Jun 1, 2021, 8:52 am
Last edit by: philemer
For the most current information on Guest Upgrades, go to the "Complimentary Upgrades" web page. Under "Guest Upgrades" expand "How do I apply guest upgrades to a reservation?" and "Guest upgrade rules" for more details.
Customer Care, if you need assistance, can be reached at
Customer Care, if you need assistance, can be reached at
Using Upgrade (GGU) Codes
Dec 31, 2025 | 6:20 pm
#1053
Join Date: Feb 2022
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 100K, Frontier Elite100K
Posts: 439
Has AS changed how GGU certificates are applied? I applied my GGU certificate to a flight, but it was applied resulting in an upgrade to First Class but the GGU certificate was still in my account as unused. Is AS now using a hybrid of applying the GGU but not deleting it from account until the flight actually completed?
Dec 31, 2025 | 7:02 pm
#1054
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 88
Has AS changed how GGU certificates are applied? I applied my GGU certificate to a flight, but it was applied resulting in an upgrade to First Class but the GGU certificate was still in my account as unused. Is AS now using a hybrid of applying the GGU but not deleting it from account until the flight actually completed?
Dec 31, 2025 | 11:51 pm
#1055
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, Hertz PC, Marriott Lifetime Plat, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 44,261
That's what an agent shared with me tonight.
Jan 1, 2026 | 12:10 am
#1056
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 88
Jan 1, 2026 | 1:20 am
#1057
Join Date: Dec 2023
Posts: 25
The website has been showing the wrong quantity of U space since at least September. Back then, I waited on hold for over and hour and dealt with a supervisor in Phoenix only to be told there was nothing they can do. I later wrote customer care and got a long response with an apology and they said they would tell their IT team.
Fast forward to this week, I had the same issue two days ago (showing 7U, but there is only 1U). I kind of assumed that there was no way there was 7U, so I called in first to confirm. I agree, although - this is super frustrating.
Fast forward to this week, I had the same issue two days ago (showing 7U, but there is only 1U). I kind of assumed that there was no way there was 7U, so I called in first to confirm. I agree, although - this is super frustrating.
Jan 1, 2026 | 1:23 am
#1058
Join Date: Dec 2023
Posts: 25
I've seen it too. Doesn't look like anything to me, must've been the wind. Probably best to ignore it.
Jan 1, 2026 | 8:24 pm
#1059
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS Platinum, Hertz President's Circle, IHG Plat, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Silver
Posts: 12,379
Jan 2, 2026 | 9:59 am
#1060
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,309
Just as a heads-up, I managed to uncover some truly impressive website behavior this evening while trying to use GGUs with a companion fare. I was searching for a DEN–SAN–HNL roundtrip and, on the AS website, dutifully selected “Upgrade Certificate” as the upgrade type and carefully chose upgrade-eligible flights—because I enjoy following instructions.
Naturally, on the final payment screen, the outbound magically transformed into an O fare (upgrade ineligible!). Assuming user error, I repeated the entire process two more times and achieved the exact same result. Despite doing everything correctly, the website helpfully down-fared me anyway.
After consulting a friend who is far more fluent in Alaska’s… creative IT ecosystem, we discovered that this only happens when a companion certificate is attached to the search. The workaround? I ticketed the itinerary with the unwanted downfare, called in to manually upfare it, and then went back online to apply the GGUs.
Moral of the story: trust, but verify—especially when your browser is pointed at alaskaair.com.
Naturally, on the final payment screen, the outbound magically transformed into an O fare (upgrade ineligible!). Assuming user error, I repeated the entire process two more times and achieved the exact same result. Despite doing everything correctly, the website helpfully down-fared me anyway.
After consulting a friend who is far more fluent in Alaska’s… creative IT ecosystem, we discovered that this only happens when a companion certificate is attached to the search. The workaround? I ticketed the itinerary with the unwanted downfare, called in to manually upfare it, and then went back online to apply the GGUs.
Moral of the story: trust, but verify—especially when your browser is pointed at alaskaair.com.
Last edited by sbedelman; Jan 2, 2026 at 10:09 am
Jan 2, 2026 | 10:08 am
#1061
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,309
The website has been showing the wrong quantity of U space since at least September. Back then, I waited on hold for over and hour and dealt with a supervisor in Phoenix only to be told there was nothing they can do. I later wrote customer care and got a long response with an apology and they said they would tell their IT team.
Fast forward to this week, I had the same issue two days ago (showing 7U, but there is only 1U). I kind of assumed that there was no way there was 7U, so I called in first to confirm. I agree, although - this is super frustrating.
Fast forward to this week, I had the same issue two days ago (showing 7U, but there is only 1U). I kind of assumed that there was no way there was 7U, so I called in first to confirm. I agree, although - this is super frustrating.
Jan 2, 2026 | 10:18 am
#1062
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BLI
Programs: Alaska Million Mile Flyer, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 3,361
2026 codes with wrong expiration date
Overnight, four upgrade certificates showed up in my account (I'm a Million Miler; not bragging, just giving the reason why).
They all have a expiration date of 01/31/2026.
I assume they are supposed to have an expiration date of 01/31/2027 (to align, perhaps, with general status expiration now at the end of January). But either the system or a human entered the wrong end year.
I hope.
They all have a expiration date of 01/31/2026.
I assume they are supposed to have an expiration date of 01/31/2027 (to align, perhaps, with general status expiration now at the end of January). But either the system or a human entered the wrong end year.
I hope.
Jan 2, 2026 | 1:50 pm
#1064
Join Date: Dec 2023
Posts: 25
Jan 2, 2026 | 8:31 pm
#1065
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, Hertz PC, Marriott Lifetime Plat, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 44,261
