In early 2021, Alaska Airlines joined the oneworld alliance, which was a major development for the Seattle-based airline. To coincide with that, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines also rolled out reciprocal upgrades for elite members, as part of a strategic partnership between the two airlines.
In this post I wanted to take a look at the current state of reciprocal upgrades between the airlines, given that this partnership has evolved over time. Who is eligible for first class upgrades, who is eligible for extra legroom economy upgrades, and how does it all work?
In this post:
Alaska Mileage Plan elite upgrades on American
All Alaska Mileage Plan elite members are eligible for upgrades to extra legroom seating as well as first class when flying with American (find all the terms here).
American Main Cabin Extra upgrades
All Alaska Mileage Plan elite members are eligible for upgrades to American’s extra legroom economy seating, known as Main Cabin Extra. When you can select these seats depends on your status:
- MVP Gold 100K, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold members can select Main Cabin Extra seats at the time of booking
- MVP members can select Main Cabin Extra seats within 24 hours of travel
These premium seats can be selected directly on aa.com, either during the booking process, or after booking. As long as your eligible Alaska Mileage Plan is attached to the reservation, you should automatically see the option to select these seats. This benefit is valid for one companion, and even basic economy fares qualify for upgrades.
Note that Alaska Mileage Plan elite members aren’t eligible for Main Cabin Extra seating when booking basic economy fares. Furthermore, this benefit is available to one companion of a Mileage Plan elite member.
American first class upgrades
All Alaska Mileage Plan elite members are eligible for upgrades to American’s first class. As you’d expect, there are some restrictions associated with this:
- This is only available in markets eligible for complimentary upgrades, including travel within the United States (including Hawaii), and travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Central America
- Upgrades could clear starting 72 hours before departure, and can clear any time up until departure; MVP Gold 100K and MVP Gold 75K members are prioritized behind AAdvantage Platinum Pro members (up to 72 hours out), MVP Gold members are prioritized behind AAdvantage Platinum members (up to 48 hours out), and MVP members are prioritized behind AAdvantage Gold members (up to 24 hours out)
- One companion traveling on the same reservation as the Alaska Mileage Plan elite members is also eligible for a complimentary upgrade; the exception is that MVP members don’t receive a complimentary companion upgrade
- Upgrades are available on basic economy fares
- Flights can be marketed by Alaska or American, meaning an Alaska codeshare on American is eligible for first class upgrades
Note that Alaska MVP Gold 100K and MVP Gold 75K members also receive confirmed upgrade instruments on American, which are valid for long haul flights. These work similarly to American’s systemwide upgrades, and are separate from the complimentary upgrade program being offered.
American AAdvantage elite upgrades on Alaska
All American AAdvantage elite members are eligible for upgrades to extra legroom seating as well as first class when flying with Alaska (find all the terms here).
Alaska Premium Class upgrades
All American AAdvantage elite members are eligible for upgrades to Alaska’s extra legroom economy seating, known as Premium Class. When you can select these seats depends on your status and the type of fare you book:
- Concierge Key and Executive Platinum members can select Premium Class seats at the time of booking
- Platinum Pro and Platinum members can select Premium Class seats — if booked in the Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S or N fare classes, you can select them at the time of booking, while otherwise you can select them within 72 hours of travel
- Gold members can select Premium Class seats — if booked in the Y, B, or H fare classes, you can select them at the time of booking, while otherwise you can select them within 48 hours of travel
These premium seats can be selected directly on alaskaair.com, shortly after ticketing a reservation. Note that American AAdvantage elite members aren’t eligible for Premium Class seating when booking Saver fares (in the “X” fare class).
Alaska first class upgrades
American AAdvantage Concierge Key, Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, Platinum, and Gold members, are eligible for upgrades to Alaska’s first class. As you’d expect, there are some restrictions associated with this:
- Upgrades can be confirmed as early as 120 hours before departure, all the way up to departure; AAdvantage Platinum Pro members and above are prioritized behind MVP Gold 75K members (up to 120 hours out), AAdvantage Platinum members are prioritized behind MVP Gold members (up to 72 hours out), AAdvantage Gold members are prioritized behind MVP members (up to 48 hours out)
- AAdvantage elite members are prioritized first by fare class and then by the request date and time
Note that American AAdvantage elite members aren’t eligible for first class upgrades when booking Saver fares (in the “X” fare class).
Other reciprocal elite perks through oneworld
In addition to reciprocal upgrade opportunities, Alaska Mileage Plan and American AAdvantage elite members can enjoy reciprocal perks through their oneworld alliance tiers when flying on the other carrier. These benefits include the following:
- Priority check-in
- Priority security
- Lounge access
- Priority boarding
- Additional baggage allowance
Bottom line
Alaska Airlines and American Airlines offer reciprocal upgrades, which is a fantastic benefit. All elite members are eligible for extra legroom economy seating and first class upgrades. This is in addition to standard reciprocal oneworld perks, including with premium check-in, priority boarding, and more.
Have any OMAAT readers had experiences with reciprocal upgrades between the two airlines? What was your experience like?
American Platinum Elite / OneWorld Sapphire for business travel in South Florida; frequently flying Alaska for family visits to Seattle and Alaska.
Exercising Sapphire status privileges of any kind on Alaska are, in a word, challenging. Examples:
- The AS reservations system frequently does not recognize Sapphire status; and the app and web site will seek payment for exit row or premium economy seat selections (depending on fare class) that Sapphire status should convey automatically...
American Platinum Elite / OneWorld Sapphire for business travel in South Florida; frequently flying Alaska for family visits to Seattle and Alaska.
Exercising Sapphire status privileges of any kind on Alaska are, in a word, challenging. Examples:
- The AS reservations system frequently does not recognize Sapphire status; and the app and web site will seek payment for exit row or premium economy seat selections (depending on fare class) that Sapphire status should convey automatically after ticket is purchased. A phone call to AS reservations to select the desired exit row or premium economy seat without payment is required.
- If fare class will not allow a premium economy seat selection without additional payment after ticket purchase, selecting an exit row seat is allowed; however, the exit row seat seat assignment will automatically disable future status upgrades to premium economy or business class. A phone call and verbal request to an AS reservations agent is required to enable status upgrades if an exit row seat is assigned.
- If the fare does not qualify for premium economy seat selection at time of purchase, these seats - should- become available to a OneWorld Sapphire member without charge 72 hours prior to departure. In practice, the app or web site will continue to seek payment; and a call to AS reservations to avail of the status upgrade seat selection is required.
- If a change of flight is accomplished online or in the app, upgrades that Sapphire status should convey will not carry over to the new itinerary; again, a call to reservations is required (see above).
- AS has a nice touch inflight in that elite frequent fliers are greeted by name during the first insight service, and offered a gourmet chocolate bar and a free drink regardless of seat in the economy cabin. Regretfully, this practice has been recently discontinued for OneWorld elites; Alaska MVP and above only now.
Summary: friendly airline, and a welcome addition to the OneWorld alliance; glitchy software and a 'locals first' service ethic make exercising OneWorld status privileges a challenge.
as an Alaska Gold 75k, how do i enter my status into American so i can use my earned benefits there too?
Do these contradict each other?
“ This benefit is valid for one companion, and even basic economy fares qualify for upgrades.
Note that Alaska Mileage Plan elite members aren’t eligible for Main Cabin Extra seating when booking basic economy fares.”
In 2021 I received several upgrades to first on AA as an Alaska 75k member. This year I have dropped to plan old Gold on Alaska, so no first class upgrades yet this year, but I do appreciate being able to select Premium at booking.
I'm an Alaska MVP75k living in Charlotte (where AS doesn't even fly) mostly off of flying American. I think the upgrade from basic economy has been in place for at least a few months. I find the AS benefits seem better on AA than being an AA elite, at least as far as upgrade success seems to go. It's also easier to gain status as they value actual travel vs loyalty points/revenue. I did the...
I'm an Alaska MVP75k living in Charlotte (where AS doesn't even fly) mostly off of flying American. I think the upgrade from basic economy has been in place for at least a few months. I find the AS benefits seem better on AA than being an AA elite, at least as far as upgrade success seems to go. It's also easier to gain status as they value actual travel vs loyalty points/revenue. I did the calc last year and I made AS MVP75k on travel that would have not even netted me Platinum in AAdvantage.
someone is bound to say codeshares and reciprocal elite upgrades like this don't matter because it doesn't fit a certain narrative...
but they really do when it makes OneWorld passenger utility and size much bigger in a place like LAX to say nothing of OneWorld's size in SEA, two markets which matter a lot to another smaller hub carrier in both markets.