Originally Posted by
shatterpdx
Alaska continues to frustrate me more and more with their lack of cohesive technology. I thought their system upgrades were going to make things better, but boy have I been wrong.
I am one of those people that is willing to spend "a little bit more" for full-flex upgrade anytime fares. I validate that it's a U fare for my elite status and pay the higher fare.
After paying, I try to upgrade - and am ALWAYS told that there are no available "upgradable seats", even though 5-7 are available for purchase. Once those become available, I would be able to immediate upgrade.
I am very confused and if I am being obviously obtuse, I apologise. I have read the "How complimentary upgrades work" thread over and over and I have even asked similar questions on the newbie thread and the answers I get support what I have read. I understood that if an MVP buys a value or full flex fare they are eligible for immediate upgrade. The operative word being immediate. Assuming there is U space (which the OP says he checked before purchasing), then is he not then immediately upgraded? Why would one need to go on an upgrade waitlist? I am sorry, I'm really confused now as I thought I had this figured out. From the "How comp upgades work":
Originally Posted by "alaskaair.com
For Qualifying Fares: If you have purchased the qualifying fare for your Elite Level, you are eligible for an immediate upgrade. If an upgrade is available on your flight, you will be upgraded immediately. If there are no upgrades available for your flight, you will be immediately placed on the upgrade waitlist.
So does seeing the U not mean there are upgrades available, just that they are allowed? It matters to me because I would only buy that flight if I knew an upgrade was available. Does it not happen immediately? Again, sorry if everyone knows this but I have never seen this anywhere, and I have read all the info I could find on AS upgrades.