Issue with AS website recognizing WP number?
 

I booked a ticket on AS, using my NW WP # in the reservation. At www.alaskaair.com, the frequent flyer number shows up as a Quantas number (right number, wrong airline). However, both according to an AS agent and in my confirmation e-mail, the number shows up as a NW number.

Any other NW flyers experience this before? I'm wondering because right now I don't have access to any preferred seats (which I think I would get if the online system recognized my PE status, correct?).

Yep. It started last a week ago when I booked a ticket through Expedia that includes AS7 SEA-EWR. I thought Expedia transferred the data over wrong so I called Alaska. Plus, I wanted to get a seat in row 15 :) Alaska said that they see it as a NW number and they recognize my elite status. Possibly an IT upgrade has already started on Alaska's side to deal with DL elites?

Note, I booked a separate ticket the next day through Delta.com that includes a Delta-coded, AS-operated flight. I got the AS confirmation code and entered it on AS.com and it also shows as Qantas even though the agent I spoke with said she sees it as Northwest.

Guess it's not truly going to matter, at least for me. By the time I take these flights in October I'll have to give them my Delta Platinum Medallion number.

GBadger - AS has never given NW elites access to premium seats. You need to buy a "Y" fare to see those seats on a seat map. Otherwise, the only way to get premium or exit row seats on AS is to call and request them.

-RM

I booked an el cheapo one way MSP-SEA-SJC this spring and was able to pick a seat in the bulkhead of the 737 online (without calling)... IIRC the exits were available at the time also.

Interesting...My AS flight last week (SFO-LAX, booked on nwa.com), I was able to select a seat in row 7 on a 737 online (at AS's website). I assumed that was premium seating, but guess I have no confirmation of that.

Other than the exit rows, On 737 the seats in front of the exit row (except the regular seats that don't recline) are considered to be "Preferred" blocked for elites, partner elites and Full Fare. However with few exceptions based on config, they are pretty much regular seats.

Hmmm..just called AS, and was told that my NW status does not allow me to select any blocked seats. That's unfortunate.

Maybe the 10/1 changes happened early? I cant remember how many times it was mentioned on the AS forum not to use the number of available preferred seats to determine upgrade chances due to partners choosing those seats.

I just booked an AS ticket ( via Expedia.ca so I could get it in CAD at par exchange from USD, secret for all you canucks out there ;) ).

I did NOT put in my WP number in Expedia, but I went into 'manage my booking' at Alaskaair and immediately a red message at the top said "your Northwest Airlines Gold Elite status has been confirmed - new seats may now be open and available to you - please click on 'change seats' to view"

Sure enough, I had my pick of the primo seats that I could not get before, and snagged the first row of econo at the F bulkhead on all segments of my flight. This was not a full fare Y.

So YMMV but I WAS able to get preferred seats with my NW status.

Hmmm.. I'm guessing that I would need to call again to remove my NW number from the reservation. Does anyone know whether your frequent flyer number can be removed via the AS website?

Hmm.. so I just called and had them remove the number, and I went back in and put my NW number in.
Now it correctly shows up as a NW number (not Qantas!), but I didn't get any message like the one that SamuelS got... Also still don't see any open premier seats. Oh well.

Did you see if seats were avail in the elite cabin (viewable by searching for a full Y fare)?

If not... not sure what is going on... weird...

And the only time online to change the FF# online is via OLCI... otherwise it requires a call to modify...

Ok, I guess I'm an idiot (or, I made bad assumptions).

This is for an 8pm SFO-SEA flight that is three weeks out, and seatcounter is showing 7s across the board (except T). But, as beckoa points out, the seatmap shows all seats occupied.

seatcounter no longer works for AS - hasn't been reliable for years... so blame it on them :p