Originally Posted by
Tweed Jet Set
Just managed to squeak over 20K miles in December so I'm MVP for the first time.
Few newbie questions:
1) I'm imagining I'm not too likely to get moved to F on a Thurs. night Westbound NYC-SFO flight as a low fare class MVP, right? I originally grabbed an exit row seat, but it seems like if you're seated in an exit row, you're not eligible to be upgraded. Do people just pick a "preferred" seat and hope to be upgraded? Or is it better to play it safe and stay in exit row? Or do people just switch if they don't get upgraded?
2) The MVP benefits page mentions a "dedicated phone line", but I can't find what the number is anywhere. Is it actually a separate phone number? That's how it was on AA.
3) Before I realized how early Alaska boards planes, I showed up to the gate 15 minutes before departure and the gate agent yelled that I was the last one to board, and when I scanned my boarding pass she let me know that she had re-assigned my seat. When I got on the plane I saw I was no longer in an exit row, but in a middle seat next to someone that really could have used the extra space. Fortunately I saw that my original seat in the exit row was unoccupied so I just sat there. Any reason she would do that, or was it just a punitive measure for showing up late?
Alaska won't automatically move you to a premium seat from an EE row. This is because many people prefer EE to premium. It does not affect first class upgrades.
The fact that AS won't automatically move you to premium doesn't mean much. That almost never works anyway. If you prefer to be in a premium seat, just check the app as soon as your upgrade window opens, and you can select any premium seat for free. This is better than waiting for them to do it automatically even if you are not in an EE seat. Basically, premium seat assignments are a free for all. It's first come, first served once your upgrade window opens. When I was MVP I always did this and got my premium seats while Golds who didn't bother to do this were stuck in regular economy.
EE seats generally have a bit (really, just a little bit) more legroom than premium seats, but premium gets you unlimited free drinks and a small snack. The choice is yours! Why AS does not classify EE as premium is beyond me.
And, again, none of this has anything to do with it first class upgrade chances. Also, you may very well get upgraded. I've been on plenty of SFO-NYC and back flights where the upgrade list completely cleared. I am also seeing a lot of $119 R fares with available U space on that route (I'm on one on a Thursday night, coincidentally), so I'm guessing that you have a decent shot. Neither NYC or SFO are particularly elite-heavy (if you were flying to SEA you'd basically have no chance)