Great Western Air

Airplane Postcard

House On The Rock

Background

Both of Jordan's biographers relate a story told by Sid Boyum, which places the inspiration for the house in a meeting between Alex Jordan Sr. and Frank Lloyd Wright, at some unspecified time apparently between 1914 and 1923. Jordan Sr. drove with Boyum to Taliesin to show Wright the plans for a building, the Villa Maria in Madison, which Jordan had designed. Jordan worshipped the famous architect and hoped for his approval. Wright looked at the plans and told Jordan: "I wouldn't hire you to design a cheese crate or a chicken coop. You're not capable." Fuming, on the drive back on Highway 23, Jordan pointed to a spire of rock and told Boyum: "I'm going to put up a Japanese house on one of those pinnacle rocks and advertise it." Balousek says Wright "apparently didn't forget the incident", noting that Wright "complained publicly to Iowa County officials about the house the Jordans were building" and bought a nearby piece of property, "perhaps as a way to get back at Jordan."

Layout and attractions

Several rooms in the House on the Rock contain large assemblages of automated musical instruments, operated by inserting tokens. Some instruments actually play, while others are synthesized.

The "house" itself is atop Deer Shelter Rock, a column of rock approximately 60 feet tall, 70 feet by 200 feet on the top, which stands in a forest nearby . Additions were made to the original structure and other buildings added over the course of several decades. The complex now features "The Streets of Yesterday", a re-creation of an early twentieth century American town; "The Heritage of the Sea", featuring nautical exhibits and a 200-ft model of a fanciful whale-like sea creature; "The Music of Yesterday", a huge collection of automatic music machines; and what the management bills as "the world's largest indoor carousel", among other attractions. During the winter, the attraction features a Christmas theme, with decorations and a large collection of Santa Claus figures. The bathrooms, as well, are decorated with strange objects, including mannequins and flowers.

The earlier structures, namely the House on the Rock itself, the Gate House, and the Mill House, are reminiscent of the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, though much less coherently designed than is characteristic of Wright, given its patchwork of external structures and interior spaces. The building actually began partly to spite the master architect, who ran his Taliesin communal school near Spring Green. These early structures feature exposed stone, low ceilings, dark woodwork, and antiques on display.

Jordan sold the house in 1988 to a friend who continued building on the site, adding to the collections of knick-knacks and exhibits featuring authentic pieces, reproductions, and specially-made examples of everything. The most recent addition is the "Spirit of Aviation", a collection of large model airplanes in a themed room. Another exhibit, the "Transportation Building", is under construction, but visitors can walk through and view the work in progress.

Jane Smiley wrote this about the complex in 1993:

Though most people outside of the Midwest have never heard of it, the House on the Rock is said to draw more visitors every year than any other spot in Wisconsin. Also in the Wyoming Valley, but on top of a huge monolith, the House on the Rock reveals the spirit of its builder, Alex Jordan Jr., to be as single-minded and eccentric as Wright's, but in substance almost absurdly opposed.

And it is hard not to be overwhelmed by the House on the Rock. The sheer abundance of objects is impressive, and the warmth most of the objects exude, the way that the toys ask to be played with, for example, makes the displays inherently inviting. But almost from the beginning, it is too much. The house itself is dusty. Windowpanes are cracked. Books are water damaged. The collections seem disordered, not curated. In fact, there is no effort to explore the objects as cultural artifacts, or to use them to educate the passing hordes. If there were informative cards, it would be impossible to read them in the dark. Everything is simply massed together, and Alex Jordan comes to seem like the manifestation of pure American acquisitiveness, and acquisitiveness of a strangely boyish kind, as if he had finalized all his desires in childhood and never grown into any others.

Authenticity of the collections

Some of the apparent antiques in the House on the Rock are real, but many are not what they seem: depending on one's point of view one could call them fakes, or replicas, or original and imaginative creations in the style of antiques. Moe's authorized biography suggests that the question of authenticity is not a problem, presenting it this way:

While the Regina Sublima [music box] is a real antique, as are many other pieces and exhibits at the House, everyone knows that other pieces are re-creations designed and built on the House property. It's part of the funuessing what's real at the House and what is the magic of imagination and re-creation.

Much of the House's contents were built by Jordan and his associates. Balousek quotes Jordan associate Bob Searles as saying

We were creating entertainment. We were not making a historically accurate representation. There was never any need to worry about historical accuracy. We were creating a fun place.

The "Phelps Car" in the Streets of Yesterday, for example, was made by Jordan associate Bob Searles from an old carriage and some motorcycle parts. Balousek quotes Searles as saying "We could fabricate any antiques we wanted tohat was the fun of it. It was just one guy's great big sandbox, where he kept building stuff." Balousek says that Jordan sometimes bought bonafide antiques, but "usually preferred a good copy that cost less," and quotes a supplier as saying "I suspect that Jordan would pay more for a good copy than he would for an original, because he could sit in a corner and laugh about the way he fooled everyone."

In 1978 a disgruntled employee complained to the state Justice Department of consumer fraud, saying that these claims were tall tales. The "Tiffany" lamps, for example, were made by the Illinois firm of Bauer and Coble. The name of the Tusk of Ranchipoor was actually a pun on the name of Richard Rahn, a Mazomanie antiques dealer, who had built many of the fakes: "Rahn is poor." Jordan was enjoined from making false claims, the brochure was rewritten, and misleading signs were removed from the exhibit. However, the exhibits retained their colorful names, allowing visitors to surmise what they wished.

The room-sized assemblages of what appear to be mechanical musical instruments are partly illusion. Some of the instruments actually play, but the strings and woodwinds in particular do not; their sound is actually produced by organ pipes, while the moving instruments fool visitors.

Today, the nature of the exhibits is disclosed, though perhaps not emphasized, by the management; for example, the current website notes that "All the armor featured in this elaborate collection was made for The House on the Rock.". This was not always the case. According to Balousek, before 1978 brochures advertised authentic Tiffany lamps, said the Gladiator Calliope dated from 1895, that the Franz Josef music machine had actually belonged to the Austrian emperor, that the Tusk of Ranchipoor was genuine ivory carved by an "unknown Punjab artisan," and so forth.

The official 1993 brochure says that the house "boasts the largest collection of Bauer and Coble lamps in the world. The management considers them finer and expects them to be more valuable than Tiffany's," and boasts that "The 'Four Seasons' panels are thought to be the only exact replica of the original and very popular Tiffany effort."

Timeline

The Infinity Room juts out 218 feet from the House on the Rock, without supports underneath. The room has over 3,000 windows.

c. 1920: Alex Jordan Sr. vowed to "put up a Japanese house on one of those pinnacle rocks" to spite Frank Lloyd Wright

c. 1945: Alex Jordan Jr. began blasting to form a level foundation at the top of the pinnacle. He talked to the farmer who owned the rock but did not bother to secure formal rights at the time. The first structure on the rock was a simple "tent" (Moe) or a "picnic place with a tarpaper roof" (Balousek)

1952 An electric hoist was installed to aid construction.

1959, Labor Day: Jordan placed a stone marker on Highway 23 and officially opened the house to paying visitors.

1962, Wisconsin Trails magazine published a long article about the house by Howard Mead. The article marked the status of the house as a serious tourist attraction, and drew regional attention to it. State Industrial Commission gave the house its first formal inspection.

1968, the "Mill House" opened, containing "one of the world's largest" fireplaces. It is the first room in the house to emphasize collections of curiosities and antiques, including dolls, guns, and mechanical musical instruments.

1971, "Streets of Yesterday" opened, influenced by techniques devised by Paul Yank for a 1968 "Streets of Old Milwaukee" exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Museum.

1974, "Music of Yesterday" opened.

1981, Carousel Building and "World's Largest Carousel" opened, on Easter weekend.

1985: The "Infinity Room" was constructed.

In other media

In 1988, the Wisconsin State Journal published a four-part series on "The House on the Rock," which reporter Marv Balousek later expanded into a self-published book entitled House of Alex. According to Balousek, Jordan Sr. hired "drunks and bums" from the Madison street to help blast the rock. Balousek says that according to Sid Boyum these workers were sometimes paid with whiskey and sometimes by check, but that Alex Jordan Jr. destroyed the cancelled checks later to further a myth that he had personally built the house himself.

The House on the Rock also appears in the novel American Gods by Neil Gaiman. In the novel, the house is a portal into the mind of the Gods. In one of the rooms is the world's largest carousel, and the main characters ride the carousel's creatures and get transported into the mind of the "All-Father" a.k.a. Odin.

The 10,000 Maniacs music video for "More Than This" was shot at The House on the Rock in 1997.

References

^ a b Balousek 1989, p. 60-62; Moe 1990 p. 25

^ a b c d e Balousek 1989 p. 71; however, Moe 1990 p. 26, however, says "1960."

^ Moe, Doug (1991). Alex Jordan: Architect of his Own Dream. House of Wyoming Valley, Inc.. ISBN 0-9630207-0-6. ; The spine gives "The House on the Rock" as the publisher's imprint. The back cover bears the House on the Rock corporate logo and the legend "The Authorized Biography". The author is described as a "magazine journalist" and "associate editor of Madison Magazine". Moe had access to and quotes Jennie Olson, Don Martin, and others not accessible to Balousek.

^ Boyum was "Jordan's closest friend. .. [for] 60 years" (Balousek 1990, p. 34). Balousek notes that Boyum "enjoys telling a good tale, whether it's true or not" and says the Burlington Liars' Club declared him World Champion Liar in 1976. According to Moe, Boyum said that he "decided to make a legend out of [Alex]" and wrote the copy for early brochures, which stretched the truth on many matters.

^ The building exists today, at 615 Howard Place, Madison, Wisconsin, and is being renovated: Lisa Schuetzin (2006-01-16). "Villa Maria Regains Some Of Its Classic Shine: New Owner Tries To Recapture The Building's Original Beauty In The Single-tenant Units.". Wisconsin State Journal. http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/madison.com/html/archive_files/wsj/2000/01/16/0001170237.php. Retrieved 2006-10-17. , which says: "Architect Frank Riley designed the Spanish Colonial revival building for Jordan. ... Its walls are stucco, broken up by irregularly spaced and sized windows. Dormer windows line the top of the structure. A large front terrace is surrounded by iron grillwork and the roof, which was originally covered with red tile as shown in a postcard from about 1950, is now shingled." The stucco was originally pink.

^ Balousek, 1990, p. 58. Moe, 1991, p. 21 gives a virtually identical account, with Wright quoted as saying: "I wouldn't hire you to design a cheese case for me, or a chicken coop," and Jordan Sr. as saying: "I'm going to get even with him. I'm going to build a Japanese house out there."

^ Balousek 1990, p. 58

^ a b Jane Smiley (1993-03-19). "Wisconsin: Three Visions Attained". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CEFDF1031F934A35750C0A965958260&sec=travel&pagewanted=print. Retrieved 2006-09-13. 

^ "The Attraction". The House on the Rock. http://www.thehouseontherock.com/HOTR_AttractionMain.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-25. 

^ Moe 1990 p. 106

^ Balousek 1990 p. 91

^ Balousek 1990: "Phelps car," "fabricate any antiques," p. 92; "laugh about the way he fooled everyone," p. 93

^ Balousek 1990: antiques disclosed as fake, pp. 103-4

^ a b Moe 1990 p. 103

^ "House on the Rock: Attraction". The House on the Rock. http://www.thehouseontherock.com/html/attraction.htm. Retrieved 2006-10-18. 

^ The House on the Rock, 1993, "Photography and factual data supplied by The House on the Rock executive staff.

^ Balousek, 1990, p. 58; Moe, 1991, p. 21

^ Moe 1990 p. 36

^ Balousek 1989 p. 76

^ Moe 1990 p. 78-81

^ Moe 1990 p. 86

^ Moe 1990 p. 112

^ Moe 1990 p. 30

External links

The House on the Rock, official website

Photos, from a 2005 visitor

Photos, many photos from the House

2004 CBS article (with video)

House on the Rock Music Machines

The House That Alex Jordan Built, article in Madison Magazine

150+ High resolution pictures from a 2008 visitor

Find more about House on the Rock on Wikipedia's sister projects:

Definitions from Wiktionary

Textbooks from Wikibooks

Quotations from Wikiquote

Source texts from Wikisource

Images and media from Commons

News stories from Wikinews

Learning resources from Wikiversity

Categories: Buildings and structures in Wisconsin | Museums in Sauk County, Wisconsin | Roadside attractions | Folly buildings in the United States | Houses in Wisconsin | Historic house museums in Wisconsin

About the Author

I am a professional writer from China Toys Suppliers, which contains a great deal of information about horse figurine , polaris sportsman 500, Welcome to visit!

what really happened at the end of the movie "radio flyer"?

I saw this movie recently. at the end the little boy named Bobby takes off in his homemade airplane, helped by his older brother Mike, played by elijah woods. he takes off and never goes home. a few weeks later they get a postcard from him. the kid was only maybe 6-7yo!!

was this made up in the character Mike's mind? it just didn't make any sense to me.

Just want to know what people think about the ending of this movie (which also starred Tom Hanks).

I think it symbolizes the desire to excape a bad reality..

the 60's...Send me a postcard by the shocking blue

Pinup Girl

A History Of Pin-Up Girls

It is no longer surprising to see world class athletes in the provocative poses and skimpy clothes of pinup girls. These are world champion athletes and some of them are Olympic medalists. They have achieved the pinnacle of their sport and won worldwide adulation for their achievements on the tennis court, sports field or swimming pool. It therefore begs the question why they would do something that is normally reserved for film actresses or models.

One has to see the reception that these photographs receive to understand why top notch athletes want to be pinup girls. The women who do these are very attractive in addition to being talented and their fan base sky rockets after these photos come out. This helps to drive sales of products that these women endorse. It is quite interesting to note that these days athletes can make more money from product endorsements rather than from actual winnings. The situation is such that a woman does not need to be the best at her sport in order to be the most popular person involved in it.

There is another aspect to this as well. These women put in a lot of effort to strengthen their bodies and improve their game. It must certainly be very refreshing for them to be viewed by the world as a beautiful woman and not just a record breaking athlete.

These provocative photographs do serve a useful purpose as well and the sport does benefit from them. They increase awareness and interest in the particular sport and increasing numbers of people take it up thanks to this free publicity it gets. Young girls will feel less worried about losing their feminine aura after seeing these pictures of beautiful and healthy women.

These saucy pictures are not without controversy. There are plenty of people who do not appreciate this new turn of events. They say that these photographs of athlete pinup girls trivialize this game, catering to the lowest common denominator. Feminists decry these images saying that they are pandering to base male instincts by sexualizing these strong women who have achieved glory by physically dominating their opponents. They point out that you dont often see photographs of men in these poses. The issue gets really heated up when certain athletes shed all of their clothes for some well known publications.

The stock response that these women athletes give is that they are doing it to celebrate the variety of the human figure and to demonstrate that you dont have to be ugly in order to win world championships or Olympic medals. They argue that they deserve the right to be viewed as sexy athletes, in the same way that male athletes are idolized by their female fan following.

However, the view that prevails is that they do it for the money so that they can extract as much as possible from the time they are famous, because these days fame is fleeting and lasts only as long as they can remain in the public eye.

About the Author

I am basically a graduate at the University of Hamburg and you can get awesome articles and valid information from the ones which I submit specially for you to take a look at. Check out Pin up Images, Pin-up Graphics or Pin-up Pictures.

Where can I find someone to create a pinup girl drawing from a picture?

My brother in law loves the pinup girl style picture. He wants one done with that looks like my sister. Any advice?

There is this awesome website for artists, you can post, and view, and talk to each other. www.deviantart.com. it sounds dark, but it is awesome. You can chose from any type of art from photography, to painting, to digital art and drawing. I would go there, search the pinups, and then talk to the artists via email or by the comments box. Good Luck!

Makeup tutorial: The Classic Pin-Up Girl

Strip Print

Introducing the New Powis Parker Fastback Image Strip

Powis Parker Fastback recently announced that they were introducing a brand new product to the binding world. They call this new product the "Image Strip" and it is designed for use with the Fastback model 9 binding machine. The new Image Strip is a fully color digitally printed tape binding strip that provides users with the ability to enhance their brand by adding their name, logo and customized graphics to the spine of their documents. This new strip wraps around the spine of a document and boldly displays your customized graphics while still allowing you to use covers that are produced on demand with the name of your customer or the title of your report.

The savvy business person knows that every document a company produces should help sell the company's products or services. Yet, all too often, opportunities are missed when it comes to office-produced documents. Every document you show to your clients and potential customers is an ambassador for your company. The better they look, the better your company looks and the more your brand is enhanced.

With the Powis Image Strip, you can help your company stand out from the competition. Fastback Image strips are fully compatible with Powis Clear or Composition Covers, and they can take the most ordinary document and turn it into something extraordinary that everyone will notice.

With the introduction of the Image Strip, the simplicity and accessibility of corporate branding and marketing suddenly is a whole lot easier. Every document you bind instantly promotes your brand. Plus, using the Image strip can help your company to bring consistency to the way your brand is presented with bound proposals. Larger companies can even use Image Strips that are tailored for individual departments, reinforcing your brand, while at the same time improving document tracking. The possibilities are endless... It's time to get noticed.

Powis Parker has chosen to offer three distinct Image Strip Options that are sure to meet the needs of every type of business, from the smallest design firm to the largest corporation. These three types of Image Strips come with different price points corresponding to their level of customization; This provides users with a wide range of options and possibilities.

1. The first tier of Image Strip is called the Theme Strip. With the Theme Strip you can choose from an array of strips that have been designed with attractive images. These strips are only a few cents more than the classic Fastback Super Strip, which has been offered by Fastback for more than a decade.

2. The second tier of Image Strip is called Branded Strip. This option allows you to put your company name and/or logo on the Theme Strip of your choice; providing you with a much higher level of personalization. This strip is a few cents more than the Theme Strip and requires a one time file prep fee.

3. The third tier of Image Strip is called Custom Image Strip. This option allows you to create a strip that is totally custom and unique to your company. You can design this strip in house using a template and or you can hire your Powis Parker dealer or the Powis Design Team to create two proofs for you. This strip is the most custom option offered by Powis Parker and is an excellent choice for organizations that are looking to fully control the way that their brand is presented to both current and prospective customers.

The new Fastback Image Strip is different than any other binding style currently available on the market. Its professional look, innovative design and the branding opportunities that it represents are sure to make this new strip a huge hit among companies large and small.

About the Author

If you are interested in more information about the Powis Parker Fastback Image Strip or are looking for Fastback Binding Machines or Fastback Binding Strips you should visit MyBinding.com. They are the largest online dealer for Powis Parker Fastback products in the United States. In fact, they carry the entire line of Powis Parker Fastback binding products.

people have said to have strips of cheetah print you use celery as the stamp does that actually work?

okay so people say you use celery as a stamp, you dip it in the dye and then stamp it on your hair. does that workk? like if you had that done then please answer thiss! and a step by step thing would be cool too (:

i agree with the oter guy up there. stripes and spots are way out. natural is in. but if you HAVE to, there's no reason why it won't work.

How to Make a Print in Photography : Making a Test Strip in a Darkroom

Ornament Usa

Lawn Ornaments You Must Have & Why

When I was younger and heard the term lawn ornaments I would think of pink flamingos and huge statues in the middle of a flower bed or garden.  Although these are still popular lawn décor across America's lawns, lawn ornaments have actually come a long way and consist of a variety of items today.  I will discuss three particular kinds of lawn ornaments, bird feeders, wind spinners, and garden statues, and the purpose each has in your lawn.

Supplying bird feeders in your backyard provides access to one of the most popular outdoor hobbies in America, bird watching.  Bird feeders are a great way to interact with wild life.  The longer you establish bird feeders in your backyard, the more birds will come and go and come back again the next migrating season.  Bird feeders provide food for wild birds; which may be especially helpful when food is scarce or right before migrating season or just a plane energy boost they can rely on.  The purpose of bird feeders is not only to feed birds but they can also decorate your backyard.  Some feeders are designed with the purpose of just feeding but others are designed to provide food and decorate your outdoors.  Feeders can be posted, mounted and hung so it's easy to find a place for one or two.

Wind spinners can have a lot of purposes in your backyard.  Because they come in all different shapes, sizes and colors, they are fun to pick out and decide where you want to hang them.  Wind spinners can be hung from tree branches, from hook stands in the middle of the yard or along the outside of the house, porch brackets, from the ceiling of the porch, decks, gardens, and many more places.  You can buy solar light wind spinners, gazing ball wind spinners and themed wind spinners.  Solar light spinners are wonderful because they decorate and light up an area.  So you can enjoy them both day and night!  Gazing ball spinners are a popular wind spinner as you will find a lot of gazing balls in the middle of flower gardens and such.  If you have a smaller area to work that adding a large gazing would just overcrowd it, a gazing ball wind spinner might be just right for you.  Themed wind spinners are long spinners (about 16" in length) that provide three different pictures of one theme.  For example, for a USA theme you might see an eagle head at the top, the American flag in the center and the letters USA at the bottom.  These make great gifts for those who have a garden theme in which one of these themed wind spinners carry.

Garden statues are popular in almost any outdoor enthusiast's garden.  They can range from large lion statues to big cement bird baths and garden gnomes to Mickey Mouse figurines.  Garden statues have represented a status symbol in the past.  Maybe such representation still exists, however, there are a whole line of different kinds of garden statues you can put in your backyard today.  Garden statues can set the mood in your garden.  Do you want a playful fun garden theme?  Choose garden statues such as garden gnomes or popular animal statues (maybe from TV).  If you want a more quite reflective garden, you may want to find angel and cherub garden statues.  And if you are looking to create a garden or front/back yard that represents power or confidence, garden statue lions or historical sculptures may be to your liking.  Whatever the theme you should be able to find some garden statues that suit your needs.

When choosing lawn ornaments for your garden it's always nice to find things that have a purpose.  And some things you just have to have because it's cute or on sale. Whatever your reasons are, bird feeders, wind spinners and garden statues are just a few lawn ornaments that can serve a purpose in your garden.  Any three of these lawn ornaments are absolute must-haves for your garden.  Other lawn ornaments to consider are garden planters, bird houses, bird baths, wind chimes and stepping stones.

About the Author

My name is Angie and I love the outdoors.  I sell lawn & garden decor from my online store and strive to provide the best quality and largest variety of lawn ornaments I can.  My store provides a lot of cute ideas for people to decorate their outdoor space.  Personalize your lawn & garden today with adorable garden statues, stepping stones, bird feeders, bird houses, wind chimes, wind spinners and much more.
http://www.outdoormama.com
http://www.outdoormama1.blogspot.com

terror has no ends in india..............?

well jsut a look over some countries

usa..........striked on 9/11............waged a war on afgani soil n then pak,..........no more terror attacks

britain............bombing but no more bombing.........they defused bombs in liquids too......

israel.............bombed islamic countries with attacks on jordon,egypt and lebanon........is full with aggression n kills 10 times more than it sufferes

we............well 10 bombblast in 2008...over 550 dead.........cases from 1993 still pending
abu salem still in jail,afzal in jail,monica bedi out...........n still the politicals r saying that we should give compensation to terrorists families............
terrorist being exported to india from pok n still wit 20 lakhs of armies.............we r like bridal women with ornaments all over.............

cant we bomb pak..........

yeah i wish, it's very sad

SPECIALTY PRINTER (CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT INKJET PRINTER)

Airplane Pin

Who Else Wants an Upgrade to 1st Class?

Steve Mattus, Signet Ventures ©2006. www.destinedforadventure.com

I'm 6'2" and sitting in coach is horrifying. Every time I fly and I walk through first class on my way to my little seat in the back, I turn green with envy. My long legs just don't fit in those little rows. In fact, one time I was sitting there and after take off, this very large man sitting in the row in front of me decided to lean his seat back all of a sudden. Normally that's not an issue, but because I'm tall, my knees are pinned against the seat in front of me. So, when he reclined his seat he was crushing my knee caps into my legs. I actually hollered out, "Aaahhhh!" Oh that hurt so bad. I just want a first class seat. However, I don't fly enough to get the magic upgrade.

So, one day I was taking a flight and I figured out the secret to upgrades! It's so simple and yet it's so difficult! In fact, it's so hard, it's why 98% of individuals don't get an upgrade! But I'm going to share my experience with you and encourage you to follow suit every time you travel and odds are... you'll be joining me in first class.

Now, let me set some expectations. What I'm about to tell you won't get you upgraded every time. These days, it seems like first class is always full before you have a chance to get an upgrade. But, if the flight has open seats in first... you do have a chance. And, if you approach it right, you have a good chance. Also, these days, gate agents are very persnickety (is that a word?) and many are moody, so that can also affect your chances of success.

Ok, enough expectations. Here's the big secret. I'm about to reveal to you how you can join me in first class. You ready? It's pretty complicated, so let me get started.

Ask.

Ok, that's it. Complicated, right? No, it's not complicated but 98% of people don't do it. I have to admit, I was one of those folks for a long time. But, just the other day, once again, I did it and once again, I found myself in a comfortable first class seat while only paying for a coach seat. And, all I did was ask. Keep in mind that I am not even a member of this airlines frequent flyer program. It was the first time I've flown with them.

Here's how I did it.
1. Find out if the flight is full. Iknew the flight was fairly full being that I checked on line prior to the flight. (How'd I find out the flight was full? I'll let you know in a future article.) However, first class was not full. Not even close.

1. Get to the gate early and sit as close as possible to the gate agents that will be handling your flight. This allows you to 'overhear' them as they strategize on how they are going to handle the flight. This is especially important for full flights. You'll be surprised what you learn by just sitting there. I don't mean to be rude by listening in but I do have an objective. I'm not just being nosy, right?

2. Dress nicely. Looks do matter. So, dress the part. Even though the only good thing about first class these days in the room (as for the food... on my last flight in first class, all I got was a granola bar.) they still like it when the folks in first class are dressed nice. This is not mandatory, but it can increase your chances of getting an upgrade.

3. Be in a great mood, with a great smile and in a very sincere tone, approach the desk agent when he or she is not busy. Do NOT approach if there is a line or other people standing around. This is why I get there early. Can you imagine if there are people behind you in line and you ask for an upgrade and they say, "sure!" What do you think the next person in line is going to expect? Make sure you can have the conversation "alone" and speak in a soft voice, but one that the gate agent can hear.

4. Here is my script that's helped me get upgraded, "Hi there. Is now a good time for me ask you a question? Great. I was wondering if there was any possible way I might be able to get an upgrade?" Typically, the agent will say, "no, sorry." Then I ask, "is first full?" If it is, it is, and I can't do much about it. If they say, "no, but we have a long list of upgrades already waiting." Then I say, "Can I ask you something else then? How do people get on that list? Can you help me so I can get on it for my next flight?" Then, just shut up and let the gate agent take over. You'll find out a TON of amazing stuff. They'll ask you about frequent flyer programs, etc. Act as naïve as you want. If you have a humble, appreciative manner, most kind gate agents have no problem sharing the "inside secrets" on how to 'get in the good graces' of the agent.

Many times, the upgrade list is genuinely full with people who fly that airline all the time and they have every right to be upgraded. After all, they do give the airline a lot of business.

Truly - that's all I do. I can't tell you how many times that conversation alone has gotten me an upgrade. People love to feel like they've done something special for someone. Especially if you seem very nice, easy going, appreciative, and humble. And, to top it off and make it easier for the next guy to get an upgrade, there's one more thing I do.

1. If you get the upgrade, thank the gate agent like they just saved your childs life. Usually, I tell a little story about why it's going to help me so much. (Only do this if they aren't trying to accomplish a ton of pre-flight work.) Then, prior to the time they start boarding (only if no one is at the desk) I go up again and say, "I just had to come up again and thank you. You have no idea how you've made my day." The gate agent will feel like a hero - every human loves that feeling.

That's it. May be simple, but 98% of us don't even ask. So, get up the guts to ask and you'll increase you chance of getting an upgrade 100%!

You can even use some of these tips on the plane with the flight attendant if you notice there are open seats in first, but it's much more difficult. I haven't had to use that tactic but a time or two. It's much easier at the gate.

I wish you many upgrades and happy, happy knees.

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Find out how to get seated in first class without paying first class prices! It's simple!

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