PDXPremier

In order to automatically clear st your elite window there must be U space available which doesn't always correlate to the number of F or PC seats available. I haven't been auto upgraded to PC in a long time but I think it's because I'm either in the exit row or I upgrade myself faster than the processor works.

metallo

I think the upgrade processor may be broken (so what else is new ).

I recently booked SAN-SEA that was surprisingly still J7U7 within the T-5 day 75K comp upgrade window. I didn't even select a Y seat because I knew the upgrade would go through... or so I thought. I received an email about an hour later that I was upgraded to premium and was assigned 6C. I waited, but the system didn't subsequently upgrade me to J also, despite the request showing on the reservation on the website.

The processor being broken (or at least severely delayed) is bad enough, but the "75K agent" who answered the phone seemed like she had no clue what was going on. She forgot to ask, "May I have your name please?" like the agents always ask, and then when I was in the middle of beginning to talk to her, she awkwardly remembered, interrupted, and asked me for my name. When I asked if she could look into the upgrade issue, she told me that, even when U is available, those seats are reserved for gate upgrades. She told me I'd have to wait for the gate agent to clear me (still days out from the flight at this point) or else use a "redemptive upgrade" (a term I've never heard an AS agent use before, but presumably referring to a GGU). I asked her to speak with her lead to confirm, and she came back not once, but twice, with the same spiel.

Eventually, she allowed me to speak to a friendly supervisor in Boise who told me it was just the processor being slow. He told me he couldn't do anything to speed it up but just to wait "an hour or so and it'll probably go through." He said he couldn't "force it."

I hung up, checked my email, and the upgrade email was there (he clearly pushed it through). Strange all around.

jiburi

It's not always possible to know the circumstance pertaining to passenger #1, but it could be flat denial (personal preference, or when traveling with other passengers in Y), or when accompanying a child, etc.

Seriously though, AS should re-vamp their upgrade list, similar to UA, with different list for each cabin type. Some people don't want to be upgraded to First and/or Premium Class.

Jiburi

simonsuo

That's so messed up, I'll definitely HUCA until my name shows up in the app after my check in.

Same here for all of my flights (15 or so) this year so far.

That sounds like an agent in training. I would HUCA right after I noticed something is off. Don't call me mean, it's just easier that way sometimes. And there is virtually no wait in their priority phone line.

Totally, I also think whomever got upgraded should show up on the list. But I guess that's why they call it waitlist (still waiting for upgrades), not upgrade list (all passengers eligible for upgrades, either cleared or waiting). But this is just more informative, not necessarily a functional thing. I bet their IT has a huge backlog of issues need to be taken care first.

metallo

The integrity of the upgrade list has been an embarrassment at AS for many years... they should really move it up their list of IT priorities.

I’m afraid there could actually be even more issues now, with AA elites becoming eligible for upgrades, so I’m not optimistic anything will improve in the short run.

mtofell

I'd be content if they'd just stop losing my TSA Precheck # but I suppose getting the waitlist working right would nice as well. I'm a small business owner so I know there is lots here I don't know but things like this in my company are just totally unacceptable. If I were losing client's important appointment information or incorrectly sending services/goods to people out of order I'd be out of business shortly. I really don't even mean to complain as much as just point out how funny it is that big companies that throw millions (tens? hundreds?) of dollars at things still can't get it right.

beckoa

Been busy in FLL the last couple of days and enroute back to SEA currently.

Shocked at the attention this thread has received. Appreciate the feedback.

Also glad to report, I was added successfully to the upgrade queue. My friend and I cleared FLL-SEA yesterday, and SEA-FAI earlier today.

Concerned about other reservations... will need to call later on.

simonsuo

for me, showing up on the waitlist or not doesn't quite matter on SEA-FLL routes. With my gold status, I can't even get a PC seat sometimes. But I'm watching all my future travel like a hawk now.

anteater

Once PC seat blocking ends you’ll have a greater chance of obtaining a PC seat. 🤙🏻

dayone

A few off-topic posts (beverages) have been deleted.

dayone, AS Moderator

PDXPremier

I'm thinking the same thing....it's never been this tough to get a PC upgrade at T-72.

nomiiiii

Happened to both me and P2 today - both of us are MVP on the same reservation (alaska metal SEA-SAT alaska award booking).
Don't see either of us on upgrade list even though we have tried checking in 3 times (contacted them to un-check us in so we can re-check in).

Not sure if its worth getting to gate earlier to put us on the list as mere mvps, but its mildly annoying.

Flying for Fun

The upgrade processor has a real challenge, at the best of times, with 2 MVPs on the same PNR Technically, neither can be upgraded. An MVP on an award on an inelgible fare will always be the very last to be upgraded. If on an eligible fare, higher Elites will trump you, even on ineligible fares, once the Elite windows open, which I think is unfair. All eligible fares should be cleared ahead of ineligible fares in the order they were placed on the waitlist, regardless of Elite Status. Ineligible fares are added to the waitlist at the respective windows from the waitlist upgrade queue. The waitlist request queue is a misnomer since the Elite request lists are not a FIFO (first-in-first-out) process. They are "plucked" out of the request queues, first by fare class and then by date/time if there is tie.

Fare class Y is now used for both refundable revenue & refundable award tickets. Formerly, refundable Main cabin awards booked into Z.

James

ficklepickles

Yesterday I checked in for my flight today using a computer instead of the usual mobile app. Immediately showed up on the upgrade list and cleared into FC later - this, unlike my experience last week when I didn't show up on the lists.

Take that for what it's worth. Perhaps an integration problem with their mobile app? Really need more data to really come to that conclusion.

nomiiiii

I thought all award bookings were eligible for upgrade (no concept of basic economy type fares on award bookings), specially since i was able to select exit-row seating on my award fare. Is there some new rule about ineligble award fares?