Force complimentary upgrade to premium out of exit rows?
#16
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
#17
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: AS Million Miler, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Nexus / Global Entry
Posts: 844
There’s a zero percent chance I would choose a middle PC seat over an exit row aisle without knowing that the aisle and window occupants were really, really slim.
#18
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 561
I did click through to the purchase page until it asked for a credit card number. Maybe it’s a one-time system error? I’ll try again next time - seems like y’all have been able to make it work.
#19
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: 16,844
edit: more than once, according to my post here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30782309-post7.html
#20
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: Alaska Gold 100k
Posts: 959
I’ve had it happen a few times, it wants to charge when it shouldn’t but a call is all it takes. Seems to happen more when I try to upgrade earlier than T-36, because the window actually opens up day of your upgrade, not right at the T-time.
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EWR/PHL/JFK
Programs: A3*G, AS MVPG, UA, AA
Posts: 610
I’m not sure what the point of an alert i set for myself is? The upgrades don’t always clear immediately. So I don’t need a notification to check 48 hours before (I already do that), I need a notification to know when an upgrade actually clears.
also, fun times: today my upgrades from non-exit-row seats cleared immediately at T-48 but the seats still weren’t changed. Luckily I was able to snag aisle/window before they disappeared.
also, fun times: today my upgrades from non-exit-row seats cleared immediately at T-48 but the seats still weren’t changed. Luckily I was able to snag aisle/window before they disappeared.
#22
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
I’m not sure what the point of an alert i set for myself is? The upgrades don’t always clear immediately. So I don’t need a notification to check 48 hours before (I already do that), I need a notification to know when an upgrade actually clears.
also, fun times: today my upgrades from non-exit-row seats cleared immediately at T-48 but the seats still weren’t changed. Luckily I was able to snag aisle/window before they disappeared.
also, fun times: today my upgrades from non-exit-row seats cleared immediately at T-48 but the seats still weren’t changed. Luckily I was able to snag aisle/window before they disappeared.
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EWR/PHL/JFK
Programs: A3*G, AS MVPG, UA, AA
Posts: 610
So another day, another failed upgrade – we have exit row seats and there’s 4 pairs of seats together in premium. A few hours ago there were 6. Tried chatting an agent who said that I will need to call in to get the upgrade fee waived. It’s past midnight now so this will have to wait until the morning at which point hopefully those pairs of seats are still there!
yeah thanks but no thanks.
yeah thanks but no thanks.
#24
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Southwest A-List; Alaska MVPG; Hilton Diamond; Avis PreferredPlus; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Posts: 919
So another day, another failed upgrade – we have exit row seats and there’s 4 pairs of seats together in premium. A few hours ago there were 6. Tried chatting an agent who said that I will need to call in to get the upgrade fee waived. It’s past midnight now so this will have to wait until the morning at which point hopefully those pairs of seats are still there!
yeah thanks but no thanks.
yeah thanks but no thanks.
what status are you and your companion?
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EWR/PHL/JFK
Programs: A3*G, AS MVPG, UA, AA
Posts: 610
I ended up calling last night and the agent had a good idea regarding a potential bug in the upgrade system. We are both MVP. It is probably thinking that because we are “just” MVP, it doesn’t even bother noticing that we both are and thinks that we aren’t eligible for upgrades. Sucks because first is wide open on this flight but if they end up upgrading someone else in front of us before I can get an agent, those empty seats might be gone.
#26
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
I ended up calling last night and the agent had a good idea regarding a potential bug in the upgrade system. We are both MVP. It is probably thinking that because we are “just” MVP, it doesn’t even bother noticing that we both are and thinks that we aren’t eligible for upgrades. Sucks because first is wide open on this flight but if they end up upgrading someone else in front of us before I can get an agent, those empty seats might be gone.
#27
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
I ended up calling last night and the agent had a good idea regarding a potential bug in the upgrade system. We are both MVP. It is probably thinking that because we are “just” MVP, it doesn’t even bother noticing that we both are and thinks that we aren’t eligible for upgrades. Sucks because first is wide open on this flight but if they end up upgrading someone else in front of us before I can get an agent, those empty seats might be gone.
If you're both MVP thus have your own individual benefits, what's the benefit in keeping on the same reservation instead of just booking two independent PNRs, or asking them to split the reservation for you? Are you on a companion fare or something (apologies if it's been stated above).
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EWR/PHL/JFK
Programs: A3*G, AS MVPG, UA, AA
Posts: 610
Oh ffs. Does Alaska know about this or plan to do anything about it? Primary reason to book together is convenience and getting PreCheck for my partner (who doesn’t have it but I do and she rarely travel travels by herself to justify it for her).
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,387
And you can't be upgraded with a companion because... wait for it... MVPs don't get companion upgrades. If one of you was a Gold, this won't be a problem.
You're an edge case (both MVPs, both traveling at the same time). The best solution is to be on separate PNRs and find a credit card that will pay for your SO's TSA Precheck.
#30
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
Or one of you (sounds like you, since your companion only travels a few times a year) do some extra flying and get Gold so you can upgrade both of you. That'll probably cost more than the $0 w/ credit card benefit / $85 for Precheck/ $100 for Global Entry but would solve the issue as well.