SEA - ORD...Will I get upgraded?
Feb 11, 2017, 10:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 734
SEA - ORD...Will I get upgraded?
Greetings. I'm taking a flight that is far from usual for me. In 2+ weeks I'm flying from SEA to ORD in the early afternoon. I have Gold 75K status and currently it looks like 9 of 16 F seats are available. Does anyone have experience with this route? What do you my upgrade chances are? Thank you.
Feb 11, 2017, 10:10 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 12
I travel to Chicago on Alaska several times a year for work. There are usually a LOT of elites on the flights between ORD and both SEA and PDX. Often there are 30+ names on the upgrade list. I've seen only 2-3 elites get bumped per flight.
Who knows, maybe you will be one of the lucky few!
Who knows, maybe you will be one of the lucky few!
Feb 11, 2017, 10:16 pm
#3
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, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
What is your fare class?
Upgrades in each tier status are now sorted by fare class and then time purchased [since Dec 5, 2016]
Upgrades in each tier status are now sorted by fare class and then time purchased [since Dec 5, 2016]
Feb 12, 2017, 12:41 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Seattle, Wa
Programs: AS 75K & BR Member- HHonors Diamond - Hertz PC - Marriott Titanium - IHG Ambassador
Posts: 2,379
I've found I can get a pretty good feel for things by keeping up with this http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...de-2017-a.html thread.
Feb 12, 2017, 1:30 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
I think this route to a lessor extent is like the SEA/PDX-DFW route for upgrades....they are typically VERY difficult on SEA-DFW.....but PDX-DFW, not nearly as bad so if you do SEA-PDX-ORD (and pick up some extra EQMs along the way), you're chances are going to be much greater. This is also true of SEA-EWR compared to PDX-EWR.....the PDX upgrade list is typically going to be about 1/4 as long as the SEA-EWR upgrade list.
Feb 12, 2017, 3:02 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SEA
Programs: DL Plat, AS MVPG, Bonvoy Plat/LT Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,263
In my experience, this is a tough route. I don't recall ever seeing a waitlist under 20 and have seen it go as high as 70. I typically use GGUs at booking and have had good luck with that, even of late.
With the apparent holdback of seats until last minute, you may have a chance though: six cleared at the gate on my last ORD-SEA on a Friday evening last month.
With the apparent holdback of seats until last minute, you may have a chance though: six cleared at the gate on my last ORD-SEA on a Friday evening last month.
Feb 12, 2017, 4:05 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Snohomish, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,793
it looks like 9 of 16 F seats are available
Neil
Feb 12, 2017, 7:10 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SEA, NW/DL 1.6Million Miler
Programs: DL 1MM Annual Silver,AS 100K 22-24, AS 75K 15-21
Posts: 4,278
Upgrade chances also vary from day to day, somedays are business traveler heavy while some days are not.
Providing booking class and day is often helpful here.
Jiburi
Providing booking class and day is often helpful here.
Jiburi
Feb 12, 2017, 10:35 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: East Ester, Alaska
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Posts: 12,148
So as you can see, this is a tough one to answer definitively two weeks out. A lot can happen in two weeks, especially on a busy business travel route like SEA-ORD. I council patience, Grasshopper.
And - if you're way down the wait list on the day before, go buy yourselves a couple bowls at Waji's for later in the flight. If you're sat anywhere near the forward cabin, even those fat cats up there will be drooling.
And - if you're way down the wait list on the day before, go buy yourselves a couple bowls at Waji's for later in the flight. If you're sat anywhere near the forward cabin, even those fat cats up there will be drooling.
Feb 13, 2017, 2:12 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SEA, ORD, SFO
Programs: AS MVPG 75K, AA PLT, DL GM, SPG GLD, Hyatt GLD, SPG GLD
Posts: 202
Greetings. I'm taking a flight that is far from usual for me. In 2+ weeks I'm flying from SEA to ORD in the early afternoon. I have Gold 75K status and currently it looks like 9 of 16 F seats are available. Does anyone have experience with this route? What do you my upgrade chances are? Thank you.
But yes, as most have already stated, this is a tough segment for upgrades.
Saturday night returns - on the other hand - are the upgrade express!
Feb 13, 2017, 9:52 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 12
Regarding the last minute holdbacks - yep! I was seated next to an MVPG who got a *phone call* from cust svc asking if he would like to upgrade, as the last few passengers were boarding. He said yes, and I benefitted from a bit extra space due to an empty middle.seat. ;-)
These days, even that little bit is an upgrade too!
These days, even that little bit is an upgrade too!
Feb 13, 2017, 11:43 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SEA, ORD, SFO
Programs: AS MVPG 75K, AA PLT, DL GM, SPG GLD, Hyatt GLD, SPG GLD
Posts: 202
Regarding the last minute holdbacks - yep! I was seated next to an MVPG who got a *phone call* from cust svc asking if he would like to upgrade, as the last few passengers were boarding. He said yes, and I benefitted from a bit extra space due to an empty middle.seat. ;-)
These days, even that little bit is an upgrade too!
These days, even that little bit is an upgrade too!
Totally agreed re: middle seat!
