alaska airline is making significant changes to first-class upgrades by reducing upgrade times for MVP and MVP Gold members. In addition, all American Airlines AAdvantage elite member will be eligible for a first class upgrade on Alaska-operated flights, while all Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Elite Member will be eligible for first class upgrade on most American Airlines-operated flights.
Over the weekend, Alaska was discreet posted these updates on my website. Unzip all the changes you need to know about.
American AAdvantage Elite Upgrade on Alaska
American’s Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members are eligible to upgrade to first class on Alaska Airlines in about a year. All AAdvantage elite members are now eligible for a first class upgrade on Alaska Airlines.
First class
Here’s what you can expect to receive priority upgrade on an Alaska Airlines flight:
- Alaska MVP 100K Gold.
- Alaska MVP Gold 75K.
- American AAdvantage Concierge Key, Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro members.
- Alaska MVP Gold.
- American AAdvantage Platinum.
- Alaska’s MVP. All American and Alaskan elites are now eligible for reciprocal upgrades
- American AAdvantage Gold Member.
premium class
Alaska also offers more legroom in economy class, marketed as Premium. In addition to the extra 4 inches of leg room, Premium Class passengers get priority boarding and complimentary beer, wine and cocktails on most flights over 350 miles. For Premium Class seats, go to alaskaair.com with your confirmation number.
Here is the Premium policy for elite members of AAdvantage:
- Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro: All fares except Saver fare after ticket purchase.
- platinum: Ticket price Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S or N after buying tickets; All other fares at 72 hours before departure.
- Yellow: Y, B or H fare after ticket purchase; all other fares 24 hours before departure.
Related: Your Complete Guide to Earn and Redeem with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Alaska Mileage Plan Elite Upgrade on American
Alaska’s MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K members now enjoy first-class waitlist priority on select American Airlines flights. That’s how our news editor, Clint Henderson, got there great success scoring American Airlines upgrades as Alaska MVP Gold 100K.
First class
All Mileage Plan elite members will now be eligible to upgrade on American Airlines within the United States (including Hawaii) and between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Central America. . It looks like the Mileage Plan elite free upgrade areas are the same as AAdvantage elite members enjoy when traveling by US plane. These upgrades are just one cabin upgrade.
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While there many nuances behind the American upgrade waiting listHere’s what you can expect to get priority American Airlines in-flight upgrades at a basic level:
- American AAdvantage Concierge Key.
- American AAdvantage Executive Platinum.
- American AAdvantage Platinum Pro.
- Alaska 100K Gold MVP and 75K Gold MVP.
- American AAdvantage Platinum.
- Alaska MVP Gold.
- American AAdvantage Gold.
- MVP Alaska.
Main Cabin
Like Alaska, American offers extra legroom on its planes, sold as the Main Cabin Extra. To select Main Cabin Extra Seat, go to aa.com with your American Airlines profile locator.
Here is the Main Cabin Extra policy for Alaska elite members:
- MVP Gold, 75K Gold and 100K Gold: All fare after ticket purchase.
- MVP: You can change to an Extra Seat in the Main Cabin within 24 hours of departure.
Related: American unveils new business class and attractive premium economy class at first class cost
Change the time to upgrade MVP and MVP Gold
Based on its website, later this year, Alaska will begin removing the MVP and MVP Gold upgrades as early as 24 and 48 hours before departure, respectively. Currently, MVP members have upgrade benefits within 48 hours of departure, while MVP Gold members can complete the upgrade within 72 hours of departure.
With Alaska lowering both of these periods for 24 hours, the airline will be offering free upgrades for the low- and mid-class elite that are in line with American Airlines.
Related: What is Alaska Airlines elite status worth?
bottom line
Alaska has announced some pretty significant changes to its upgrades. Alaska will prioritize certain American elite members over its own MVP elite members, and Americans will do the same by prioritizing some Alaska elite members over AAdvantage elite members of Alaska. me.
If I were Alaska’s MVP, I wouldn’t celebrate. After all, American Concierge Key, Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Platinum members are currently on the higher upgrade list than Alaska’s MVP members, and MVP upgrades will now complete within 24 hours. instead of 48 hours ago. That almost certainly means that MVP members will spend less time in first class.
And while the upgrade benefits on American Airlines may sound great, MVP members are the last elite members to receive upgrades on American Airlines.
We will keep you informed of future developments in the Alaska-US elite deal.
