Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - Trip not booked on AS, my FF number applied, not in my trips

When I book flights on a third party system to Alaska, I'm never seeing trips show up in the My Trips part of AS.com. My AS number always gets applied to these, so why doesn't AS.com see this?

My guess is that their is no incentive for AS to write the code to show 3rd party reservations with the same FF# in My Trips. Every time I book via AMEX Corp website I copy the CC code and add to my trips to upgrade, seat assign, ect.

The incentive would be me not taking a valuable day off to show up at one of the AS functions to show the CEO my brand new DL gold card and moving all of my reservations on DL through Salt Lake.

My FF number is on there. Why the ****** isn't it under the Trips section. It is that hard to write a script that will run nightly, look for all of the reservations like this and have it added to the Trips?

Just take the Alaska Confirmation number and paste is along with your last name into the My Trips section. It takes two more clicks then checking to see if your trip is in there.

I'm curious, do other airlines automatically add third party bookings to your profile online? Any time I have flown NWA or AA I have had to add the confirmation myself.

Just take the Alaska Confirmation number and paste is along with your last name into the My Trips section. It takes two more clicks then checking to see if your trip is in there.

I'm curious, do other airlines automatically add third party bookings to your profile online? Any time I have flown NWA or AA I have had to add the confirmation myself.

AA's "My Reservations" tag starts with:

All your reservations, regardless of where they were booked, will show below if either of the following apply:
You are one of the travelers and your AAdvantage number is in the reservation.
You booked and/or purchased the reservation on AA.com while logged-in.

That's consistent with my experience: AA flights booked both through a travel agent and through Alaska are listed in My Reservations, but a reservation with an AS flight number operated by AA was not listed.

It would be nice if AS did the same, but not a big deal.

It's been awhile, but I thought once NWA had a reservation from any source it was in your profile. What I do remember was that you did not have to "request" an upgrade like you do on AS. the system at NWA automatically placed you in a que for First. Often you could get it right away or sometime prior to the day of flight. The copy/past/request method required by AS is antiquated but takes allot less time than to write this post. If you want the upgrade you have to go through the steps.

Do you get a record locator for your trips when the ticket is issued? What happens when you try to find the record with it or an eticket number?

The way I've run into this is when the ticket is actually an AA/DL ticket with an AS segment. It won't show on "My Trips" until I call AS and get the AS record locator, but once I add that record locator in My Trips, it keeps showing up.

The incentive would be me not taking a valuable day off to show up at one of the AS functions to show the CEO my brand new DL gold card and moving all of my reservations on DL through Salt Lake.

My FF number is on there. Why the ****** isn't it under the Trips section. It is that hard to write a script that will run nightly, look for all of the reservations like this and have it added to the Trips?

Do It! Do It! More seats for us! (More miles for you vs. Non-stop)
It is WIN-WIN for everyone!!!

Nearly all of my AS travel has to go thru our corporate travel agent. My trips never automatically show up. I have to add a current reservation, with my name and confirmation code. It has never seemed like a big deal to me.

The part that is a pain for me is that I always have to call to get on the Frist class waitlist. When it's booked thru a travel agent you don't have a link you can click. It is only there if I book a flight directly on their website.

Nearly all of my AS travel has to go thru our corporate travel agent. My trips never automatically show up. I have to add a current reservation, with my name and confirmation code. It has never seemed like a big deal to me.

Me either, it's one more simple step. I hardly think it takes a long time.

Me either, it's one more simple step. I hardly think it takes a long time.
I'm with you guys that it's not a big deal.

But for those who are used to flying with other airlines where stuff just...works, to come to AS and find that you have to actually do stuff to get it to work right is kind of a shock.

And it's even worse when you consider that not that long ago, AS was the technological leader in the airline industry. Now, they can't even get a functional automatic upgrade system working well, much less a mobile site, functional mobile check-in, live electronic or smartphone display of upgrade waitlists, a working electronic wallet, or a functional trip record. When you come from AA and are used to AA.com just displaying all trips with your AAdvantage number (regardless of how they were booked) and automatically processing upgrades immediately when upgrade space opens instead of hours later (allowing people to cut in front of you), AS just seems a little backwards.

Usually, the friendly AS spirit overshadows those little flaws, but sometimes, the irritation factor reaches a boiling point.

Do It! Do It! More seats for us! (More miles for you vs. Non-stop)
It is WIN-WIN for everyone!!!

Your name is a zip code of the most educated city in America and you make a post like that. I'm not sure if you noticed, but airlines are pretty keen on keeping flights full these days. Should frequent travelers lease, then AS will shelve a few planes to make sure they keep operating at capacity. That will leave you with fewer options of flights available. It will also leave them with less ability to do things that benefit their elites.

You might want to actually think next time before you post something like that. You'll get a better result.

Me either, it's one more simple step. I hardly think it takes a long time.

Really? How many hours a week do you work? 60? 70? 80? When does your day finish? Mine started at 7am yesterday and ended with a work dinner and me working from my laptop on a hotel bed. You're saying that I'm spending thousands of dollars with an airline company and them not giving a crap about my time is not a bad thing?

Here's what I have to do. Book on the corporate travel site. Wait for the summary email to show up. That means it's not one contiguous group of actions I'm going through here.

I now have to wait, once the email comes, drop what I'm doing, take time away from my customers (since AS is doing such a bad job in this regard of taking care of theirs) and use time that would either be used getting things done or doing some of the few personal things I have time for during the week. I have to go to AS.com. I need to select seats for each flight. Then manually create a reservation because their systems can't add my trip to the Trips section unlike seemingly every other airline. I can then find the link to add me to the upgrade list. This may or not be there as it is supposed to and it also may or may not work when I click it. Then I have to pick up the phone and call an 800 number to ask them to give me the benefit that I'm supposed to get anyways?

Do any of you who think this is normal have any idea of how anal that is? I paid $500 to 1200 miles with a company that had me on their top tier elite list by August. I can't put into words how exceedingly stupid that is. You can replace exceedingly with a much more colorful word.

The IT systems at this airline are an affront to the excellent service that their staff gives.

Contrast all of this with how CO works. I book on my corporate site. The seat preferences carry over to CO. CO automatically puts me on their upgrade list based on status and fare. The upgrades happen automatically. Should I want to check the status of the flight, the upgrade list is shown. No manual intervention is necessary.

Assuming that the extra steps that I have to take for AS take me 10 minutes, that is 400 minutes a year I will spend screwing around with this. It's crazy. Do the people who rank AS as the top elite program realize this or should it be brought to their attention. Does AS have any plans to step up and deal with this that anyone knows of?

Really? How many hours a week do you work? 60? 70? 80? When does your day finish? Mine started at 7am yesterday and ended with a work dinner and me working from my laptop on a hotel bed. You're saying that I'm spending thousands of dollars with an airline company and them not giving a crap about my time is not a bad thing?

Here's what I have to do. Book on the corporate travel site. Wait for the summary email to show up. That means it's not one contiguous group of actions I'm going through here.

I now have to wait, once the email comes, drop what I'm doing, take time away from my customers (since AS is doing such a bad job in this regard of taking care of theirs) and use time that would either be used getting things done or doing some of the few personal things I have time for during the week. I have to go to AS.com. I need to select seats for each flight. Then manually create a reservation because their systems can't add my trip to the Trips section unlike seemingly every other airline. I can then find the link to add me to the upgrade list. This may or not be there as it is supposed to and it also may or may not work when I click it. Then I have to pick up the phone and call an 800 number to ask them to give me the benefit that I'm supposed to get anyways?

. . . .

Assuming that the extra steps that I have to take for AS take me 10 minutes, that is 400 minutes a year I will spend screwing around with this. It's crazy. Do the people who rank AS as the top elite program realize this or should it be brought to their attention. Does AS have any plans to step up and deal with this that anyone knows of?

I have to do all that stuff too. I agree with you that, ideally, it should be automated. And I would especially like to be able to look online and see where I stand on the waitlist.

My main concern though is not so much because of the time lost for savvy elites like FTers (I mean, I know you're busy, but it really doesn't take that long, and let's be honest, you probably could have requested upgrades for several flights in the time it took you to write that post.)

My concern is more for the un-savvy elites -- the ones who book tickets through Expedia or whatever, faithfully input their MP number, and know that they are entitled to get complimentary upgrades sometimes as MVPs, but don't know that they need to request them or how to do it. I would imagine that many of these folks just kind of feel like the program just isn't benefitting them at all b/c they never get upgraded. I would hate to see them jump ship to another carrier becuase they're dissatisfied with the program, when really the issue is just that they don't know how to use it! As much as I like FT and all the tips and tricks we get here, I also feel like the average person shouldn't have to learn how to "work the system" to get the benefits from being elite.

A big part of the problem too is that the alaskaair website is not at all clear about these procedures. Seems like the FAQ should include something like "If I book my ticket through a corporate travel agent or third-party website like Orbitz, can I still get complimentary upgrades as an MVP or MVP Gold?" and an explanation of what you need to do to make it happen.

My concern is more for the un-savvy elites -- the ones who book tickets through Expedia or whatever, faithfully input their MP number, and know that they are entitled to get complimentary upgrades sometimes as MVPs, but don't know that they need to request them or how to do it.

But then they'll start taking seats away from us savvy FTers! :p

Kidding. I'm totally on board with you, and your exact thoughts have crossed my mind--including concern that they won't find loyalty valuable because they're missing out on upgrades.

It's doubly frustrating when it "just works" on other airlines. People may switch and suddenly find themselves upgraded (without any action on their part), and they'll be likely to ditch AS in favor of these other carriers.

And while I agree with most everyone here that it's not a huge hassle to call (and it could be done on a cell phone on the way to that dinner meeting), it is a hassle, and people like thegeneral are inclined to leave AS because of the hassle factor. (Busy people are accustomed to paying to avoid hassle, especially if they're well-off and can afford to do so.)

My concern is more for the un-savvy elites -- the ones who book tickets through Expedia or whatever, faithfully input their MP number, and know that they are entitled to get complimentary upgrades sometimes as MVPs, but don't know that they need to request them or how to do it.This was me about five years ago when I first got MVP. Heck, I didn't even know I was entitled to upgrades and that was back when AS actually flew my frequent routes out of PDX. I only realized what I was missing one Christmas Eve when the GA called me up to upgrade me since the flight was mostly empty. Now, five years later and fully FT-conversant, I know the ins and outs...unfortunately, there's never any U space on my QX flights! :D

And while I agree with most everyone here that it's not a huge hassle to call (and it could be done on a cell phone on the way to that dinner meeting), it is a hassle, and people like thegeneral are inclined to leave AS because of the hassle factor. (Busy people are accustomed to paying to avoid hassle, especially if they're well-off and can afford to do so.)

I'm not well off and I'm not paying to avoid hassle. This process should be transparent and easy. My time is valuable. This is why I book more expensive direct flights instead of connecting. Living in Seattle, that means booking Alaska. I don't think I should meet with any disdain because I want to actually get upgrades and have things work as well as other domestic airlines.

I'm not well off and I'm not paying to avoid hassle. This process should be transparent and easy. My time is valuable. This is why I book more expensive direct flights instead of connecting. Living in Seattle, that means booking Alaska. I don't think I should meet with any disdain because I want to actually get upgrades and have things work as well as other domestic airlines.how are those new airlines working out for ya

How many hours a week do you work? 60? 70? 80? When does your day finish? Mine started at 7am yesterday and ended with a work dinner and me working from my laptop on a hotel bed.

If you're so worried about wasting time, why do you keep posting inordinately long rants on this forum? No one else here seems to think this is nearly as big of deal as you do. When people reply with their honest, respectful opinions, you come back with page long editorials and personal attacks. missydarlin even offered you personalized help -- still not good enough for you.

Perhaps instead of ranting at all of us, you should direct your time and energy into writing a nice long letter to Alaska. Or, just fly an airline where you will be automatically added to the upgrade list and save so much of your precious time.

I think most of the elites that fly Alaska would gladly exchange the extra five minutes for actually getting an upgrade, which doesn't happen nearly as frequently on a lot of other carriers.

I'm not well off and I'm not paying to avoid hassle. This process should be transparent and easy. My time is valuable. This is why I book more expensive direct flights instead of connecting. Living in Seattle, that means booking Alaska. I don't think I should meet with any disdain because I want to actually get upgrades and have things work as well as other domestic airlines.
Um, I'm actually about 75% on your side (that it should just work, even if I don't think it's that big of a deal). The post you quoted was in defense of your position. Not sure why you're arguing with me.

If your time is valuable, and you admit to paying higher prices for things that take less time (i.e. direct flights), then you are paying to avoid hassle. The post you quoted was affirming that you are choosing to pay to avoid hassle and are still being hassled, and that is not good service. I agree with you. Again, not sure why you are arguing with me.

However, I will say this: if your time is so valuable (I'm thinking along the lines of highly paid consultants or attorneys or the like whose time is worth hundreds or thousands per hour) that you can't take 90 seconds to call the MVPG line and request your upgrades, and you're still not well-off, then perhaps you should consider a career change... ;)

how are those new airlines working out for ya

Since you've got time to make stupid troll comments like that, perhaps you can answer my question below from the other thread that you conveniently ignored...

"Also, please tell me, for all of those people who had the same problem as me, but don't post here, how are they supposed to know that they have to call the Elite line to get on the upgrade list? Are they not calling that because they are lazy? When they clicked the Complimentary Upgrade list and showed up at the gate without their name on the upgrade list, was that them being lazy?"

If you're so worried about wasting time, why do you keep posting inordinately long rants on this forum? No one else here seems to think this is nearly as big of deal as you do. When people reply with their honest, respectful opinions, you come back with page long editorials and personal attacks. missydarlin even offered you personalized help -- still not good enough for you.

Quite frankly, none of my posts are that long. Should you have a specific problem with them, then step up and call me on it. Tell me, for the people that don't post here, don't know that they need to call the customer service line even though they click the upgrade button and don't even get upgraded even though they're entitled to it, is it a big deal to them? The problem largely isn't even applying to other people, so OF COURSE it isn't a big deal to them. That is not to say that it isn't a big deal. When people aren't getting published benefits, it's a big deal.

Please, step up and show me a single personal attack. In terms of Missy's help, I've been talking with her about this issue for months and gladly asked her for help in the past. Since you weren't a part of these conversations, you might want to mind your own business. PS, that statement does not qualify as a personal attack.

Perhaps instead of ranting at all of us, you should direct your time and energy into writing a nice long letter to Alaska. Or, just fly an airline where you will be automatically added to the upgrade list and save so much of your precious time.

Given that I've now lost my status on my previous airline and have accumulated a lot of AS points, that's not quite as easy as you seem to make it sound. To boot, if I have been denied a few dozen upgrades, then I'd rather see AS fix the situation. In terms of the letter, actually knowing if this situation applies to a lot of people would make such a letter have quite a lot more impact.


I think most of the elites that fly Alaska would gladly exchange the extra five minutes for actually getting an upgrade, which doesn't happen nearly as frequently on a lot of other carriers.

Really? Please tell me, WHAT SHOULD THE ELITES THAT DON'T KNOW THIS DO? You know, those Golds that miss/have missed out on upgrades that end up going to regular MVP's instead. What do they do or should they have done? Give me a sensible answer to that. Where is it documented that you have to call this number?

However, I will say this: if your time is so valuable (I'm thinking along the lines of highly paid consultants or attorneys or the like whose time is worth hundreds or thousands per hour) that you can't take 90 seconds to call the MVPG line and request your upgrades, and you're still not well-off, then perhaps you should consider a career change...

People who are well off don't need to fly commercial, so it's sort of a moot point. My contention with what you had said had to do with the well-off comment. Quite frankly, none of this has to do with income level. It has to do with frequent flyers getting published benefits which in many cases they were not.

Hopefully this situation has been taken care of. There were changes made by the AS tech team that are supposed to have resolved this. My travel this week was on Horizon, so there was no easy way to test this. I'll be traveling in two weeks time and will test it then.

Hopefully this situation has been taken care of. There were changes made by the AS tech team that are supposed to have resolved this. My travel this week was on Horizon, so there was no easy way to test this. I'll be traveling in two weeks time and will test it then.

Looking foreword to hearing back on your successes ^

The hassle involving agency bookings and the lack of automatic wait listing for upgrades is a bit embarrassing. Personally I don't mind, because it filters out people who don't call in or who don't know the procedure, leaving more U space for the rest of us. But I think it's hurting the airline, either from confused MVPs who can't figure out why they never get upgraded, or from people who just get irritated and leave.

It's easy to joke about the 60sec it takes to call the Gold desk, but honestly it's a tough sell for potential new customers when it "just works" on other carriers. I work with a lot of 100K-200K mile travelers who aren't FT enthusiasts, and who don't really understand how these systems work. All they know is that when they book a flight on DL, they show up at the airport and as a Plat are usually handed an F boarding pass. When I try to explain the procedure for upgrading on AS after booking with the corporate travel agent, their eyes glaze over.

I think it's very important to get this streamlined before UA starts doing automatic upgrades next year.