How Complimentary Upgrades Work
Jun 1, 2019, 1:25 pm
#781
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SEA, SFO, formerly ANC
Programs: AS 1MM/MVPG, AS Lounge, DL SkyClub (Life), Hertz 5* -- AA, DL, UA
Posts: 124
One it's under gate control anything can happen. The gate agents can do whatever they want. There is a procedure that they are supposed to follow -- whether they do or not is another story. This is why I always go say hi to the GA when my number on the list is smaller than the number of F seats available. (ETA: The procedure that I'm talking about here is asking before they split you)
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Jun 2, 2019, 9:00 am
#782
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,858
I wish I'd had this advice a while back, flying MKE-SEA. There were 3 empty F seats - my wife & I (both MVPG) were top of the upgrade list. We took our assigned seats in PC, and waited for the GA to move us up before departure. Never happened, so I asked FA about it. "Up to GA" - but by then she'd left the plane and the door was shut. We took off with those 3 empty seats in F still empty. Very unhappy about AS since then.
Jun 4, 2019, 2:19 pm
#783
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,318
Moderator Note: Some off-topic and borderline personal posts have been deleted.
This thread is a discussion of the process of complimentary upgrades, not the theory, evaluation, comparison or improvement of same. Those aspects may be discussed by starting a relevant thread.
dayone, AS Moderator
This thread is a discussion of the process of complimentary upgrades, not the theory, evaluation, comparison or improvement of same. Those aspects may be discussed by starting a relevant thread.
dayone, AS Moderator
Jun 10, 2019, 11:27 am
#784
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: AS MVP Gld
Posts: 4
MVPG - FC Upgrade 2 weeks out
Hi - I was upgraded 2 weeks prior to my flight date, T fare, no GGU cert used. My traveling companion, also an MVPG, same fare class different PNR, was not upgraded. Anyone know as to why I was upgraded 2 weeks out when the window is 72 hours prior? Is this common for Alaska? Thanks!
Jun 10, 2019, 11:32 am
#785
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kirkland, WA
Programs: AS 75K,UA Gold 1.6MM, Hilton Dia, Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Glb, Natl Exec, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,657
Your companion must be on the same PNR. There is a "linking" process between PNRs but it is for reference only and does not do anything for upgrades.
Jun 10, 2019, 11:39 am
#787
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
Hi - I was upgraded 2 weeks prior to my flight date, T fare, no GGU cert used. My traveling companion, also an MVPG, same fare class different PNR, was not upgraded. Anyone know as to why I was upgraded 2 weeks out when the window is 72 hours prior? Is this common for Alaska? Thanks!
Jun 10, 2019, 2:47 pm
#788
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Between SFO and STS
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, United Serf, Delta Gold
Posts: 731
Hi - I was upgraded 2 weeks prior to my flight date, T fare, no GGU cert used. My traveling companion, also an MVPG, same fare class different PNR, was not upgraded. Anyone know as to why I was upgraded 2 weeks out when the window is 72 hours prior? Is this common for Alaska? Thanks!
Jun 10, 2019, 3:05 pm
#789
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
It is unusual (shouldn't happen) that a non eligible fare would be upgraded before the 72hr MVPG upgrade window since they are in the MVPG complimentary upgrade request queue, not on the waitlist. If 1U had opened up two weeks prior to departure it should have gone to an eligible fare already waitlisted. If the waitlist was empty, the U should have stayed available for anyone purchasing an eligible fare for their Elite Staus or applying a GGU to a K or higher fare.
For a current reservation on a non-eligible fare the pax has the option to upfare (no change fee if you don't have a waiver) to an eligible fare for their status or to a K or higher fare for GGU application.
I wouldn't complain about a non-eligible fare being upgraded two weeks out.
I certainly wouldn't bring it attention either.For reference, GGUs can be applied to fares starting at K. They can be applied to higher classes as well but at some point the higher fare may already be an eligible fare and the GGU would no longer be reqired.
I was looking at a ANC-ORD itinerary with a companion certificate with 2U open. The lowest fare available was H, which is an eligible fare for instant upgrade for a 75K. If I purchased that flight, I would be upgraded on the Eligible fare and not need GGUs.
James
Jun 11, 2019, 7:45 am
#790
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kirkland, WA
Programs: AS 75K,UA Gold 1.6MM, Hilton Dia, Marriott LT Plat, Hyatt Glb, Natl Exec, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,657
Ok, I had interpreted your question to be about "companion upgrades" because you referred to your companion.
Jun 18, 2019, 2:01 pm
#792
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,392
Last edited by dayone; Jun 18, 2019 at 5:36 pm Reason: Delete circular link after merge.
Jun 18, 2019, 4:25 pm
#794
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: AS 75k, Hyatt EXPL, *all* the CC statuses
Posts: 78
Obviously reading the given links will provide you with most of the necessary knowledge.
Coming from UA, the major differences are:
Coming from UA, the major differences are:
- Award ticket fare classes are scattered throughout the standard upgrade order; having a co-brand credit card is not necessary and only the lowest award class comes last.
- MVP (Silver) does not get a companion for upgrades
- You can't waitlist instrument upgrades. Therefore the only hierarchy within the 120-, 72-, or 48-hour upgrade window is status > fare class > time of request (not time of ticketing).
- All upgrades clear into the U fare bucket, and U class is never eligible for lounge access.
- All flights operated by AS (or OO or QX) are eligible for upgrades.
Jun 19, 2019, 6:07 pm
#795
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
If, at T-70, a U seat opens, I'm not sure if an MVP who bought a Y fare before the window opened would be ahead of or behind a MVPG on an R fare. I think that the MVP on the Y fare would be ahead, but given recent data I'm less sure.