Complimentary Upgrades on Alaska Airlines (AS)

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Aug 4, 2021, 10:45 pm

Robert

Original Poster

Join Date: Feb 2004

Location: Washington, D.C.

Posts: 535

Complimentary Upgrades on Alaska Airlines (AS)

If you’ve wandered over to the Alaska forum lately, you’ll notice a thread discussing Alaska’s top tier elites (MVP Gold 75Ks) reporting their success or failures with complimentary upgrades on AA flights.

For those CK, EXP, and Platinum Pro elites flying AS, how are you faring with upgrades? Report your success or failures below:

AA status (CK, EXP, PPro)
Date
Route (Please bold if failure)
Time the upgrade cleared or position on waitlist if didn't clear
Any other miscellaneous notes/observations

Aug 6, 2021, 7:28 pm

Reetmafreen

Join Date: Apr 2016

Location: San Diego

Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC

Posts: 1,222

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert

PPRO
7/24
SAN-HNL
Was 3 of 4 for a flight that was J2.
The two passengers above me cleared about 22hrs out and their names dropped off the U/G list leaving me at the top

7/26
HNL-SAN
Upgrade cleared around 22hrs out. Never did get to see the upgrade list, so no idea where I was on it.
F went out full

Aug 8, 2021, 8:19 am

Reetmafreen

Join Date: Apr 2016

Location: San Diego

Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC

Posts: 1,222

Forgot to mention on this thread that not only does AS offer pre-order on hot meals, but that their window closes 20hrs out, so if you get upgraded at T-22 as per my experience, there is still time to log on and select your desired choice.

Clarkcc1 and fotoflyer88 like this.

Aug 13, 2021, 4:42 pm

SFOvacations

Join Date: Oct 2012

Location: SFO

Programs: Hyatt Glob; AA ExPlat; Hilton Diamond

Posts: 317

If there are 3 passengers on my ticket, will they still auto process upgrades for the ExPlat? Premium class is wide open but our seat assignments for all 3 are still in the oneworld elite section. Do I need to call to split the reservation?

Aug 13, 2021, 5:37 pm

fly747first

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Dec 2004

Location: East Coast

Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND

Posts: 11,970

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reetmafreen

AS recently upgraded meals. Were you pleased with the options?

Aug 13, 2021, 8:01 pm

Reetmafreen

Join Date: Apr 2016

Location: San Diego

Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC

Posts: 1,222

Quote:

Originally Posted by fly747first

AS recently upgraded meals. Were you pleased with the options?

Seeing as all I can compare them to are AA, then any hot meal would be an improvement from what I’m used to on recent AA flights. That said, the meal I had on my HNL-SAN flight beat any domestic F meal I’ve had in years on AA.

Aug 14, 2021, 8:07 am

golfer20

Join Date: May 2019

Programs: AA

Posts: 344

EXP
08/19/21
LAX - DAL
Cleared early AM on 08/14/21 on a Q fare
F nearly empty, so not surprised I cleared ~ 130 hr out

Aug 14, 2021, 6:07 pm

fly747first

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Dec 2004

Location: East Coast

Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND

Posts: 11,970

Quote:

Originally Posted by golfer20

EXP
08/19/21
LAX - DAL
Cleared early AM on 08/14/21 on a Q fare
F nearly empty, so not surprised I cleared ~ 130 hr out

Yep that's an easy route to clear on and often leaving with empty F seats

Aug 15, 2021, 9:45 am

Join Date: Jun 1999

Location: NYC/LA

Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb

Posts: 7,487

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFOvacations

Not sure about how it is handled closer to departure, but I have an upcoming reservation with myself (Plat Pro) and spouse (Plat), and were not able to select Premium Class seats even for myself before the 72 hour window. I asked AS to split the PNR and I was immediately moved to Premium Class, and the reservation now indicates that I am waitlisted for a F upgrade.

Hold times at AS may be a bit long, so I'd suggest using the text message chat function.

Aug 28, 2021, 6:43 pm

#10

SFOvacations

Join Date: Oct 2012

Location: SFO

Programs: Hyatt Glob; AA ExPlat; Hilton Diamond

Posts: 317

Called AS and they would not split my PNR since its booked through SQ points. 24 hrs out still 3 seats open in F, maybe we'll test out luck at the airport. Does anyone know if the F upgrade is +1 or is +1 only for Premium Class?

Aug 29, 2021, 11:51 am

#11

Robert

Original Poster

Join Date: Feb 2004

Location: Washington, D.C.

Posts: 535

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFOvacations

According to the Elite Status Benefits on Alaska Airlines page, upgrades to first class and complimentary premium class seats only applies to the elite status member. CK, EP, and PPro members will be able to extend this benefit to 1 companion traveling on the same flight and in the same reservation at a later, to be determined, date.

Aug 31, 2021, 1:04 pm

#12

CMK10

In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2002

Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)

Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC

Posts: 33,857

First time using it:

Date: 8/29/21
Status: EXP
Flights:
- AS 60 JNU-KTN-SEA (738): Failure. Showed as #1 at JNU, they wouldn't upgrade me to F due to weight restrictions. At KTN I didn't show. Apparently one stop flights can be glitchy
- AS 962 KTN-RDU (739): Cleared at T-72

ChurnieEls likes this.

Aug 31, 2021, 3:16 pm

#13

mvoight

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: May 2004

Location: DFW/DAL

Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond

Posts: 21,422

Quote:

Originally Posted by fly747first

Yep that's an easy route to clear on and often leaving with empty F seats

Interesting info... Sounds like I should use AS to fly to LAX from DAL (I am PLT), because it is almost impossible to do from DFW.
I did get the upgrade once, on a Labor Day return to DFW, it's been a couple of years.....My next trip to LAX is Turkey Day, but booked AA due to flight credit requiring booking by Sept 21.