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If you want to fly in first class on Alaska Airlines, it might seem logical to simply buy a first class ticket, but there are other methods to get to the front of the plane.
Alaska offers several ways for Atmos Rewards elite members and those without elite status to score an upgrade. Some of these options are even available when you book your ticket.
Alaska Airlines is one of the few airlines to offer upgrade options even on its lowest-priced economy tickets, called Saver fares. So if you’re wondering, “Can I upgrade my Alaska Airlines flight?” the answer is likely yes. Here’s how Alaska Airlines seat upgrades work.
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Elite status upgrades
The most common way to get an Alaska Airlines first class upgrade is to hold elite status with Atmos Rewards, the airline’s frequent flyer program. Atmos Rewards elite members receive space-available complimentary upgrades to first class.
Upgrades at booking
If space is available, Alaska Atmos elite members can be upgraded immediately after booking their ticket, provided they book a qualifying airfare.
So what is a qualifying airfare? Airlines sell tickets for the same cabin and flight at different prices, often with different restrictions and advance purchase requirements. These fares are each coded using a letter that designates its fare class.
The highest-priced economy fare classes on Alaska Airlines are Y, B, H, K and M. If you hold elite status and book in a high-fare class, your fare is eligible for an upgrade.
Here are the fare classes eligible for an immediate upgrade depending on your Atmos Rewards elite status level:
| Atmos Rewards elite status | Premium class upgrade at booking | First class upgrade at booking |
|---|---|---|
| Atmos Silver | Y, B and H. | Y and B. |
| Atmos Gold | Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S and N. | Y, B, H and K. |
| Atmos Platinum and Atmos Titanium | All fares except X. | Y, B, H, K and M. |
» Learn more: Atmos Rewards elite status program: The complete guide
Upgrades before departure
If you purchase discounted airfare and don’t qualify for an immediate upgrade, you may still get an upgrade as an Atmos Rewards member.
Starting up to five days before departure, Alaska Airlines will begin processing upgrades based on available seats. Your frequent flyer status and fare class determine when your upgrade will clear.
- Atmos Silver members: 48 hours before departure.
- Atmos Gold members: 72 hours before departure.
- Atmos Platinum and Titanium members: 120 hours before departure.
Saver fares, which are booked into the X fare class, won’t be cleared until two hours before departure, regardless of your Alaska Airlines status.
Upgrade priority
Sometimes more passengers are eligible for an upgrade than there are available seats. Like many airlines, Alaska Airlines prioritizes who gets moved up front first by creating a waitlist. Here’s how Alaska Airlines determines upgrade priority:
- Elite status level: Atmos Rewards members who have earned higher elite status tiers get upgraded first.
- Million Miler milestones: Members who have achieved a Million Miler milestone get upgraded before members who haven’t.
- Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card holders: Members who have elite status and this premium credit card get a boost on the waitlist.
- Corporate travelers: If your ticket includes your employer's corporate ticket designator, you're in the upgrade queue behind Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card holders.
- Status points earned in the current year and the year prior: More spending on Alaska Airlines in recent years puts you higher on the upgrade list.
- Time of booking: This is the final tiebreaker. The earlier you book your ticket, the better.
Companion upgrades
If you hold Atmos elite status, you can get a complimentary upgrade for a traveling companion booked on the same flight as you, as long as you are on the same reservation. Your companion will be upgraded alongside you based on your upgrade priority.
Companion upgrades are only available for one additional traveler. If you’d like to be added to the upgrade waitlist without your companions, contact the reservations team to split the booking.
» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now
Paid upgrades
In some cases, Alaska Airlines may offer you the chance to upgrade to first class for a fee. Paid upgrades become available at online check-in within 24 hours of your flight. If an upgrade is available at check-in, you will see an offer during the online check-in process.
On the day of departure, you might see an offer to upgrade to first class at a check-in kiosk. You can also inquire about paid upgrade options at the airport ticket counter or the departure gate. Even Saver fares are eligible for paid upgrades. For maximum points earning, consider using the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card, which earns 3 points per dollar spent on Alaska purchases.
» Learn more: How to earn points with Alaska Airlines
Guest upgrades
If you don’t have elite status with Alaska Airlines and don’t want to pay for an upgrade, there’s still a way to get in the forward cabin for free — but only if you have a friend with Atmos elite status. That’s because Atmos elite members can request guest upgrade certificates to give to friends and family when they meet certain milestones:
- 55,000 status points: Two upgrade certificates as one of two perks.
- 95,000 status points: Two upgrade certificates as one of two perks.
- 125,000 status points: Four upgrade certificates as one choice perk.
You can apply guest upgrades when booking a flight or after your ticket has already been purchased.
To book a flight and immediately apply the guest upgrade, click on “All search options” on the booking panel at AlaskaAir.com and select “Upgrade Certificate” from the “Upgrade type” list.
When selecting your flight, be sure to choose a flight with first class upgrades available; a blue box with “First Class upgrade available” indicates this. Fares in Q, O, G or X class are not available for upgrades using certificates. Award flights also can’t use an upgrade certificate.
If you’re an elite member, you must select “Apply an upgrade certificate code” during the booking process. Click the guest upgrade link on the confirmation page to apply your upgrade.
If you have already purchased your flight, open your reservation on AlaskaAir.com and find the link next to your confirmation code for “Upgrade certificate.”
You can apply the guest upgrade code online if your flight is eligible. Atmos Rewards elite members can share a certificate to process a guest upgrade for an existing reservation.
Alaska Airlines elite members can also use an upgrade code to upgrade their flight when they purchase airfare that does not qualify for an immediate upgrade.
Alaska Airlines upgrades recapped
Having elite status gives you the most options to score a free upgrade to Alaska Airlines first class, but loyalty isn’t the only way to get moved up front.
The airline offers other options for those looking to enter the first class cabin, including paid upgrades, companion upgrades and upgrade codes.
(Top photo courtesy of Alaska Airlines)
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