This coming Sunday, 9/11, I am flying BZN-SEA-OKC. I booked this on the Alaska website, entering my advantage number during booking. It immediately recognized my one world status. I downloaded the app, and I have been keeping up with my reservation there. From the beginning, it said waitlisted for first class on both legs. The first class cabin between Bozeman and Seattle has been quite full for a while, so I'm not expecting an upgrade on that flight. However, I got upgraded this morning on the Seattle to Oklahoma City flight. That is a full four days before the flight, which is even better than what I get as a platinum pro with american.

I am Platinum pro with about 85, 000 loyalty points so far this year. I was able to pre-order a meal, and I ended up choosing the tamarind chicken over the ancient grain bowl. They both looked quite good. The third option was a cheese plate.

This was an improvement over my experience back in april. In april, even though the first class cabin was wide open on SFO-SLC, I was unable to get upgraded until I talked to an agent in the Alaska lounge the morning of my flight. This time, the upgrade occurred at a window Superior to what I get even on american.