Upgrade to Premium more than 72 hours?
Feb 4, 2018, 10:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Programs: Hyatt LT Globalist, Marriot LT Titanium, UA 2.4MM, HH Gold, AS MVPG
Posts: 3,400
Upgrade to Premium more than 72 hours?
So have a flight on Friday and today I received email that I was upgraded to premium which is definitely more than 72 hours before. Not sure why? Any idea?
Feb 5, 2018, 7:41 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Programs: Hyatt LT Globalist, Marriot LT Titanium, UA 2.4MM, HH Gold, AS MVPG
Posts: 3,400
I figured it out. I had actually bought a high enough fare class to allow instant upgrade to Premium but chose a seat in regular economy because there were only middle seats in Premium. Seems an aisle seat opened up in Premium so they processed the “upgrade”.
Feb 5, 2018, 10:47 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Related question -- the FAQ states that if you are in an exit row, you won't be moved to premium when your upgrade window arrives. Does that mean that you lose your upgrade? Or do you have to call in? What if you are in an exit row but prefer premium?
Feb 5, 2018, 11:11 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
Honestly, I wish AS would either make exit rows part of the premium class product or allow passengers to specify whether they want to be moved from exit row to PC seats at upgrade window.
Feb 5, 2018, 11:33 am
#6
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Renton, WA
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan MVP
Posts: 58
It took me months to figure this out. I too would love an option to say "upgrade me to PC even if I'm in an exit row", but with all the other IT issues Alaska seems to be having I'm fine with the workaround.
Feb 5, 2018, 12:52 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
At your window (or before if you have an eligible fare class), you can select a premium seat instead of your exit row seating. You don't "lose" the upgrade, but if you wait too long, someone else might get a PC seat assignment before you do. Initially frequent flyers complained about being moved from exit rows (which have a teeny bit more legroom), so AS blocked exit row seats from PC upgrades.. If you really want a PC seat, don't put yourself in an exit row, and be sure to check the box for "premium class upgrades" at booking.
Honestly, I wish AS would either make exit rows part of the premium class product or allow passengers to specify whether they want to be moved from exit row to PC seats at upgrade window.
Honestly, I wish AS would either make exit rows part of the premium class product or allow passengers to specify whether they want to be moved from exit row to PC seats at upgrade window.
I was thinking about not selecting an exit row, but then there's a chance I'll end up in non-exit-row Y. Given my low status (just MVP) and relatively low fare class (K one way, T the other) I don't know how likely I am to get upgraded. It's my first time playing the upgrade game with AS... I'm trying to learn how it works. I figured that it was a good time to try it for a relatively short flight (SFO-PHX, <2 hrs in the air) and cheap Y tickets ($99 there, $65 back).
I would definitely take a premium window or aisle over my exit row window. Middle seat premium would be a tougher call...
Feb 5, 2018, 1:17 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
I was thinking about not selecting an exit row, but then there's a chance I'll end up in non-exit-row Y. Given my low status (just MVP) and relatively low fare class (K one way, T the other) I don't know how likely I am to get upgraded. It's my first time playing the upgrade game with AS... I'm trying to learn how it works. I figured that it was a good time to try it for a relatively short flight (SFO-PHX, <2 hrs in the air) and cheap Y tickets ($99 there, $65 back).
Feb 5, 2018, 2:58 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,725
I agree...I'm MVP and I too get upgraded more often than you would think....I was even upgraded twice last year with a non-status companion (my kid) on my reservation.