just got this message with my mileage plan e statement
This Just In … for MVP Members
Complimentary upgrades are now more available for MVP members. MVP members now have access to instant Complimentary Upgrades* on Value Fares booked in S and B classes of service along with Full-Flex fares booked in Y class. Until now, instant upgrades were only available on Full-Flex fares. Shop now for the lowest fares on alaskaair.com and enjoy our outstanding First Class service.
aside from the "enjoy our outstanding First Class service" which gave me a chuckle it all sounds good to me
So I played around with it to check it out. Nice looks great...might actually entice me to pay a little more to get instant F since the full flex fares were so insanely high and for a few mere bucks more..in some cases 20 or 30 more(granted some are 100+ different) pay full F and get the 50% miles. Now the problem I found right away is MVP flying with MVP companion. You can select show value fares which is all fine and good IF the lowest value fare available is S or B. If its not value fare defaults to the lowest value fare code currently available and only shows the gold upgrade fare. And you cant select the show "mvp ugprade fares" because it says something to the effect of only gold and 75k can upgrade a companion. Since AS doesnt have the option to shop for tickets by fare class like some airlines do..the way I see it its impossible to book online and have to call and get charged booking fees. I dont even want to get started on that one because thats a whole topic in itself. You and me the customer by calling a company to do business and buy something are of such inconvenience to the company that you are charged for their time answering the damn phone