Aug 31, 2017, 10:10 am
Last edit by: dmodemd
Formal announcement from Alaska Airlines:
https://blog.alaskaair.com/alaska-ai...enefits-on-vx/
...details on how to get them are in the updated FAQ:
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...nefit-schedule
1-877-FLY-VIRGIN now goes to Alaska reps. They need to coordinate with an AS team member who has VX systems access to do the work they need. Calling through your MVP priority call line will get you faster pick up.
Call ins are needed for AS booked flights on VX for:
- Making changes and getting change fee waived
- FC Upgrade purchases*
* FAQ says: "You can purchase available First Class upgrades in advance online", but it doesn't work yet for AS booked VX flights.
Online at VirginAmerica.com you can:
- Add yourself to MCS upgrade list (link should show in Manage function)
[WARNING: There is a report of this not actually working... recommend tweet to VX instead]
- Select preferred seating before clearing MCS
- Select MCS seat after clearing at your window (can also do with VX app)
Reports are that Twitter DMs to Virgin America are the fastest way to get assistance.
You may get referred to the VX phone line (which leads to Alaska Air) if your reservation has additional complications that may not be apparent to you.
Companions: If you have any companions on your reservation (regardless of status), you will need to call in your upgrade request when your clearance window opens.
https://blog.alaskaair.com/alaska-ai...enefits-on-vx/
...details on how to get them are in the updated FAQ:
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...nefit-schedule
1-877-FLY-VIRGIN now goes to Alaska reps. They need to coordinate with an AS team member who has VX systems access to do the work they need. Calling through your MVP priority call line will get you faster pick up.
Call ins are needed for AS booked flights on VX for:
- Making changes and getting change fee waived
- FC Upgrade purchases*
* FAQ says: "You can purchase available First Class upgrades in advance online", but it doesn't work yet for AS booked VX flights.
Online at VirginAmerica.com you can:
- Add yourself to MCS upgrade list (link should show in Manage function)
[WARNING: There is a report of this not actually working... recommend tweet to VX instead]
- Select preferred seating before clearing MCS
- Select MCS seat after clearing at your window (can also do with VX app)
Reports are that Twitter DMs to Virgin America are the fastest way to get assistance.
You may get referred to the VX phone line (which leads to Alaska Air) if your reservation has additional complications that may not be apparent to you.
Companions: If you have any companions on your reservation (regardless of status), you will need to call in your upgrade request when your clearance window opens.
VX Preferred Seats and Main Cabin Select (MCS) Upgrades Now Available for AS Elites
Oct 17, 2017, 8:00 am
#256
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
It's a bit of a pain but once you have the routine down, it is not too bad:
- On booking, twitter DM VX to get on the list. Should get a response in 10-15 mins. (I too never really used Twitter until having to do this)
- At T-24 (if Gold) you should be cleared, go to VX web site and pick your seat through Manage function.
- While at VX web site, check in, print BP if desired.
- On booking, twitter DM VX to get on the list. Should get a response in 10-15 mins. (I too never really used Twitter until having to do this)
- At T-24 (if Gold) you should be cleared, go to VX web site and pick your seat through Manage function.
- While at VX web site, check in, print BP if desired.
Oct 17, 2017, 8:43 am
#257
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
I played telephone tag today trying to get T-24 MCS upgrades for a MR (I'm AS Gold) and during that process I was given a VX internal/non-published number to bypass the whole "Call AS, get transferred to VX CSR" process. I tested and it indeed is answered by VX CSR.
Maybe this number would be helpful to others?
I hesitate to post the number - unless one of you with more knowledge and experience suggests its ok. Otherwise, I'm happy to share with a PM/email.
Maybe this number would be helpful to others?
I hesitate to post the number - unless one of you with more knowledge and experience suggests its ok. Otherwise, I'm happy to share with a PM/email.
If anybody gets a "who are you? how did you get this number? you shouldn't be calling this number...", then they can take it down
Oct 17, 2017, 10:45 am
#259
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Bothell, WA
Programs: AS 75K, SPG Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globablist, Mlife Gold, Caesar's Diamond
Posts: 79
The problem with not being upgraded (automatically) to MCS if you are already checked-in is that even if you wait and don't check-in at T-24, if you have connections that are more than 24 hours away, VX will check you in for the connecting flights thus keeping you from being upgraded without having to do the whole call/twitter/chat song and dance to get "unchecked in". Literally the only way that VX agents were able to process a MCS upgrade within the upgrade window for a flight that I was already checked-in for was to "uncheck" me in and THEN assign the seats. It's worse for MVPs/Silvers since the system won't run the upgrade til T-12. The only reason I sat in MCS on 4 out 6 flights during my VX mileage run this past weekend is because I spent at least 3-4 hours on VX chat/phone/twitter trying to get everything sorta out.
Oct 17, 2017, 11:01 am
#260
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
I think the AS agents aren't too excited about being given all the VX related calls, especially when they just have to transfer you anyway...one of the AS agents gave me the direct # to VX so I entered it in my phone contacts...very helpful to have on these long mileage runs. By the way, today's the first day of your 4 day trip, correct? Good luck....I don't know how you do it....I've never been so happy to land at PDX last Sunday afternoon after two cross country trips in a row.
Oct 17, 2017, 11:21 am
#261
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Well I had myself added to the upgrade list to MCS and then had my check in reversed. I assume I just wait now? flight isn't for another 6-7 hours. 7 MCS seats available.
I've been flying every day since Thursday when i flew BOS-PDX. Though the last 2 nights I've been on the ground. I was supposed to have 2 nights in PDX between run 1 and runs 2 & 3 but had to move PDX-SFO a day earlier and spent the day yesterday in San Francisco. Today is SFO-FLL-LAX-JFK (well technically LAX-JFK is red-eye)
I think the AS agents aren't too excited about being given all the VX related calls, especially when they just have to transfer you anyway...one of the AS agents gave me the direct # to VX so I entered it in my phone contacts...very helpful to have on these long mileage runs. By the way, today's the first day of your 4 day trip, correct? Good luck....I don't know how you do it....I've never been so happy to land at PDX last Sunday afternoon after two cross country trips in a row.
Last edited by CDKing; Oct 17, 2017 at 11:26 am
Oct 17, 2017, 12:15 pm
#262
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,371
as I’ve mentioned a few times upthread, every time I’ve been inside T-24, live chat has worked to clear me from the list in less than 5 min ... in two cases the agent actually asked which MCS seat I wanted
Oct 17, 2017, 12:37 pm
#263
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
They weren't able to help says unsuccessful which is weird because its still W=6
Oct 17, 2017, 4:05 pm
#264
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: UA AS DL Hyatt SPG/Bonvoy HHonors
Posts: 2,008
Mixed Itinerary AS-VX
I have a trip coming up which starts with AS to SFO and then connects to VX onward. I assume that I check in with AS. Will it automatically upgrade me to MCS on VX if that is available?
When do I call in to VX, at T-24 when my check in window opens, or at T-24 for the connecting VX flight? Any other hints to make this work?
When do I call in to VX, at T-24 when my check in window opens, or at T-24 for the connecting VX flight? Any other hints to make this work?
Oct 17, 2017, 5:14 pm
#265
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,371
I haven't actually done this, but I highly doubt that VX will be able to do anything for you until T-24 for the VX flight
Oct 17, 2017, 5:31 pm
#266
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
Oct 17, 2017, 5:43 pm
#267
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Yea I made it into MCS chat wasn't very helpful. Online let me select the seats but they don't stick. This is for all my downline legs too. Lost my seat assignment too and it dumped me in a random middle. They gave me back 9C since it remained blocked all that was left was middles. Someone no showed so was given their aisle seat. I'll need to chat to make sure my other legs didn't lose seat assignment
Oct 17, 2017, 5:48 pm
#268
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
Yea I made it into MCS chat wasn't very helpful. Online let me select the seats but they don't stick. This is for all my downline legs too. Lost my seat assignment too and it dumped me in a random middle. They gave me back 9C since it remained blocked all that was left was middles. Someone no showed so was given their aisle seat. I'll need to chat to make sure my other legs didn't lose seat assignment
Oct 17, 2017, 6:18 pm
#269
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
The whole issue with seat assignments being a "request" rather than an actual "assignment" is so annoying, especially on long mileage runs like this. Were you on the 3:30pm last Sunday from SFO-PDX? If so, I was the guy in 3D...last flight of my VX mileage run. Good luck on the rest of your flights!
Oct 17, 2017, 7:18 pm
#270
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
My guess is that not all agents know how to "uncheck" people in...since that's your ticket to a MCS upgrade, I'm surprised they don't all know how to do that.