Upgrading your flight experience transforms your trip into a luxurious and comfortable flying journey. So if you are planning to fly with Alaska Airlines, then it is the best decision for you, because Alaska Airlines offers multiple ways to secure a first-class upgrade.
This airline is mainly based in the West Coast hub cities of Seattle (SEA), Portland (PDX), Anchorage (ANC), San Francisco (SFO), and Los Angeles (LAX). From these cities it flies to 120+ destinations across the U.S., Mexico, Canada, The Bhamas, Belize, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. Many passengers love to travel by Alaska Airlines because of the Atmos Rewards program, which provides good benefits and an easy way to earn rewards and points.
Now Alaska has recently joined the OneWorld alliance, and people are now more curious because this partnership gives more benefits to the travelers who earn and use miles, plus better global travel options.
In this blog we will provide you with all the information you should be aware of about every method available for an Alaska Airlines Seat Upgrade.
Types of Alaska Airlines Upgrades
Alaska Airlines has multiple types of upgrades available. Each category has different upgrades depending on the elite pass, fare type, and availability.
First of all, some things are there; you should be clear.
- Under Alaska Airlines Seat Upgrade Alaska Airlines defines its Premium Class as those seats that are towards the main front of the cabin. It includes 4 inches of legroom, early boarding, and even complimentary alcoholic beverages.
- Elite members are those members who have attained elite status in the Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards program.
Complimentary Upgrades
- First Class Upgrades: Elite members get unlimited complimentary upgrades to first class upgrades in order to maintain elite status.
- Fare Class Upgrades: Elite members can immediately upgrade to premium class when they purchase eligible fares, as long as seats are available.
- Premium Class Upgrades: Elite members get the benefit of complimentary upgrades to Premium Class when they purchase elite status.
- Companion Upgrades: Eligible members can upgrade 1 companion travelling with them
- Guest Upgrades: Eligible members receive guest upgrade certificates each year, which can be used when the passenger is not travelling with the elite members
Paid Upgrades
- First-Class Upgrades: Passengers can purchase first-class upgrades based on availability before 24 hours of departure of the flight
Also Read: Does Alaska Airlines Have Student Discounts?
Alaska Upgrade Priority: Who Gets the Upgrade First?
Upgrades are the best way passengers can receive benefits from airlines.
Which is why it is usually saved by the airlines for their most loyal customers. Alaska Airlines does the same thing; it provides complimentary items to the passengers based on their elite status. Which starts from the highest level and goes down
There are 4 types of levels of elite status included in its Atmos Rewards.
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- Titanium
Here’s how upgrades are distributed among the elites:
| Types of Upgrades | Silver | Gold | Platinum or Titanium |
| First-class upgrades at time of booking | Y, B, fares | Y, B, H, or K fares | Y, B, H, K or M fares |
| Premium Class Upgrades at time of booking | Y, B, or H fares | Y, B, H, K, L, M, N, S, or V fares | All fares except X |
| All fares except for X | 48 hours prior to departure | 72 hours prior to departure | 120 hours prior to departure, Titanium elites having the highest waitlist priority |
| Companion upgrades to first class | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Companion upgrades to Premium Class | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Complimentary Extra Comfort seats at the time of booking when purchasing Main Cabin fare on Hawaiian | No | No | Yes |
| 4 one-way first-class guest upgrades | N/A | Yes | Yes |
Companion Upgrades Options for Elite Members
Under Alaska Airlines Seat Upgrade, Alaska Airlines elite flyers silver, gold, platinum, and titanium elite members receive the benefit of complimentary upgrades for one of their travel companions. The companion to receive complimentary must be traveling on the same reservation and in the same class of service.
Only 1 companion upgrade is allowed. If more than 1 companion is travelling, then you cannot benefit from it. No upgrades are applied to the entire reservation.
These Guest upgrades certificates can be redeemed online when purchasing a ticket by selecting Gold Guest under the Alaska Airlines Seat Upgrade, Upgrade fare type when booking your reservation, or within your existing reservation, select Gold guest upgrade next to your flight confirmation code.
Also Read: Tips for Booking Cheap Alaska Airlines Flights in the USA
How To Purchase an Alaska Airlines First Class Upgrade?
Paid Upgrades
Travelers can purchase an upgrade on their existing Alaska or SkyWest ticket (Operating on behalf of Alaska) before 24 hours of departure of their flights.
Prices may vary on distance; to upgrade to first class, it starts at $23
Travelers can also purchase an upgrade on the same day of departure of their flight at Kiosk, airport ticket counter, of course, and more likely they may get an offer on less traveled routes.
Upgrading With Atmos Reward Points
Upgrading to first class with points is no longer required. But if you want to book a first-class seat with points, it will likely cost you 3 times the price of economy class.
The Value of an Alaska Airlines Credit Card
If you have an Alaska Airlines-branded credit card, it won’t help you to upgrade on an Alaska Airlines flight. But, you can start earning Atmos rewards points that can be redeemed for business and first-class tickets.
The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature card offers 2 opportunities that help you to receive a popular companion ticket within the first year of having the card.
- Earn a welcome offer and a companion fare after completing the requirement the card within the first of 3 months after your card is approved
- Get companion fare ticket every year at your account anniversary at $99 plus taxes and fees
- Also get a free checked bag on Alaska Airlines flights for you and up to 6 guest members on the same reservation.
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on Alaska Airlines and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases you make.
If you are planning to fly with Alaska Airlines, then having the Alaska Signature card makes perfect sense for you. The points you earn from the welcome offer, 2 companion fare tickets, and the continuous earning lead to good opportunities and value.
First Class Upgrades for Alaska Airlines Advantage Elites
If you have Executive Platinum or Platinum Pro elite status with Alaska Airlines advantage, you also qualify for the complimentary upgrades to premium and first-class upgrades on Alaska Airlines under Alaska Airlines Seat Upgrade
Upgrades are confirmed before 120 hours from departure but only after the Alaska Titanium and Platinum member upgrades have cleared.
Alaska Airlines saver fares do not qualify for upgrades.
Also Read: Does Alaska Airlines Have a 24-Hour Cancellation Policy?
Increase Your Chances of an Upgrade With Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines upgrades are very simple and straightforward; It is not so hard, if you understand the rules well, you will have a better chance of upscaling and upgrading.
With Elite Status
Achieving top tmos Reward elite status is the best way to secure complimentary upgrades under Alaska Airlines Seat Upgrade.
Select flights with available upgrade space; while booking, look for flights that show first-class upgrade availability under Alaska Airlines Seat Upgrade Upgrade fare type to get a chance of complimentary upgrades.
Utilizing your Alaska Advantage Executive Platinum or Platinum Pro elite status to receive first-class upgrades on Alaska Airlines.
Without Elite Status
- Consider 24 hour purchase upgrades. At $29 you can purchase first-class upgrades; at check-in, at airport kiosks, or at the departure gate you can purchase
- Securing a guest upgrade code. Non-elites members can be upgraded by Alaska Airlines Gold elite members using upgrade certificates
Use Alaska tmos Rewards points for premium fare award tickets. Atmos Rewards points can also be used for purchasing premium cabin flights on Alaska Airlines and its partner airlines.
First Class Seats on OneWorld Alliance Partner Airlines
Alaska Airlines recently joined the Oneworld alliance. Already 13 airlines are part of it, and it has a codeshare agreement with the airlines. A codeshare agreement is an agreement between the airlines to use the same flight number, even though the flight is marketed by the one airline and operated by the other.
Travelers can use Atmos Rewards points to book first-class seats on some partner airlines.
Also, Alaska Atmos Rewards elite members receive priority seating on Oneworld airlines (paid flights). You cannot use Alaska Airlines points to upgrade to first class.
- Aer Lingus
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Condor Flugdienst
- EI AI Israel Airlines
- Emirates
- Fiji Airways
- Finnair
- Hainan Airlines
- Iberia*
- Icelandair
- Japan Airlines*
- Korean Air
- Malaysia Airlines*
- Qantas*
- Qatar Airways*
- Royal Air Maroc*
- Royal Jordanian*
- S7 Airlines* (temporarily suspended from OneWorld)
- Sri Lankan Airlines
Conclusion
This blog is about the detailed information of Alaska Airlines Seat Upgrade. Understanding the rules will give you a small advantage over travelers who are not familiar with these rules, and you can take advantage of it.
For example, the upgrades are only available for purchase 24 hours before the departure of the flight, and if you did not find anything, you keep checking, and you might find an upgrade open just before the departure.
If you are a frequent flyer, it is always useful and helpful to understand how it works so you can make the most of the benefits wisely whenever the opportunity comes up.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q.1 How Much Does It Cost to Upgrade to First Class on Alaska Airlines?
Ans: Prices may vary, like one-way upgrades to first class are based on distance and start at just $23
Also, upgraded space is released for sale before 24 hours of departure of flights, after all complimentary elite upgrades have cleared, so availability to purchase upgrades is limited
Q.2 How Do I Upgrade to First Class on Alaska Airlines Using Points?
Ans: No, you cannot upgrade to first class on Alaska Airlines using points. But you can still book a first-class ticket with these points.
Q.3 Can I Use My Points to Upgrade on Alaska Airlines Partner Airlines?
Ans: No, right now you cannot use Atmos Rewards points to upgrade on any Alaska Airlines flight.
You can use the Atmos Rewards points to purchase flights on Alaska Airlines partners, and you can also earn points when flying on partner airlines.
Q.4 Is It Worth It to Have an Alaska Airlines Credit Card?
If you fly with Alaska Airlines and also carry the Alaska Airlines credit card, it will be beneficial for you, and also you will get the benefit of free checked baggage.
You will also earn a lot of Atmos Rewards points that can be used to purchase flights and upgrades.
If you are a frequent flyer of Alaska Airlines, an Alaska credit card still holds value, since you would be earning points from the welcome bonus and ongoing purchases that can be redeemed on partner airlines.
