Complimentary Upgrades on Alaska Airlines (AS)
Oct 19, 2022, 10:41 pm
#136
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA ExecPlat
Posts: 95
For first class upgrades, the AAvantage status benefits on AS page wording has been updated since I last checked:
Originally Posted by https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-program/aadvantage-status/aadvantage-status-benefits-on-alaska-airlines.jsp
^AAdvantage Executive Platinum® and AAdvantage Platinum Pro® can upgrade to 1 companion traveling on the same flight and in the same reservation.
Traveling with a companion previously meant not only was your companion not eligible for first class upgrades, but you as a EXP were ineligible for first class upgrades when traveling with a companion in the same reservation.
Last edited by PurpleMonkey; Oct 19, 2022 at 10:52 pm
Oct 19, 2022, 11:07 pm
#137
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA ExecPlat
Posts: 95
Taking a closer look at the AA benefits on AS page, the premium class upgrade description has changed too and is much more descriptive now:
If you book your trip on alaskaair.com, find fares that are eligible for immediate access to Premium Class using the “Upgrade fare type” filter on their website. Here’s how:
Originally Posted by https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-program/aadvantage-status/aadvantage-status-benefits-on-alaska-airlines.jsp
Immediate access to Premium Class seats
You’ll have immediate access to Premium Class seats a few minutes after your ticket for an eligible fare is issued, and if space is available.If you book your trip on alaskaair.com, find fares that are eligible for immediate access to Premium Class using the “Upgrade fare type” filter on their website. Here’s how:
- AAdvantage Gold® members – choose “MVP”
- AAdvantage Platinum® – choose “MVP Gold”
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum® / AAdvantage Platinum Pro® – choose “MVP Gold 75k”
- Choose a seat in the Main Cabin.
- Buy your ticket for a seat in the Main Cabin.
- After your trip is ticketed, you’ll be assigned a seat in Premium Class if you booked an eligible fare or once your AAdvantage® status window opens.
- Seats marked as “Alaska Elite” are available complimentary to AAdvantage® status members.
- The seat type you choose in the Main Cabin – aisle or window – will be your seat type in Premium Class.
- If you choose a seat in an exit row, you won’t be moved to Premium Class.
- Choosing a Premium Class seat before ticketing will result in a charge. To receive a complimentary Premium Class seat, you’ll first need to choose a seat in Main Cabin and pay for your ticket.
- You can view your assigned seat in Premium Class on alaskaair.com using your Alaska Airlines confirmation code.
Oct 20, 2022, 3:20 pm
#140
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, AA ExecPlat, Amtrak Select Exec, former WN apologist
Posts: 1,453
Oct 29, 2022, 5:35 pm
#141
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: ATL
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 113
SNA-SEA upgraded at check in (Monday morning flight)
SEA-SNA not sure when this upgrade happened (Saturday evening flight) . 5pm flight, checked before bed the night before and I was still 7C. Woke up to 3D.
Flying SAN-SMF Tuesday morning next week and have already been upgraded on that flight along with my companion. So far I'm 3/3 on upgrades with Alaska after hitting PP.
SEA-SNA not sure when this upgrade happened (Saturday evening flight) . 5pm flight, checked before bed the night before and I was still 7C. Woke up to 3D.
Flying SAN-SMF Tuesday morning next week and have already been upgraded on that flight along with my companion. So far I'm 3/3 on upgrades with Alaska after hitting PP.
Oct 30, 2022, 11:32 am
#142
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Miami, FL, USA
Posts: 4,051
Nov 19, 2022, 10:35 pm
#144
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, BAEC Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 345
AA EXP, DAL-SFO 11/11 - upgraded to premium class at booking/ upgraded to F upon checkin around T-12. Strange thing was that I was 4th on the list (of 6) but somehow when I checked in again (to switch seats), I was upgraded into F, while there remained people on the waitlist. I have this feeling that somehow I skipped ahead of the waitlist, but it was all on AS and what appears to be their peculiar way of processing upgrades.
Dec 1, 2022, 5:04 pm
#147
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: Free agent AAdvantage LT GLD
Posts: 223
It doesn't matter which airline you book through, as long as your AA# is associated with the booking.
Just be sure not to book an "X" fare, as these are not upgradable (not even to a "premium") seat. AS's Premium Cabin is equivalent to AA's MCE seats and AA allows you to book these seats for free based on your status regardless of fare class, whereas AS does not - so it's important to understand that distinction.
When you complete your booking, you should be able return to the booking and select a Premium class seat for free. Once you're in a premium seat with no extra charge, you can be reasonably assured everything is happening as it should be, as far as AS recognizing your elite status. You should see "first class waitlisted" or something to that affect on your booking once you're in a premium seat.
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Just be sure not to book an "X" fare, as these are not upgradable (not even to a "premium") seat. AS's Premium Cabin is equivalent to AA's MCE seats and AA allows you to book these seats for free based on your status regardless of fare class, whereas AS does not - so it's important to understand that distinction.
When you complete your booking, you should be able return to the booking and select a Premium class seat for free. Once you're in a premium seat with no extra charge, you can be reasonably assured everything is happening as it should be, as far as AS recognizing your elite status. You should see "first class waitlisted" or something to that affect on your booking once you're in a premium seat.
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https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...guest-upgrades
"Tickets purchased in Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S, or N are eligible for guest upgrades (not eligible in Q, O, G or X classes)"
So I'm SOL there. Had to pay for a premium class seat as well but I'll take that seat on their E175 to WN.
Dec 1, 2022, 5:19 pm
#148
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,087
Booked a work trip via concur and ended up on "G" fare. I'm AA PLT but wasn't able to request an upgrade because:
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...guest-upgrades
"Tickets purchased in Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S, or N are eligible for guest upgrades (not eligible in Q, O, G or X classes)"
So I'm SOL there. Had to pay for a premium class seat as well but I'll take that seat on their E175 to WN.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...guest-upgrades
"Tickets purchased in Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S, or N are eligible for guest upgrades (not eligible in Q, O, G or X classes)"
So I'm SOL there. Had to pay for a premium class seat as well but I'll take that seat on their E175 to WN.
Dec 2, 2022, 8:55 pm
#149
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, UA 1K 1MM, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 400
Haven’t seen this in the past few thread pages or in the updated Alaska premium seat and upgrade guidance for AA elites, but found out the Premium seat selection on AS only applies to two passengers. We booked a Hawaii fare for 3 and I was unable to select Premium seats - an AS agent via text informed me that Premium seats were only available for two pax, but split our ticket so that two took the Premium seats and we paid to upgrade the remaining one. Their pro-active info and action was -very- welcome!
Book accordingly!
Book accordingly!