Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - Clarification on MVP/G upgrades for codeshares

I'm looking at an itin ANC-SEA-DCA for August 14th. AS is $415, and I would use an AS50 fare to make it $290 OW. However, DL has the same flights for $338.

I know DL will give me an AS confirmation code with my itinerary. My question: Will I have a shot at an MVP space-available upgrade on the DL fare? Ignoring the fact that it's virtually impossible to get upgraded on either of these routes - does AS policy allow it?

I'm looking at an itin ANC-SEA-DCA for August 14th. AS is $415, and I would use an AS50 fare to make it $290 OW. However, DL has the same flights for $338.

I know DL will give me an AS confirmation code with my itinerary. My question: Will I have a shot at an MVP space-available upgrade on the DL fare? Ignoring the fact that it's virtually impossible to get upgraded on either of these routes - does AS policy allow it?

I assume you mean on legs that are on AS metal. If so, my experience is no: even with an AS confirmation code in hand, I've tried it multiple times, with NW to MSP, EWR, and DTW, and DL to SLC and ATL. No option to request it online, and no phone agents (including the MVP line) would put me on the upgrade request list when the fare was purchased through NW or DL, and so the AS leg was technically a codeshare. I have had accommodating agents at the MVP check in at ANC put me on the waitlist there, but by then an already difficult upgrade is damn near impossible.

I keep dealing with coach anyway, as the NW flights to NYC and WAS are often half to two thirds the price of AS.

FWIW, I have received a comp upgrade (as an MVP) DCA-SEA on AS metal, with AS purchase/ticketing. So it's difficult, but not impossible.

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Codeshare flights on AS metal can be upgraded however you cannot be on the waitlist, you can only be upgraded on day of departure. Given the general odds on this route. id by the cheaper ticket. the miles will count towards your AS non-partner EQMs.

A friend and I had success on our NW MHT trip, granted AS was the initial carrier, and we UG'd 24 hours out with the OLCI (Using our AS conf code), and it was only GEG-SEA... But I still got my Redbull!

With the new changes to the way UG's are handled within 24 hours, I am not sure there is a way to even get "on the list" except at the gate...

To clarify: either way, all of the legs are on AS metal - the only difference is the marketing carrier.

My experience, if it helps:

cannot be waitlisted for u/g; but can u/g at check in (maybe only at the airport) as others have pointed out.
can get MVP seating ahead of time via a phone call to MVP desk.
miles on AS operated flights are definitely credited to your AS EQM's as pointed out by gba.

I'm assuming all the flights being sold by DL are codeshares with DL flt numbers? If flights are actually AS flt numbers and the only difference is tickets issued on Delta stock, you may get full MVP benefits. Good luck.

And, FWIW, I'd save the miles and go with the cheaper flights via delta.com The only difference is the upgrade opportunity, which honestly is probably better by DL codeshare than by AS50, and only slightly worse than by purchasing at face value from alaskaair.com.

Why is it that this is so often true - same flights sold cheaper by another carrier as a codeshare? AS is letting even their codeshare partners call them out on their uncompetitive pricing...

I got lucky. AS came back with $222 OW ANC-SEA-DCA on 8/12 and 8/13, and $225 ANC-SEA-LAX-DCA on 8/14. I went with the one through LAX because I need the miles for MVPG this year.