How Complimentary Upgrades Work
Mar 2, 2019, 1:30 pm
#721
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
How do upgrades to premium economy work? My husband and I have MVP status. We have had to call Alaska for the past few flights and ask them to move us to PE in the upgrade window to avoid paying the PE upgrade fees (we do not book saver fares). They said they didn’t know why we couldn’t do it ourselves in the app for $0. Currently we are scheduled to fly in less than 48 hours. The seat map shows a lot of open seats on the flight including 6 in first class, 12 in premium economy and only 4 seats are booked in the elite status section (2 of those are us). I don’t understand why I am unable to select 2 premium economy seats for $0 in the mobile or PC application.
There is a bug in the AS app where it will sometimes show a seat selection fee when none is due. But when you select the seat, it will process it without going to the payment screen (it's just a display bug -- it's not trying to charge you) I'm not sure if you are seeing that or not.
Apr 4, 2019, 5:56 pm
#723
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,858
No. Alaska is now reducing F inventory when Y is oversold to compensate. Instead of just increasing U space to clear out 75K/Golds/GGU upgrades to open Y.
#southofexpected
#southofexpected
Apr 7, 2019, 4:22 am
#725
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AS, AA, BA, SQ
Posts: 164
No. Alaska is now reducing F inventory when Y is oversold to compensate. Instead of just increasing U space to clear out 75K/Golds/GGU upgrades to open Y.
#southofexpected
#southofexpected
Apr 7, 2019, 10:47 am
#726
Join Date: May 2012
Location: HNL
Programs: AS MVPG, HA Plat
Posts: 1,268
No. Alaska is now reducing F inventory when Y is oversold to compensate. Instead of just increasing U space to clear out 75K/Golds/GGU upgrades to open Y.
#southofexpected
#southofexpected
Apr 7, 2019, 6:14 pm
#727
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,858
I don’t think that F is being capped. The revenue potential of a last min F ticket is much greater than IDB an oversold Y pax, so even on a flight oversold in the back, there would be seats in the front for sale. If the flight is close to departure I’d guess the upgrade processor didn’t seat the people. If it was a longer time away, I’d bet corporate/travel agent bookings. Other than capping some flights which might be operated by an 800 or 900 to 12F until close in, I don’t think I’ve heard of F being capped to make room for Y.
A handful of airlines do this, Alaska traditionally hasn't, but Alaska also does a fantastic job of NOT overselling. But I believe they have some algorithms set that will zap out all F inventory (may not happen ALL the time), which is why some of us have been left in back when there's clearly F seats open (this has happened to me MANY times on VX-A320/A321 aircraft out of FLL/MCO when F+Y = at capacity or higher, even when F wasn't full).
Apr 7, 2019, 11:58 pm
#728
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AS, AA, BA, SQ
Posts: 164
It seems to only be to outside sources (GDS) when Y is -2 or higher. I happened to come across a flight that was 0'd out in Sabre (GDS, not Alaska), and a load check showed it had 9 open in F and was -11 in back. This was also for a flight leaving in less than 48 hours.
A handful of airlines do this, Alaska traditionally hasn't, but Alaska also does a fantastic job of NOT overselling. But I believe they have some algorithms set that will zap out all F inventory (may not happen ALL the time), which is why some of us have been left in back when there's clearly F seats open (this has happened to me MANY times on VX-A320/A321 aircraft out of FLL/MCO when F+Y = at capacity or higher, even when F wasn't full).
A handful of airlines do this, Alaska traditionally hasn't, but Alaska also does a fantastic job of NOT overselling. But I believe they have some algorithms set that will zap out all F inventory (may not happen ALL the time), which is why some of us have been left in back when there's clearly F seats open (this has happened to me MANY times on VX-A320/A321 aircraft out of FLL/MCO when F+Y = at capacity or higher, even when F wasn't full).
For a flight that was farther from departure that is showing F1with a mostly open FC cabin, I'd guess that either the upgrade processor didn't seat people, or it was a business heavy route where reservations are made through a corporate agent who doesn't pre-reserve seats in sabre.
May 11, 2019, 3:05 pm
#729
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SEA town
Programs: Alaska LTG, HHonors-Gld, IHG-Dia, LT MR Ti
Posts: 627
Are your flying companions not listed on upgrade requests?
Took a flight last week with 6 empty FC seats, I was #1 on list.. no status flying companion was not on UG list. My upgrade was cleared at gate, but companion somehow was not on UG list. Booked on same confirmation with T fares. Eventually after some conversation with gate agent, she got companion upgraded.
In the past this has always be automated.. Something change?
Took a flight last week with 6 empty FC seats, I was #1 on list.. no status flying companion was not on UG list. My upgrade was cleared at gate, but companion somehow was not on UG list. Booked on same confirmation with T fares. Eventually after some conversation with gate agent, she got companion upgraded.
In the past this has always be automated.. Something change?
Last edited by BarryL; May 11, 2019 at 6:36 pm
May 11, 2019, 7:03 pm
#730
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BLI
Programs: Alaska Million Mile Flyer, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,195
Are your flying companions not listed on upgrade requests?
Took a flight last week with 6 empty FC seats, I was #1 on list.. no status flying companion was not on UG list. My upgrade was cleared at gate, but companion somehow was not on UG list. Booked on same confirmation with T fares. Eventually after some conversation with gate agent, she got companion upgraded.
In the past this has always be automated.. Something change?
Took a flight last week with 6 empty FC seats, I was #1 on list.. no status flying companion was not on UG list. My upgrade was cleared at gate, but companion somehow was not on UG list. Booked on same confirmation with T fares. Eventually after some conversation with gate agent, she got companion upgraded.
In the past this has always be automated.. Something change?
I've run into this repeatedly, and sometimes the gate agent doesn't look to see if there's more than one person tied to the upgrade request.
May 12, 2019, 10:56 am
#731
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Seattle WA
Programs: AS 100K, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 1,828
It seems to only be to outside sources (GDS) when Y is -2 or higher. I happened to come across a flight that was 0'd out in Sabre (GDS, not Alaska), and a load check showed it had 9 open in F and was -11 in back. This was also for a flight leaving in less than 48 hours.
A handful of airlines do this, Alaska traditionally hasn't, but Alaska also does a fantastic job of NOT overselling. But I believe they have some algorithms set that will zap out all F inventory (may not happen ALL the time), which is why some of us have been left in back when there's clearly F seats open (this has happened to me MANY times on VX-A320/A321 aircraft out of FLL/MCO when F+Y = at capacity or higher, even when F wasn't full).
A handful of airlines do this, Alaska traditionally hasn't, but Alaska also does a fantastic job of NOT overselling. But I believe they have some algorithms set that will zap out all F inventory (may not happen ALL the time), which is why some of us have been left in back when there's clearly F seats open (this has happened to me MANY times on VX-A320/A321 aircraft out of FLL/MCO when F+Y = at capacity or higher, even when F wasn't full).
Other times they block F seats and oversell Y a corresponding amount. I guess historical data tells them there is more last-minute demand for Y than F.
May 12, 2019, 11:29 am
#732
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 300
I've seen what appears to be a hold-back of 4 F seats on some 739 routes starting at 3-4 months out. Not exactly sure what they're protecting against (how likely is an EQ swap to a 738?), but the seats aren't out for sale until days before departure, and often turn into at-gate upgrades.
Other times they block F seats and oversell Y a corresponding amount. I guess historical data tells them there is more last-minute demand for Y than F.
Other times they block F seats and oversell Y a corresponding amount. I guess historical data tells them there is more last-minute demand for Y than F.
May 12, 2019, 11:31 am
#733
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,649
I've seen what appears to be a hold-back of 4 F seats on some 739 routes starting at 3-4 months out. Not exactly sure what they're protecting against (how likely is an EQ swap to a 738?), but the seats aren't out for sale until days before departure, and often turn into at-gate upgrades.
May 12, 2019, 12:47 pm
#734
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
I've had quite a few "last minute" swaps between 738 and 739. It's the same crew to operate both plane types, so they'll swap them as appropriate - even day of. Most recently I flew BUR-SEA and the flight was listed as 739 on my reservation even through when I checked in, but when we boarded it was a 738.
James
May 12, 2019, 3:54 pm
#735
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: ANC
Programs: Alaska 100k
Posts: 1,012
I've had quite a few "last minute" swaps between 738 and 739. It's the same crew to operate both plane types, so they'll swap them as appropriate - even day of. Most recently I flew BUR-SEA and the flight was listed as 739 on my reservation even through when I checked in, but when we boarded it was a 738.