Jan 1, 2018, 3:17 pm
Last edit by: Baze
Welcome to the Alaska Airlines Flame-Free Q&A Thread for 2018!
Anyone is welcome to ask anything, even the most basic questions, in this thread without having to fear a snarky response. In this thread, there's no such thing as a dumb question--we were all new to Alaska Airlines, FlyerTalk, and even the whole idea of mileage programs once and needed some help navigating the ropes. We're here to help you do just that!
That said, if you want to do a little reading to see if your question has been previously discussed, links to some of the most common and extensive topics in this forum are listed in our FAQ thread -- click here to check it out.
Special care will be given in this thread to trying to provide answers in a clear manner with minimal use of acronyms and jargon.
If you need to contact someone for help, here's a current list of our forum's team:
Ambassadors (Our Greeters--members who have specifically volunteered to welcome and mentor newbies and monitor this thread):
ANC RED-EYE
baliktad
beckoa
golfingboy
Moderators (Our Janitors--members who have volunteered to do housekeeping/keep the forum in order)
ryandc99
jackal
You are welcome to send a private message to any of these individuals for assistance, but you'll generally get a faster response and broader palette of answers if you simply post your inquiry here in this thread.
Note to FlyerTalk members who enjoy the ability to take advantage of loopholes--if someone posts something that exposes information you'd rather not be public, please remember this is a Flame-Free thread, and harsh or snarky posts are not permitted. Although FlyerTalk itself does not censor posts that share information, members are free to edit their own posts to remove information. If you wish to request any poster to remove information they have shared publicly, please do so politely and respectfully.
Welcome, and we look forward to providing any assistance we can!
~the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan forum team~
For the 2016 version of this thread, please click here
For the 2017 version of this thread, please click here
Anyone is welcome to ask anything, even the most basic questions, in this thread without having to fear a snarky response. In this thread, there's no such thing as a dumb question--we were all new to Alaska Airlines, FlyerTalk, and even the whole idea of mileage programs once and needed some help navigating the ropes. We're here to help you do just that!
That said, if you want to do a little reading to see if your question has been previously discussed, links to some of the most common and extensive topics in this forum are listed in our FAQ thread -- click here to check it out.
Special care will be given in this thread to trying to provide answers in a clear manner with minimal use of acronyms and jargon.
If you need to contact someone for help, here's a current list of our forum's team:
Ambassadors (Our Greeters--members who have specifically volunteered to welcome and mentor newbies and monitor this thread):
ANC RED-EYE
baliktad
beckoa
golfingboy
Moderators (Our Janitors--members who have volunteered to do housekeeping/keep the forum in order)
ryandc99
jackal
You are welcome to send a private message to any of these individuals for assistance, but you'll generally get a faster response and broader palette of answers if you simply post your inquiry here in this thread.
Note to FlyerTalk members who enjoy the ability to take advantage of loopholes--if someone posts something that exposes information you'd rather not be public, please remember this is a Flame-Free thread, and harsh or snarky posts are not permitted. Although FlyerTalk itself does not censor posts that share information, members are free to edit their own posts to remove information. If you wish to request any poster to remove information they have shared publicly, please do so politely and respectfully.
Welcome, and we look forward to providing any assistance we can!
~the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan forum team~
For the 2016 version of this thread, please click here
For the 2017 version of this thread, please click here
2018 Alaska Airlines *FLAME-FREE* Q&A thread: all welcome, new and old!
Feb 12, 2018, 4:32 pm
#301
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO
Posts: 1,719
Hello everyone, I an new to Alaska having status matched my AA EXP to MVP 75K to get away from AA's EQD.
I'm wondering how the 75K companion upgrades work. Is it like other airlines where a companion severely decreases upgrade odds or do these actually go through at decent rate?
Trying to determine if buying up to a 75K eligible upgrade fare is worth it vs juggling the free upgrade odds.
I'm wondering how the 75K companion upgrades work. Is it like other airlines where a companion severely decreases upgrade odds or do these actually go through at decent rate?
Trying to determine if buying up to a 75K eligible upgrade fare is worth it vs juggling the free upgrade odds.
Feb 13, 2018, 1:16 am
#302
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Also note that if you change (not cancel) the reservation, you don't get charged the fee again. If you really, really, really wanted to save $25 you could probably abuse this by repeatedly changing your reservation later and later rather than ever actually cancel. Totally not worth it (not even close), but the opportunity is there.
Feb 13, 2018, 11:08 am
#303
Join Date: May 2017
Location: SEA
Posts: 355
Hello everyone, I an new to Alaska having status matched my AA EXP to MVP 75K to get away from AA's EQD.
I'm wondering how the 75K companion upgrades work. Is it like other airlines where a companion severely decreases upgrade odds or do these actually go through at decent rate?
Trying to determine if buying up to a 75K eligible upgrade fare is worth it vs juggling the free upgrade odds.
I'm wondering how the 75K companion upgrades work. Is it like other airlines where a companion severely decreases upgrade odds or do these actually go through at decent rate?
Trying to determine if buying up to a 75K eligible upgrade fare is worth it vs juggling the free upgrade odds.
That said, as a 75k you can immediately grab row 6/17 when booking, so even if you don't get upgraded you'll still get a decent seat on the long flights.
Feb 13, 2018, 4:17 pm
#304
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO
Posts: 1,719
Having a companion always makes it more difficult to get upgraded, but usually it's not an issue. As a 75k, most flights you'll be upgraded on even with companion, with the key exception being the transcons. Even those you'll get occasionally, but certainly not with any regularity when traveling with a companion.
That said, as a 75k you can immediately grab row 6/17 when booking, so even if you don't get upgraded you'll still get a decent seat on the long flights.
That said, as a 75k you can immediately grab row 6/17 when booking, so even if you don't get upgraded you'll still get a decent seat on the long flights.
Feb 13, 2018, 6:45 pm
#305
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Thanks. Does the companion push one behind all single 75K flyers? For example if there is myself+companion with five other single 75Ks but my fare class is higher will my companion push me behind them or does the highest 75K priority + companion go first? I can't seem to find the answer to this key question.
Feb 13, 2018, 7:12 pm
#306
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO
Posts: 1,719
There's not a penalty for a companion, except that there has to be at least two open upgrades available to move both you and your companion into F. The upgrade processor won't split you if there's only one open upgrade, it will move on until it hits the first solo on the upgrade list. Other than that situation, having a companion has no impact on where you stand on the upgrade list: by elite level, by fare class, and then by date of purchase.
Feb 15, 2018, 8:25 am
#307
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: SNA/LAX, PHL
Programs: AA Gold, AS MVP, WN A-List, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Exp, Hertz PC
Posts: 449
Proactively offered $75 for a two-hour VX mechanical via email. Is this the norm for AS?
Feb 15, 2018, 9:13 am
#308
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: MSP
Posts: 165
Does anyone know why flight 39 is delayed 11 hours today??? I have this flight tomorrow....
https://www.flightstats.com/v2/fligh...2/15/949612802
https://www.flightstats.com/v2/fligh...2/15/949612802
Feb 15, 2018, 9:21 am
#309
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Does anyone know why flight 39 is delayed 11 hours today??? I have this flight tomorrow....
https://www.flightstats.com/v2/fligh...2/15/949612802
https://www.flightstats.com/v2/fligh...2/15/949612802
Code:
Comments: SCHEDULE ACTUAL DELAY/CANCEL ARRIVAL CITY ARRV DEPT ARRV DEPT CODES GATE MSP ORIG 700A SEA 905A TERM 3MSP/ETD0615P 11.15L DUE PILOT CREW *0745 2SEA/ETA0811P 11.06L PROJECTED *0746
Feb 15, 2018, 9:22 am
#310
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: MSP
Posts: 165
Thanks, where did you get that info?
Would Alaska offer refunds to those passengers? Vouchers?
Would Alaska offer refunds to those passengers? Vouchers?
Feb 15, 2018, 9:46 am
#311
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/ab...-delay-choices
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/ab...ent-delay-care
Feb 15, 2018, 11:16 am
#312
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Bay Area - East Bay
Programs: UA 1k, AS 75k, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 641
I'm currently helping my parents book a non-stop TCON (BWI-SFO) for early August. I would love to upgrade them using my 75k guest codes, but none of the non-stops have available F upgrade space. I know these are popular routes, so AS is likely hoping to be able to fill them with paid F passengers, however it's quite a long time until early August so they're pretty empty at the moment. What are the chances that availability pops up sometime between now and August?
Feb 15, 2018, 1:38 pm
#313
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
The bigger question might be what type of aircraft is flying that route in August. It could be something that offers more than 8 seats if they reconfigure some of the A320s by that point or move a 737 onto that route. If Alaska does that, you might have an aircraft with 12-16F seats which could open more availability. Too early to really know at six months out.
Feb 16, 2018, 2:11 pm
#314
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond, AA 2.5 MM, United Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,460
I have been an AA Executive Platinum for a number of years. Know the AA system inside and out, but I just status matched myself to Alaska 75K MVP. Where here are the best threads to examine to understand the Alaska system for elites? In particular, I am interested in the details of lounge access, partners, partner lounge access, upgrades, and additional benefits of MVP elite status.
Feb 16, 2018, 3:32 pm
#315
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 1,926
I recall some time ago that CX flights in O-class earned 50% of miles flown. I checked today, and it's now 25% ... does anyone know when the earning chart changed? It must be recent (within the last one or two months I'm guessing?).
