped us a bottle of champagne and gave us a booklet with 2 for 1 buffet coupons, etc. Next time im going to ask them to waive my resort fees so we will see how that works lol! LOVE this trick!

Some background. I checked in at 8:30 p.m. and there was no line.

I tried this new technique (made this myself), where as I walk through the line I made sure I fumbled with my $40 and put it visibly between my credit card and ID. Two guys flagged me down, but I went with the younger white guy.

After giving him my name and also telling him I’m here for my 30th birthday, I passed along the goods. He took the $40 and placed it visibily next to his keyboard. He said thank you for taking care of me and let me see what I can do for you. I asked him if he had any complimentary upgrades available like a luxury suite.

Moments later one of the pitbosses came over and took over for the initial guy. He said thanks for taking care of us. 2 minutes later he said all he had was a smoking suite on the 36th floor and a non-smoking on the 5th floor. He said I could call again the next day to see if there was a cancellation on a higher floor.

Room came with coupons as well as a free bottle of champagne.

The tip worked, but also note, it was really my 30th birthday. My guess is you can say it’s your anniversary and get the same treatment.

Try the visible fumbling technique in line and see if you can get a couple of the front deskers to see you and purposely choose one specific guy. I think that works.