With the new m.alaskaair.com feature we can see conveniently how long the upgrade list is when checked in online. This is the space to track flights and see just how long some are. The potential value in reviewing entries in this thread are for determining what flights and/or days of the week are going to provide your highest chance of securing a complementary upgrade.
Note: There are several similar threads focusing on different aspects of upgrades:
I think what ANC RED-EYE was basically saying is that AS's rationalization for all of those dilutions was to protect upgrades for elite members is total hogwash.
They did that to improve the bottom line.
I generally agree. The only changes that protect upgrades are the closings of the loopholes (protecting them for those who expect the upgrade rules to be consistent and honest).
The rest are to force purchase of higher fares to use upgrade coupons (G/T limits), or force purchase of F (companion cert limits).
The F upgrade cert with VISA renewal, though, that's mentioned ... that's been gone a long, long time. I barely remember it.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Seattlenerd
I generally agree. The only changes that protect upgrades are the closings of the loopholes (protecting them for those who expect the upgrade rules to be consistent and honest).
The rest are to force purchase of higher fares to use upgrade coupons (G/T limits), or force purchase of F (companion cert limits).
The F upgrade cert with VISA renewal, though, that's mentioned ... that's been gone a long, long time. I barely remember it.
I think once the F companion certs flush out of the system, it WILL improve upgrade availability for the elites... but I would expect it to take a year and a half or so (from implementation) before capacity is really noticable.
I think once the F companion certs flush out of the system, it WILL improve upgrade availability for the elites... but I would expect it to take a year and a half or so (from implementation) before capacity is really noticable.
I hope you're right; I know the ultimate impact of changes like this have a long fuse. I'll be around and will definitely be checking.
It seems inexplicable how this happened. 7 years ago was my qualifying year as MVP. I had a fairly reasonable upgrade percentage...
Since then:
-OLCI loophole has closed
-paper cert reuse loophole has closed
-G/T fares no longer eligible for MVPG guest upgrades
-Companion cert no longer valid for F
-F upgrade certs no longer given annually with AS Visa renewal
All of these things were supposed to make result in elite upgrade improvements...what's happened?
-more F sales due to "priced to sell" approach?
-75K?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Seattlenerd
Closing the loopholes was an improvement. It kept people from line-jumping and gaming the system, to the detriment of others. Those were not published benefits.
Of your list, the only two that are downgrades are the G/T fare restriction and the companion fare not being good for F. And neither of those actually affect having an upgrade processed within the upgrade window for open seats.
The pricing F to sell is neutral: it does impact available upgrades before flight, but also keeps the airline healthy.
The addition of Gold 75k is also net neutral. Same number of total frequent flier upgrades, but a reordering of who gets them first. Which could be seen as a downgrade for Gold and MVP.
AS has added lots of transcons in the past decade. That's swelled the ranks of Golds (and, in part, led to the introduction of the 75k sub-level), making the upgrade lists longer.
Agreed that closing the OLCI and paper guest upgrade cert reuse was a positive, and [hopefully] helps ensure that upgrades get to the customers that deserve them most; however, I have to admit that I don't have a great deal of faith in the AS upgrade system - hearing reports of DL elites being upgraded at 48 hours and other permutations that allow them to be upgraded prior to AS elites makes me think there are still problems to be addressed.
A third downgrade is the loss of annual upgrade certs with the BofA visa - I used those to upgrade LAX - ANC the only year I got them. That's a tangible benefit that was taken away...
The pricing of F to sell, addition of 75K, addition of trans-cons resulting in more elite pax...yep, all are good for business; great that the business is going well. Unfortunately, that doesn't change the fact that MVPG essentially means squat for upgrades; which ultimately means I feel I get equal to better service with my status on DL and AA... Honestly, this has me thinking about jumping ship, because basically MVPG has limited value for anyone who flies primarly on elite heavy routes - it is really only beneficial for west coast (excluding AK) only fliers. The truth of the matter is, I think AS should look hard at finding some tangible benefits for MVPG - economy comfort? Free meals? Free digis? MVPG has seen some serious devaluation in the past 5 years - I personally have gone from a 50+% upgrade percentage as gold to near zero.
Quote:
Originally Posted by golfingboy
I think what ANC RED-EYE was basically saying is that AS's rationalization for all of those dilutions was to protect upgrades for elite members is total hogwash.
Certainly I'm saying that I haven't seen any improvement in my upgrade percentages as promised...
Quote:
Originally Posted by missydarlin
I think once the F companion certs flush out of the system, it WILL improve upgrade availability for the elites... but I would expect it to take a year and a half or so (from implementation) before capacity is really noticable.
When were the last companion F certs issued? I have a hard time believing THAT many F bookings came from the certs. Though maybe I'm wrong based on the FT reaction to this change. Anyone want to venture a guess...would you say that 1/3 of flights have 2 F pax booked with a companion cert? Every flight? 1/2? More than one pair per flight? I suppose this would vary significantly based on routes with AK and HI having the highest percentage.
Furthermore, the OLCI loophole and the paper guest upgrade loophole were touted as much bigger problems, yet they've been closed for over a year now and I've seen no improvement with my elite upgrade chances.
Programs: AS MVP Gold, One Pass, SPG, Marriot Rewards,Sky Miles, AMEX Miles
Posts: 812
For our 1/10 flight out of ONT (#529) there were at least eight on the WL. Only 12 FC seats on the 400, all checked in so no gate UGs for anyone.....
The crew dropped a bulb in the cockpit and we spent 40 minutes on the ground while they rooted around before they located it.
Than got to SEA and had three different baggage carousels to run to before finally getting our bags.....
An ominous start to flying in 2013 for us!
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"All the lives we could live, all the people we will never know, never will be, they are everywhere...." AH
Programs: AS MVPGold75k, Priority Club, Hilton Honors
Posts: 319
AS 7 (EWR to SEA at 6 pm) on Friday Jan 11 the last time I looked at the list on my phone there were 42 on the waitlist. There were four unsold seats so four of us got upgraded at the gate. Since I was 2nd on the list I did not board early, but waited so I was able to choose which seat to take The other three were brought up by the GA to the front.
Programs: AA (EXP/2MM/Admirals Club), AS (MVPG/Boardroom), UA, SPG (Gold), HHonors, Fairmont PC (Plat)
Posts: 1,640
>15 on AS 387 SFO-PDX on Thursday 1/10. I was at least 7 or 8. I think the computer thought I was MVP because I was not on the flight attendant's comp drink list, which was just a bit awkward when I was holding a boarding pass that said MVP Gold. She let me have the drink but I am not sure she believed me. When I boarded PDX-YVR, the scanner said MVP not GLD.
The return said GLD on the scanner and I was upgraded close to the 72 hour window. I never called to have my number refreshed because the upgrade came in. Weird.
__________________ Flights Since 1 Nov 2007
2013: AA EXP upg: 16/18; eVIP: 2/2 AS MVPG upg: 7/8 Guest 0/0
This morning's SEA-EWR flight (AS 8): 66 on the upgrade list. Yes, 66.
I was number four (originally number two, but bumped by other MVPG 75ks as they checked in, who likely purchased their tickets before me). But considering the front cabin was booked full, I might as well as have been number 67.
Programs: AS MVPGold75k, Priority Club, Hilton Honors
Posts: 319
Over 38 on the UG list for OAK SEA (AS 343) yesterday (Jan 17th) but what really struck me as funny was the GA announcing that general boarding was going to be very delayed as there were 57 elites and partner elites on this flight.
AS18 SEA-MCO on 1/9/13, there were 18 on the board, the wife (also a 75K) and I were #1 & #2. But it was already full. Fail.
SEA-MCO and MCO-SEA only goes out once per day (non-redeye flights at least) and this flight is always very full. I personally have purchased full fare FC tickets (family of four) on this flight four times now, just to make sure we get the seats!
So far been 7/7 with flights out of PDX this year and just checked in for my ride home sat from LAS and got a seat in F. I do use DL a lot and I have seen many of those lists at 70-80 people. In the last two years I am 1/28 on DL as an Alaska MVP/G and the "1" was MSP-PDX on a Saturday night on an MD93.
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