I will be gold later this year on CO (based on travel scheduled so far, but at a minimum silver). I will be spending alot of time in Seattle and traveling once or twice to San Francisco. I know CO doesn't fly there (at least there aren't any flights listed on line). I also know that CO elites are eligable for Upgrades on Northwest. My question is if the Northwest "flight" is a codeshare with Alaska does that still apply? Since it is Alaska metal my guess is that it doesn't apply, but I wanted to ask here to be sure. I am not worried about the 50% EQMs from booking on NW becasue it is an H fare (100% EQM on CO).

The only other reason I am thinking of booking on NW is that I have Amex Business Platinum and with it I can use the NW lounge. Will that work given this is a code share as well?

Thanks everyone for any help!

AS will sell upgrades to 1st (when space is available) for $50 between SEA and California desitinations for flights on their metal. You can buy them from the e-ticket checkin kiosks. Well worth it in my opinion, although AS coach on most planes has lots of room in comparison to CO and NW.

AS Paid Upgrade

I had read about those, but forgotten about them. Thanks for the reminder. Too bad you can't buy the upgrade in advance though....

For the future I would still be interrested in knowing how the codesharing and status applies and work as well as the lounge situation.

First, all AS-operated flights are 100% EQM.

Second, buy it from whomever is cheaper -- NW or AS or even AA.

Third, check both OAK and SFO. Fares can be radically different.

For a fairly good idea on whether a purchased upgrade will be available, you can look at the flights available to buy, and see if they show a 'MVP Gold Upgrade' icon next to it... that seems to mean 'open 1st seats available' for that flight. As a CO elite, I've been allowed to board early on AS flights, but I don't believe they will upgrade you for free.

No idea about lounges, I'm happy sitting with the poor folks around the gates.

Just realized it might not be clear where you check for the 'MVP Gold Upgrade' icon- pull up the flights on alaskaair.com.

There's nuthin' in the CO website that says that you get CO EQM for NW ticketed Alaska operated flights. The NW partner page says what your'e supposed to get for NW operated flights. Remember that the official NonePass� policy is "if in doubt $crew the customer"

To put it more charitably, you can only get CO miles if the flight is operated by a CO partner. So as you suspected, the answer is . . .

And putting aside the disenchantment and hyperbole of a long-time poster, this policy is standard with all airlines. You only get credit for partners of that airline, not partners of partners, or partners of partners of partners.

Both AS and NW are full partners with CO in terms of EQM. I can't see a problem of "partner of a partner" here.

.... but willing to pony up for a club membership for one or two flights a month .....

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