So here is an update.

On our outbound flight I was able to get everyone into first class.

On the return flight 3 of 5 passengers are in first and 2 in Coach (the two are me and my son)

one of the 3 passengers in first was upgraded using an MVP gold upgrade certificate. We still have more we can use, however I can't upgrade myself and my son because the system (and agents that verified this) says there is only one seat left for upgrade.

Because I used the Alaska Credit card companion pass to purchase the ticket for myself and my son, it won't let me upgrade one of us (I'd upgrade him and I'd sit in coach). I'm told it has to be both of us and there is only one seat.

So I asked Alaska if we could "swap" the passenger in first who was upgraded and put them back in coach and then there would be TWO first class seats available for upgrade and then I could upgrade myself and my son.

The agent recommended against this (not because the gold upgrade certificate would be lost) but she said there is no guarantee that once the passenger who is in first is "downgraded" back to coach that the first class seat will be released as an seat available for upgrade. So we could lose that seat and be worse off.

Any suggestions and was that agent correct? I know that 72h prior I can possibly get upgraded (I made MVP gold in the interim since my last post) but it would be nice to know ahead of time that everyone is in first class.

We arent' travelling until early August and I realize my dilemma is a minor one, but would love to get any suggestions. Thanks.