Edited: 12/14/2018: Use this link as your source of truth.
http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mil...-upgrades.aspx
This is the short form version of upgrade clearing order:
1. Instant upgrade 75k fares are added to the queue when purchased
2. Non-instant-upgrade 75ks fares are added at T-5 days (in fare class order)
3 75K's who purchase at after T-5
-----------------
4. Instant upgrade Gold/MVP fares added to queue when they are purchased
5. Non-instant-upgrade gold fares are added at T-3 days (in fare class order)
6. Golds who purchase between T-3 and T2
7. Non-instant-upgrade MVP fares are added at T-2 days (in fare class order)
8. Gold/MVPs who purchase after T-2
So if a U seat comes available at T-7, its going to clear
#1 , then
#4
at T-4, its going to go clear
#1 -4
Edited: 12/14/2018: I believe this is still the case... will have to double check.
AIRPORT DISPLAYS VS ACTUAL WAITLIST
It used to be that once the check in window started at 24 hours prior to departure, customers on the upgrade waitlist were moved to the airport waitlist which is displayed on the airport screen. The airport waitlist cleared in
tier order then by date. (So circumventing the original waitlist date order.)
Now, the original waitlist runs automatically until 1 hour prior to departure, and the airport agents are also clearing upgrades manually from this same waitlist.
However … big screens at the airport
still display the airport waitlist ..which is automatically re-ordered by tier, and doesn’t currently reflect the actual order that upgrades are supposed to clear.
Please note that the upgrades ARE clearing in the correct order… the issue is with how the order is being displayed at the airport.