How Do I Upgrade to Business or First Class on Alaska Air?

If you wish to upgrade to business or first class on Alaska Air, you have three main options: complimentary upgrades, paid upgrades, and upgrades with miles. If you need help, the customer service agents may provide you with answers. You may contact them on the phone, Twitter, or the help desk.

How Do I Upgrade to Business or First Class on Alaska Air?

Alaska Airlines has a few upgrade options. Most of the upgrades are reserved for travelers with elite status. However, there are options for non-elite travelers as well. If you wish to upgrade to first or business class on Alaska Air, your options include paid upgrades, complimentary upgrades, and upgrades with miles.

Complimentary Upgrade

If you are an elite member, you can enjoy unlimited complimentary upgrades to first class. Some fares qualify for immediate upgrade into First Class as long as space is available. The ‘Upgrade Type' selection filter helps you confirm that the fare you are purchasing is eligible for your preferred upgrade. Complimentary upgrades are booked under ‘U' class. If your flight has no available upgrades, you will be put on the waitlist until space becomes available.

Once you have been put on the upgrade waitlist, Alaska Air will try to find available upgrades for you. They can process them up to an hour before your departure time. You may view the waitlist on the gate information display, the mobile app, or Alaska Air's website when check-in begins. It can be viewed by travelers after they have checked in for the flight. Your place moves when those ahead of you check-in.

Paid Upgrades

Paid upgrades are available for all travelers depending on availability. You may purchase a first-class upgrade up to 24 hours before the time departure. If you wish to purchase an upgrade, start the check-in process online. If the option is available, you will be asked if you want to upgrade to first class. If the option is not available, it won't be mentioned.

Another option is to do a dummy booking on Alaska's website. Click on the option ‘Search Options' on eth main page and enter the route you intend to check. In the option ‘Upgrades & Discounts,' click ‘MVP Gold Guest' upgrade. They use ‘U' space for upgrades, which is the same as what Alaska uses for upgrades.

Upgrades with Miles

All travelers may use their miles to purchase first-class upgrades when purchasing their tickets or on existing reservations. The upgrade is based on availability. When purchasing a ticket, visit the Alaska Air website and enter your destination and departure information into the section ‘Search flights.' When the flights are displayed, select ‘Mileage.' Fares that appear with an ‘F' have upgrade availability.

Contacting the Support Team

There are lots of ways to contact Alaska Air if you have questions about your upgrade. Phone support is the best option as it allows you to speak directly with a customer service agent. It is the only option to speak with an agent.

If you don't need to speak with a customer service agent, consider seeking help on Twitter. It is a great support option as it allows you to get opinions from the public. You are likely to get help fast. When seeking support on Twitter, the customer care agents may direct you to contact them on the phone.

The Alaska Air help desk is the first support option for most customers. The help pages cover frequently asked questions and some of the most common issues that you may experience. Consider seeking help on the help pages before trying to contact the support agents directly.

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Christian has been writing about long hold times and customer service call center experiences since 2010. He's been featured in Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal and the Boston Globe.
How Do I Upgrade to Business or First Class on Alaska Air?

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