Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Alaska Airlines | Mileage Plan
Reload this Page >

Purchased First versus Upgraded First Benefits

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Purchased First versus Upgraded First Benefits

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 21, 2018, 8:59 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RDM
Programs: RDM AS 100K - 1MM / DL DM - 3MM / Marriott Ambassador - Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 352
Purchased First versus Upgraded First Benefits

Sometimes purchasing first versus U space upgrades is not that much more expensive. Are there benefits that would justify spending a little more when it is available or is it best to always take the lowest cost?

Thanks.
CAVU is offline  
Old Jan 21, 2018, 9:01 pm
  #2  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,832
Originally Posted by CAVU
Sometimes purchasing first versus U space upgrades is not that much more expensive. Are there benefits that would justify spending a little more when it is available or is it best to always take the lowest cost?

Thanks.
Lounge access if you will be at an airport with an Alaska Lounge. And a 75% EQM bonus for paid F.
eponymous_coward and jinglish like this.
Finkface is offline  
Old Jan 21, 2018, 9:04 pm
  #3  
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: 21,368
“U” doesn’t get Alaska Lounge access or Class-of-Service mileage bonus

Edit: hmmmmmm ... I guess I type too slowly on my phone



missamo80 and pbelmore like this.
jrl767 is online now  
Old Jan 21, 2018, 9:05 pm
  #4  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,832
Originally Posted by jrl767
“U” doesn’t get Alaska Lounge access or Class-of-Service mileage bonus
A little slow there. Beat you to it.

Edit: And now we have cross-posted again!
missamo80 and pbelmore like this.
Finkface is offline  
Old Jan 21, 2018, 9:09 pm
  #5  
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: 21,368
Originally Posted by Finkface
Edit: And now we have cross-posted again!
once again showing that timing is everything
missamo80 likes this.
jrl767 is online now  
Old Jan 22, 2018, 5:15 am
  #6  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Hilton Contributor BadgeIHG Contributor Badge
 
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
F, D or A class also allows for SDC into any F seat ^

A is within 6 hours iirc, unless the pax holds AS status (then 10 PM the night before SDC applies).
flyupfrnt and channa like this.
beckoa is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2018, 9:36 am
  #7  
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: 21,368
Originally Posted by beckoa
F, D or A class also allows for SDC into any F seat ^

A is within 6 hours iirc, unless the pax holds AS status (then 10 PM the night before SDC applies).
P also; I've done that a couple times (LAX-SEA) since last summer
jrl767 is online now  
Old Jan 22, 2018, 10:39 am
  #8  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
I will typically pay for first on a 4+ hour flight if the fare is < $200 more than Y, knowing full well that it can often be little more than a guarantee for a seat that will likely go to an MVPG / 75k, particularly on primarily leisure routes.
On a recent business trip SAN-MCO, I paid for first on the outbound only, 2 F seats quickly sold for $100 at the gate (I would have been upgraded for free). Price was substantially greater for the return, but there happened to be one unsold F seat, I was #1 on the upgrade list, ended up with the seat at T- 60 minutes.
diver858 is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2018, 10:45 am
  #9  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,633
Originally Posted by diver858
(I would have been upgraded for free).
assuming that the upgrade processor worked correctly, that is. a dangerous assumption to make at present.
be_rettSEA likes this.
PV_Premier is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2018, 10:59 am
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
Originally Posted by jrl767
P also; I've done that a couple times (LAX-SEA) since last summer
Wondering is P fare changeable or was it your Gold status that allowed no fee change?
pcoll is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2018, 11:14 am
  #11  
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: 21,368
Originally Posted by pcoll
Wondering is P fare changeable or was it your Gold status that allowed no fee change?
last week I made the change on line, at least one earlier change was via phone ... all that mattered to me at the time was that it worked
jrl767 is online now  
Old Jan 22, 2018, 12:09 pm
  #12  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,633
SDC rules are generally governed by status of the passenger except for refundable fares and "A" saver F awards. So, the P fare SDC fee waiver should have been due to status and not fare class.

From AS.com:
The $25 same day confirmed change fee is waived for customers booked in F, D, A (First) and Y, Z (Coach) classes of service.
PV_Premier is offline  
Old Jan 22, 2018, 12:14 pm
  #13  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
IRROPS is another potential benefit. If you need to be rebooked, you get rebooked in F (if it's available).
channa is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.