Nov 24, 2024, 12:44 pm
Last edit by: beckoa
Hawaiian Airlines upgrade policies and opportunities: Upgrade to First/Business Class
Upgrade inventory is searchable through Expert Flyer. Saver inventory is class A and flex is P.
2026 cert success thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...an-2026-a.html
Upgrade inventory is searchable through Expert Flyer. Saver inventory is class A and flex is P.
2026 cert success thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...an-2026-a.html
Upgrading on Hawaiian Airlines
Mar 29, 2026 | 8:52 am
#603
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: HYATT Globalist Alaska 100k
Posts: 167
I have a flight JFK HNL tomorrow.(T-19 ish) Still 4 unoccupied seats in first class (down from 7 at T-72). I had my GGU upgrade confirmed multiple times with agent in the past including a HA chat yesterday.
I am using wife's GGU x2 and made a date change after I filled out the GGU form but spoke with agents after the change.
No email. No schedule change alert. Checked in and I am obviously still seated in Y.
Anything I should do at this point before flurry of paid upgrade bids start pouring in? I am Titanium.
I am using wife's GGU x2 and made a date change after I filled out the GGU form but spoke with agents after the change.
No email. No schedule change alert. Checked in and I am obviously still seated in Y.
Anything I should do at this point before flurry of paid upgrade bids start pouring in? I am Titanium.
Mar 29, 2026 | 11:35 am
#605
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: HYATT Globalist Alaska 100k
Posts: 167
Anyhow, I chatted on HA app. One said I was already upgraded and the next one said first class was sold out.
Fed up with nonsense, I called.
Got transferred to loyalty department. After combined 79 minutes on phone, supervisor manually upgraded me and sent an email confirmation.
Lesson learned here is, to NOT check in before calling in which causes errors on their system and if something doesn't feel right past T-48, something probably isn't right. There were 7 open seats (out of 18) at T-72 in my case.
Mar 29, 2026 | 11:57 am
#606
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS Platinum, Hertz President's Circle, IHG Plat, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Silver
Posts: 12,248
I don't have EF and I don't know how else I can look that up.
Anyhow, I chatted on HA app. One said I was already upgraded and the next one said first class was sold out.
Fed up with nonsense, I called.
Got transferred to loyalty department. After combined 79 minutes on phone, supervisor manually upgraded me and sent an email confirmation.
Lesson learned here is, to NOT check in before calling in which causes errors on their system and if something doesn't feel right past T-48, something probably isn't right. There were 7 open seats (out of 18) at T-72 in my case.
Anyhow, I chatted on HA app. One said I was already upgraded and the next one said first class was sold out.
Fed up with nonsense, I called.
Got transferred to loyalty department. After combined 79 minutes on phone, supervisor manually upgraded me and sent an email confirmation.
Lesson learned here is, to NOT check in before calling in which causes errors on their system and if something doesn't feel right past T-48, something probably isn't right. There were 7 open seats (out of 18) at T-72 in my case.
Mar 29, 2026 | 3:12 pm
#607
Join Date: Nov 2025
Location: HNL Runway 8R
Programs: AS d/b/a HA Titanium
Posts: 33
I'd agree with calling to make sure you are still on the waitlist, but agents have repeatedly told me that they cannot manually process upgrades unless within T-24. Otherwise, anything prior to T-24 must be handled by the offline team working the upgrades (you'll see names like "Jensen," "Fred," "Tiana," Franz" on the email confirmations).
Yesterday | 1:02 pm
#608
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,285
Applied for upgrades and got this message
Aloha,
Due to an ongoing integration of the waitlist upgrade process, we are unable to place your flight on the priority upgrade waitlist. For further assistance, we kindly recommend contacting Alaska Airlines directly.
Mahalo,
Aloha,
Due to an ongoing integration of the waitlist upgrade process, we are unable to place your flight on the priority upgrade waitlist. For further assistance, we kindly recommend contacting Alaska Airlines directly.
Mahalo,
Yesterday | 1:20 pm
#609
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS Platinum, Hertz President's Circle, IHG Plat, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Silver
Posts: 12,248
Yesterday | 3:02 pm
#610
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,285
Yesterday | 4:20 pm
#612
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS Platinum, Hertz President's Circle, IHG Plat, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Silver
Posts: 12,248
Its for post 4/22. Looks like the https://www.alaskaair.com/content/be...upgrades/apply just goes into HA upgrade pile which they are just kicking back out for now.
Yesterday | 4:26 pm
#613
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,285
Hmm...the only thing I can think of is that since all flights (including overseas international) are AS flights after 4/22, then the process for using upgrade certificates is for them to be applied immediately when U space opens up like it is with all AS flights now. I don't like it but I can also see AS not wanting to have multiple ways to apply upgrade certificates and the online form requires manual human intervention.
Yesterday | 4:34 pm
#614
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS Platinum, Hertz President's Circle, IHG Plat, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Silver
Posts: 12,248
Its their own published process that we are trying to follow: https://www.alaskaair.com/atmosrewar...s-on-alaska_v4