Originally Posted by Carfield

I actually bought the inaugural one way ticket from HNL to Tokyo Narita at Alaska Airlines' website. I have my Alaska 100K number in.
I wasn't expecting to score an upgrade, but when I saw an alert for an "A" seat through expertflyer, I said to myself when don't I just submit a request online. it never hurts to try. I did not receive any email from Hawaiian after I submitted the request, so I just presumed that it did not work. I did not think much about it until I checked the seat map at expertflyer about four or five days prior to departure. I saw that my extra comfort window seat was shown available and then immediately checked my reservation locator at HA and I was pleasantly surprised to see the upgrade cleared with 1C assigned. About a day prior to departure, I got a formal email from an HA agent confirming the upgrade.

In the end, the first class cabin was filled mostly guests of the company attending the inaugural ceremonies in either Seattle or Tokyo Narita, along with plenty of PR people. There were also some Port of Seattle employees, who were going to work right after arrival into Tokyo Narita. There was one "Points Guy" blogger. Most AS and HA staffs are in Y and Extra Comfort cabin. The HA CEO was onboard but I did not see him after boarding was completed. He possibly said in the back with his own row or spent time talking with employees and various staffs. I was surprised that he did not make his round in the first class cabin, given that there were a few VIP guests. However I slept for an hour or so after lunch, so he might have stopped by then.

It was a long ten hours and forty-five minutes flight, so I was glad that I tried the upgrade certificates route.

Carfield