In recent years, US airlines have gotten much better at monetizing first class, rather than largely filling the cabin with elite members getting complimentary upgrades. This has come in many forms, from pricing first class more reasonably in the first place, to selling attractively priced first class upgrades.
Continue reading: Alaska Airlines Selling Cash Upgrades More Aggressively
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Yeah, I’d say they’re aggressively selling first class upgrades. I have an upcoming flight on Alaska Airlines and I’m already in first class. I just now checked my flight status in the AK Air app and there’s a notification to upgrade to first class for $839.
Just following the competition. Your airline is just not that much into you and road warriors are no longer the focus of their attention.
The writing has been on the wall for sometime now. AS elite status is slowly becoming worthless.
Giving away a product you can sell for cash money was always a foolhardy pursuit, and US airlines finally seem to have woken up to themselves in this regard. Customers will have to adjust their expectations. If you want a first class seat, you'll have to buy a first class ticket.
yep. I'm puzzled by people who talk about relatively recent/impending AS Mileage Plan devaluations. It's been a slow drip for the last 5 years!
Now THAT'S aggressive!
(Seriously though: that's the AS IT Dept for you... Bottom of the barrel.)
True now. Although back n the day when upgrades were available, it was fun. Loved to get upgraded when traveling with my office crew. Ha!
But seriously I need to check out the companion hack for First Class. Thanks, Ben!
I'm not seeing the option to cash upgrade to First on my itinerary (even though there's plenty of space). There's cash upgrade to premium (Y+). I have a AS award on AS metal. Maybe because it has a multi-day stopover? MCO-PDX/4-day stopover/PDX-OGG
How will these upgraded fares earn EQMs? (Given pricing being set as a fare difference, you'd hope you'd get the fare class you're upgrading into.)
How will these upgrades bill (e.g. will I be able to claim these as seat selection charges, as I do with Amex's airline incidental benefit when I select a premium seat, something that's now even billed separately when done as part of the initial booking)?
The price difference for a relatively long flight not bad. Usually US airlines want an unreasonable amount for first within the US.
Also agree with the comment about the value of the loyalty programs. Not the value of the points but the value of the membership and membership benefits.
I don’t thinks it’s accurate to say this is the price difference between Y and F at all. SLC-SEA is $50 flat for each of my three upcoming, and SEA-SNA was $100 flat (which I gladly paid). I used 5-7.5k AS miles for all these.
Other side of this, which isn’t being pointed out, at least Alaska and AA seam slower to upgrade elites, even when the window opens up, in attempt to sell more seats. I’m seeing 4 seats open for game day upgrades regularly now, when it used to almost always be only 1.
To echo the comment elite status is near worthless I agree
I once was Emerald with Alaska for 5 years or Gold at the least
This airline and its program are near worthless IMO
Once went out of my way to stay loyal to them never again
Condor Biz Awards one way went from 55 K to 260 What???
American First Class 110 is 130k on Alaska if you can even get a seat
And then any partner award is 12.50 extra
They charge elites for bulkhead seats which are free at american
The agents many while nice are poorly trained with booking International and adding Alaska segments near impossible.
I seriously dislike their program and as a one World elite they wont let me add my AA FF number to an Alaska award.I'd fly Southwest before I'd fly Alaska
Little respect for the management there now.It once was a caring great Domestic Airline.They also cant get you to most destinations either.
The party is over and they think their product is way better than it actually is
Good riddance
Yes, giving away the majority of first class seats to elite members may have been a bit much. On the other hand with airlines increasingly reducing elite perks like this - why remain loyal?
"Want first, buy first?" Sure, but then I'm a free agent.
I used miles for a ticket and then upgraded with cash to first class last week. I may need to change my flight to a same day later flight main cabin. SLC to PDX. Is the first class cash upgrade refundable?
Definitely not a fan of the change. I fly a ton for work and I've stayed loyal to Alaska simply for the fact that my status would get me upgrades often enough to matter to me. Even when Delta tickets were cheaper I'd fly Alaska but that will now change.
I agree. SEA>ORD was $150 back in July and now $170. The ORD>SEA was $370 in June and now is $220. I think they are gauging demand for the first class upgrade.