How Complimentary Upgrades Work
#286
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...-upgrades.html
#287
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BLI
Programs: Alaska Million Mile Flyer, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,193
I had that happen recently and had to call in immediately. The upgrade processor was "stuck," and I was told that can happen when you're upgraded after you've checked in. Apparently sometimes the PNR and ticket number can get disassociated (or something like that; I'm out of my technical system depth here) when an upgrade tries to process after check in. The CSR was able to clear up the disconnect and the upgrade processed. Not an ideal situation.
#288
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Virgin Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 204
Read through the last few pages on this thread and one clarification question: say an MVP 75K books an H class fare, and U is not available at booking time (but plenty of seats for sale up front). Is it still worth putting in a (say, expiring) GGU or does that get the same priority as a complimentary upgrade?
#289
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Read through the last few pages on this thread and one clarification question: say an MVP 75K books an H class fare, and U is not available at booking time (but plenty of seats for sale up front). Is it still worth putting in a (say, expiring) GGU or does that get the same priority as a complimentary upgrade?
#290
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Read through the last few pages on this thread and one clarification question: say an MVP 75K books an H class fare, and U is not available at booking time (but plenty of seats for sale up front). Is it still worth putting in a (say, expiring) GGU or does that get the same priority as a complimentary upgrade?
#291
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Virgin Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 204
Oh! Awesome, thanks! I got a bit confused since at booking it said "You will be able to apply MVP® Gold Guest Upgrade codes right after your purchase." but also the U is crossed out and "One or more of your flights does not have upgrade space available." (it's a non-stop flight soo.... yeah.).
Am I correct in understanding that if U pops up between now and the flight time, that it will automatically clear using the complimentary one?
Am I correct in understanding that if U pops up between now and the flight time, that it will automatically clear using the complimentary one?
#292
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In theory, yes, though it will clear in order of waitlist position, so if there is another 75K who booked an instant-upgrade-qualifying fare before you did, they'll get it first. If you happen to notice U space open, though, and you're not cleared into it, usually a quick call to AS will result in you being cleared immediately.
#293
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Virgin Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 204
In theory, yes, though it will clear in order of waitlist position, so if there is another 75K who booked an instant-upgrade-qualifying fare before you did, they'll get it first. If you happen to notice U space open, though, and you're not cleared into it, usually a quick call to AS will result in you being cleared immediately.
#294
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 205
Does upgrade space ever get withdrawn? I ask because I checked a flight that I was on 4 days out and it had 3 seats in F and 2 U. I bought the ticket months ago and I was hoping to be upgraded at the 72 hour window. I checked at about 75 hours and it was now no U and I figured darn someone beat me to it with an gold upgrade or a qualifying fare but what surprised me was that there was still 3 F seats. I am not using the seat map here but am determining it with dummy bookings. So what happened to the U space?
#295
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BLI
Programs: Alaska Million Mile Flyer, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,193
Does upgrade space ever get withdrawn? I ask because I checked a flight that I was on 4 days out and it had 3 seats in F and 2 U. I bought the ticket months ago and I was hoping to be upgraded at the 72 hour window. I checked at about 75 hours and it was now no U and I figured darn someone beat me to it with an gold upgrade or a qualifying fare but what surprised me was that there was still 3 F seats. I am not using the seat map here but am determining it with dummy bookings. So what happened to the U space?
#296
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Does upgrade space ever get withdrawn? I ask because I checked a flight that I was on 4 days out and it had 3 seats in F and 2 U. I bought the ticket months ago and I was hoping to be upgraded at the 72 hour window. I checked at about 75 hours and it was now no U and I figured darn someone beat me to it with an gold upgrade or a qualifying fare but what surprised me was that there was still 3 F seats. I am not using the seat map here but am determining it with dummy bookings. So what happened to the U space?
#297
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kirkland, WA
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Posts: 3,657
I am afraid AS will eventually go the way of UA which markets discounted F upgrades leading up to the day of flight and pushes even harder during check in (sometimes at $99 ea. for a midcon). Elites get whatever people have not purchased. Adding insult to injury, the systems do not offer the discounted upgrades to elites under the false assumption that since they are already on the complimentary list, they are not interested.
#298
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 205
Thanks for answering me. Coach was almost sold out for this Memorial Day weekend trip to DC area. I ended up being upgraded into the last F seat at about T-23 and even got my first ever email telling me this.
#299
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: BOS
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In theory, yes, though it will clear in order of waitlist position, so if there is another 75K who booked an instant-upgrade-qualifying fare before you did, they'll get it first. If you happen to notice U space open, though, and you're not cleared into it, usually a quick call to AS will result in you being cleared immediately.
#300
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It will skip over you to the next eligible single person. If you call, they can split the record, but I am not sure if they will be able to keep the second person on the waitlist.