When did AS stop allowing elite seat selection to apply to family in other res>
Apr 24, 2017, 9:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA EXP (2.5MM), Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,859
When did AS stop allowing elite seat selection to apply to family in other res>
Taking a work trip and also taking my family with me on my dime. Had to book as two locators as work is paying for me and I'm paying for the family. I have status and can select better seats but AS won't let my family have access to those seats as well since they're in diff locator. I know that they've done this for me before on a couple of occasions but agent is insistent that it is not possible and was not possible before.
Is this really the new policy? Seems it would also hit folks who may be a party of 4 travelling with only one elite but have to be on two reservations if each pair were using the companion certificate.
Is this really the new policy? Seems it would also hit folks who may be a party of 4 travelling with only one elite but have to be on two reservations if each pair were using the companion certificate.
Apr 24, 2017, 9:19 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,847
Was this into Premium Class?
If so...
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...-upgrades.aspx
How do Premium Class companion upgrades work?
MVP Gold and Gold 75K members may upgrade one companion traveling with them on the same flight, in the same reservation and in the same class of service. If a reservation includes more than one companion, it will not be eligible for complimentary upgrades.
If so...
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...-upgrades.aspx
How do Premium Class companion upgrades work?
MVP Gold and Gold 75K members may upgrade one companion traveling with them on the same flight, in the same reservation and in the same class of service. If a reservation includes more than one companion, it will not be eligible for complimentary upgrades.
Apr 24, 2017, 9:20 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Seattle, Wa
Programs: AS 75K & BR Member- HHonors Diamond - Hertz PC - Marriott Titanium - IHG Ambassador
Posts: 2,379
HUCA - I've always been able to ask and get my traveling companions seated with me. Premium class does complicate things it seems.
Apr 24, 2017, 9:39 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Was this into Premium Class?
If so...
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...-upgrades.aspx
How do Premium Class companion upgrades work?
MVP Gold and Gold 75K members may upgrade one companion traveling with them on the same flight, in the same reservation and in the same class of service. If a reservation includes more than one companion, it will not be eligible for complimentary upgrades.
If so...
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...-upgrades.aspx
How do Premium Class companion upgrades work?
MVP Gold and Gold 75K members may upgrade one companion traveling with them on the same flight, in the same reservation and in the same class of service. If a reservation includes more than one companion, it will not be eligible for complimentary upgrades.
Apr 24, 2017, 10:31 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Bend, OR
Programs: AS 100k, UA Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 228
Unfortunately there appears to have been a policy change rolled out in conjunction with premium class. If you have the family in one reservation they will let you do it but not on separate PNRs.
Apr 25, 2017, 9:07 am
#7
formerly known as felinaar
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, AA Gold, AS MVPG, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 612
Apr 25, 2017, 12:57 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA EXP (2.5MM), Hilton Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,859
May 22, 2017, 12:57 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVPG, UA 1P, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, Avis First
Posts: 9
Another data point. I just called in to the MVP Gold line and tried to move two friends to join me in row 7 on an upcoming (non-premium class) flight, and, I quote, "as of January 5th 2017 we don't allow this on separate reservations...the best I can do is row 30." was the response. Ridiculous. I HU and will CA in the morning.
May 22, 2017, 5:17 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
Single DP: Called to get a block of 3 seats for my wife (MVP, on a separate PNR) and my daughter and I (both no status). Agent gave us 24 D-F, which are technically reserved for MVP/refundable. In this case there were no available non-MVP eligible seats, so that may have tipped the balance.
May 25, 2021, 8:01 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,721
Beware if your status changed (up) recently there is a lag between the MP and rez systems. However agent can manually process seat changes. 
May 26, 2021, 5:47 am
#13
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
It's been several years.
By that point, the rest of my family had obtained at least MVP, so this has become less of an issue.
That's my reccomendation- get them to MVP or higher ^
By that point, the rest of my family had obtained at least MVP, so this has become less of an issue.
That's my reccomendation- get them to MVP or higher ^
May 26, 2021, 1:18 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
My kids got MVP status from two round-trips (one to HNL and one to MSP) because of the 50% bonus EQM promotion....it took almost nothing to get MVP this year.
May 27, 2021, 12:21 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 165
AS phone agents sometimes will just ignore these rules and keep family together. One time I was asking to upgrade my parents and left me out of the upgrade, since there can only be two people upgraded by the rule. The phone agent was very personable and gave me a surprise. Not saying this should happen, but you may want to HUCA.