Mar 30, 2026, 4:52 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: beckoa

Upgrade policies:

https://www.alaskaair.com/atmosrewar...pgrades/alaska

Upgrade form*:

https://www.alaskaair.com/content/be...upgrades/apply

Not working for itineraries post 4/22 yet.

Previous discussion of upgrades on Hawaiian:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...-airlines.html

And using certificates specifically:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...an-2026-a.html

Upgrading on AS using certificates on International Long Haul 4-22-26 & Beyond

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Yesterday | 4:49 pm

beckoa

Original Poster

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: FAI

Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, Hertz PC, Marriott Lifetime Plat, CO, 7H, BA, 8E

Posts: 44,209

Upgrading on AS using certificates on International Long Haul 4-22-26 & Beyond

Once HA finishes it's cutover to SABRE on 4/22, all tickets will be issued by AS on 027 stock.

This is leading to new procedures (some of which are still being established)

Please focus discussions of said new procedures and processes in this thread.

Yes, this includes HAWAIIAN operated by Alaska Airlines as well.

Thanks!

Yesterday | 5:18 pm

olouie

Join Date: Mar 2007

Posts: 6,285

Applied for post 4/22 flight from the AS pages and upgrade request from and got the message below. Seems like things are going to get very messy.

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 | 10:06 pm

Designtime

Join Date: Feb 2000

Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Posts: 224

I am flying on 4/22 from HND-HNL. Was told that the certs could not be used. I was on the waitlist and would only clear the old fashioned way, if there was U space and I was at the top of the waitlist.

Yesterday | 10:17 pm

olouie

Join Date: Mar 2007

Posts: 6,285

Quote:

Originally Posted by Designtime

Well that changes a lot of things. Also they need to update their upgrade page since it likely doesn’t actually start until “sometime later in 2026.”

Yesterday | 10:19 pm

PDXPremier

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: PDX

Programs: AS Platinum, Hertz President's Circle, IHG Plat, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Silver

Posts: 12,248

Quote:

Originally Posted by Designtime

The good news is that you could clear into First if and when U space opens up and not have to use any certificates but of the bad news is that there will likely be more competition for upgrades since every elite (and possible companions) would be on the wait-list with you. The timing of your flight is unfortunate... regardless of what the policy says online, we will likely need to wait a few months while the "dust settles" in order to find out how everything related to international upgrades actually works.

Yesterday | 10:21 pm

PDXPremier

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Join Date: Jun 2007

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Posts: 12,248

Quote:

Originally Posted by olouie

Well that changes a lot of things. Also they need to update their upgrade page since it likely doesn’t actually start until “sometime later in 2026.”

It makes upgrade certificates far less valuable...what little U space I see is on short flights like JNU-ANC or PDX-SEA.

Yesterday | 10:36 pm

TravelingZoomer

Join Date: Jan 2019

Location: SAN, BOS

Programs: AS MVPG100K, AA ExPlat, QR Platinum

Posts: 2,529

It's pretty astonishing that they haven't released any details about the program post integration

notquiteaff likes this.

Yesterday | 11:35 pm

1worldFlyer

Join Date: Mar 2025

Programs: Atmos™ Titanium / oneworld® Emerald

Posts: 1,314

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDXPremier

there will likely be more competition for upgrades since every elite (and possible companions) would be on the wait-list with you

Only Atmos Titanium elites qualify for complimentary upgrades on global routes.

Today | 12:55 am

olouie

Join Date: Mar 2007

Posts: 6,285

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1worldFlyer

Only Atmos Titanium elites qualify for complimentary upgrades on global routes.

It’s plus one companion too right? Well I gotta call about my denial and see what to do. Kind of lame to publish the upgrade policy and request form only to say too bad so sad it’s not actually true yet.

Today | 1:35 am

#10

1worldFlyer

Join Date: Mar 2025

Programs: Atmos™ Titanium / oneworld® Emerald

Posts: 1,314

Quote:

Originally Posted by olouie

It’s plus one companion too right?

Correct. Titanium + 1 companion. However, that hasn't officially rolled out yet either. "Starting Spring 2026". We can assume that means April 22 but that's not official.

Today | 6:08 am

#11

olouie

Join Date: Mar 2007

Posts: 6,285

Noticed that ICN/NRT first upgrade prices are same as main until around April 28/29 then they carry on up charge. So I’m assuming they are going to take that week to implement the uncharges. AS really need to rewrite the upgrade pages for all of this if that is indeed the plan.

Today | 12:41 pm

#12

The Narwhal

Join Date: Dec 2023

Location: Seattle

Programs: Marriott Platinum; Hyatt Globalist; Alaska Titanium

Posts: 731

As a Ti, I suppose I'm happy if this turns out to be the case. Otherwise if everyone with an upgrade cert could jump ahead for upgrades, it was going to make it really hard to ever actually get upgraded on an international flight as a Ti.

Today | 1:00 pm

#13

olouie

Join Date: Mar 2007

Posts: 6,285

Well AS / HA replies are not comforting - basically said if space is available you can upgrade yourself online, but they have no details about how or where to do that. When I booked the ticket first upgrades didn't exist so that seems to disqualify me from using certs. Seems like only option is to rebook and pay 50% more since fares have gone up to risk it. Given uncertainty Im not going to pay few hundred dollars more just to have the chance at something that there is no clear policy on.

Today | 1:07 pm

#14

PDXPremier

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Join Date: Jun 2007

Location: PDX

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Posts: 12,248

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1worldFlyer

Only Atmos Titanium elites qualify for complimentary upgrades on global routes.

Good point! I feel like another poster in this or the other thread mentioned being told they were on the "waitlist" but were not Titanium (correction)...probably not accurate information though. So the tough question for Titaniums would be whether to burn upgrade certificates or hold out hope for the day of departure upgrade....

Last edited by PDXPremier; Today at 4:25 pm

Today | 1:53 pm

#15

1worldFlyer

Join Date: Mar 2025

Programs: Atmos™ Titanium / oneworld® Emerald

Posts: 1,314

Quote:

Originally Posted by olouie

Given uncertainty Im not going to pay few hundred dollars more just to have the chance at something that there is no clear policy on.

For sure. Before we know exactly how things are going to work I wouldn't spend any extra money on a hunch

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDXPremier

Good point! I feel like another poster in this or the other thread mentioned being told they were on the "waitlist" but were not Platinum...probably not accurate information though.

Not Titanium?

Quote:

So the tough question for Titaniums would be whether to burn upgrade certificates or hold out hope for the day of departure upgrade....

We'll have to wait and see what happens on 04/22.

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