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Alaska Airlines First Class Upgrade

Alaska Airlines upgrade to first class: 

Hello, travel enthusiasts! Booked a flight with Alaska Airlines to travel somewhere within or outside the U.S.? Are you here to learn how to upgrade to first class on Alaska Airlines? If yes! Well, this article is designed especially for you.

To upgrade your seats to first class, change dates, or for quick resolution of general questions, simply dial Alaska Airlines’ official numbers: +1-800-252-7522 (1-800-ALASKAAIR) or +1-860-845-0471 (no waiting).

Alaska is one of the leading low-cost air carriers, and its customer-centric approach is always on top. Whether you are flying on a domestic or international route, their dedicated customer service agents are always there to assist you on call, chat, or at the airport.

In this read-below, we will cover everything related to Alaska Airlines upgrades, such as types, methods, and fees.

Types of Alaska Airlines Upgrades: 

Being a reputed and popular airline, Alaska Air is committed to offering one of the most generous upgrade policies in the aviation industry to ensure that it continues recognizing its top members with the benefits valued most.

Alaska Airlines offers a variety of upgrades. Most are only open to elite passengers, but non-elite passengers can also enjoy upgrades.

First, some clarifications: Elite members are those who have attained elite status in the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan frequent flyer program

First Class upgrades:

Plush seats, plenty of legroom, and priority boarding at check-in. You can enjoy free beer, wine, cocktails, Pre-order complimentary meals, Check in two complimentary bags, and much more.

Guest upgrades:

Alaska Airlines Guest Upgrades are generally electronic upgrade codes provided to MVP® Gold members that they can use to upgrade a friend or family member who is not traveling with them or to upgrade themselves immediately without purchasing a qualifying fare.

Premium Class upgrades:

This upgrade lets you fly more comfortably to your desired destination with 4 inches of additional legroom, early boarding, and complimentary cocktails (hand-selected beer and wine). Along with that, the airline also offers unlimited complimentary upgrades to Premium Class as a benefit of Mileage Plan™ elite status.

Companion Upgrades:

With Alaska Airlines companion tickets, certain elite members can upgrade up to 1 companion traveling with them.

Let’s learn more about Alaska First Class Upgrades: 

The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™ program lets Elite Members unlimited complimentary upgrades to First Class on availability.  as a benefit of Elite status. If you would like to be eligible for a complimentary Alaska Airlines upgrade to first class. Then, let me clarify to you that your qualifying “Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan” number must be in the reservation, and miles must be credited to the Mileage Plan.

  • Travelers should have enough flight miles.
  • According to the Alaska Airlines first class upgrade policy, travelers are not allowed to make Elites upgrades for saver fare booking in X class.
  • Travelers can purchase the qualifying fare for their Elite level, and after that, an upgraded space is available for their flight reservation. Then,  they will be upgraded immediately.
  • First class upgrade policy fee is non-refundable and cannot be used again.
  • In case there a no upgrades available on your booking, then you will be put on the Alaska Airlines upgrade waitlist.

Benefits of Alaska Airlines first class:

First class on Alaska Airlines includes:

  • Wider Seats
  • More Legroom space
  • Provides priority check-in and boarding.
  • Two free checked baggage.
  • Complimentary snacks, meals, and alcoholic beverages.
  • Lounge Access at six of their primary hubs airports.

Alaska Airlines Upgrades Eligibility: 

While booking a flight with Alaska Airlines to your preferred destination, there are certain airfares that are generally eligible for an immediate and hassle-free upgrade to first class Alaska Airlines.

To ensure that the fare you purchased qualifies for your desired upgrade, take a look at the points below.

  • Use the “Upgrade fare type” preference selection filter on the advanced search when booking a flight.
  • A dark blue box with a white “F” indicates that an upgrade is immediately available, and a blue “F” on a white background indicates that an upgrade is unavailable.

Elite Members Status for Upgrades: 

Elite members receive unlimited complimentary upgrades to first class in order of elite status.

First, some clarifications:

  • F and A: First-class
  • C, J, R, D and I: Business Class
  • W and P: Premium Economy
  • Y, H, K, M, L, G, V, S, N, Q, O and E: Economy
  • B: Basic Economy
Elite level Fare Class
MVP® members Y or B fares
MVP® Gold members Y, B, H, or K fares
MVP® Gold 75K members and MVP® Gold 100K members Y, B, H, K, or M

Upgrade Windows: 

Upgrade windows for eligible discounted fares and nonrefundable awards-

Elite Level MVP Members MVP Gold Members MVP Gold 75K/100K Members
Upgrade windows (All fares except for X) 48 hours prior to departure 72 hours prior to departure 120 hours prior to departure
Upgrade windows (X fares) Within 2 hours of departure2 Within 2 hours of departure2 Within 2 hours of departure2
Fare class order H, K, M, L, V, S, N, Q, O, G, T, X M, L, V, S, N, Q, O, G, T, X L, V, S, N, Q, O, G, T, X

Alaska Airlines Upgrade Cost: 

Wondering- “How much does it cost to upgrade to first class on Alaska Airlines?”  Here’s your answer-

  • Alaska Airlines only offers paid upgrades within 24 hours of departure that generally cost you around a starting price of 23 USD. You can call at +1-800-252-7522 (1-800-ALASKAAIR) or +1-860-845-0471 (no wait) or use the website, app, or kiosk to see available seats and price options.
  • If you would like to upgrade with Miles, then the cost to upgrade to first class on Alaska Airlines is 15,000 miles.
  • To upgrade for a round-trip, you must pay for each leg separately.
  • When flying from Hawaii to San Francisco, you will need to pay a 17 USD extra charge to access Alaska Airlines Premium Class Seat with Extra legroom.

How to upgrade to first class Alaska Airlines? 

Upgrade your flight booking with Alaska Airlines, you can opt for any option from the website, call, or visit the traveler service desk at the airport.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can upgrade to first class Alaska online/offline:

Method 1: Visit the Alaska Airlines official website-

  1. First, head to Alaska Airlines‘ official website in your favorite web browser.
  2. Log in to your Alaska Airlines account.
  3. Next, go to the Alaska Airlines Manage Booking page by clicking on the “Manage” button at the top menu bar.
  4. Now, type in the Passenger Name and Confirmation Code in the given text fields, then click on the “Continue” tab.
  5. Access your itinerary and then select the Alaska Airlines Seat Upgrade Option.
  6. After clicking on the “Seat Upgrade” option, follow the further on-screen prompts.
  7. Proceed further with payment by choosing “Alaska Airlines upgrade to first class with miles” or “With Cash.”
  8. Click on the “Confirm” option to complete the process, and after that, you will receive a confirmation of your upgrade.

Method 2: Alaska seat upgrade via Call- 

Speak to an Alaska Air live agent to proceed with a seat upgrade, follow the steps below-

  1. Firstly, dial the Alaska Airlines customer service number at +1-800-252-7522 (1-800-ALASKAAIR) or +1-860-845-0471 (no hold). 
  2. Next, listen to the IVR option and choose your preferred language.
  3. Once you select the language, follow the further IVR prompts based on your intention to contact Alaska customer service.
  4. Press “2” for an existing flight booking with Alaska Airlines.
  5. Press “4” to proceed further for seat upgrades.
  6. Now, opt for an option to speak with a live agent. And wait patiently until your call connects with an expert.
  7. Once connected, discuss your subject and share all relevant and your flight booking details with the agent so that he can proceed swiftly.
  8. At last, the agent will select a better seat as per your preference and prompt you to pay the seat upgrade fee if applicable.

If the on-call wait time is longer than usual, you can skip the wait time by calling an airline expert at Alaska Airlines OTA number +1-860-845-0471. Additionally, these digits ensure a seamless connection in no time with a live representative who is readily available to address all your travel-related queries and concerns.

Learn more about Loyalty Points: 

As we know, Alaska Airlines has a partnership with AA(American Airlines). So when you earn eligible Advantage miles for travel on Alaska Airlines, you can earn loyalty points.

Cabin Purchase fares booked in Base miles Cabin bonus Loyalty Points
First  J 100% 75%
First    C, D, I  100% 50% 
Economy  Y, B, H  100%  – 
Economy  K, M, L  75%  – 
Economy  V, S, N, Q 50%
Economy  O, G    25%  – 
Basic Economy 10%    – 

Conclusion: 

Overall, Alaska Airlines stands out for its commitment to providing an exceptional travel experience with better services,  especially through its comprehensive seat upgrade option. Whether you need to upgrade from Alaska Airlines First Class to Premium or Companion upgrades, you have several options to ensure a comfortable journey with added perks.

However, the upgrade process is seamless and straightforward through the website. Moreover, the convenience of a quick phone call to +1-800-252-7522 (1-800-ALASKAAIR) or +1-860-845-0471 (no wait) ensures a hassle-free experience.

Frequently Asked Questions: 

Is Alaska Airlines first class worth it?

Yes, for sure! If you have the budget, Alaska Airlines first class seats offer you superior service and a comfortable flight experience worth aiming for, especially on longer coast-to-coast and international flights.

How does the Alaska Airlines Upgrade process work? 

If you purchase a qualifying fare for a specific cabin class, then upgrade space is available on your flight ticket. Additionally, the airline will let you upgrade to first class immediately. If there are no upgrades available for your flight, you will be placed on a waitlist for an upgrade.

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