Alaska Airlines and American Airlines have a close partnership, which includes complimentary reciprocal upgrades on flights within North America, and more (this goes beyond the two airlines just both belonging to the oneworld alliance).
For the past few years, higher tier Mileage Plan elite members have also received some international upgrade certificates for travel on American. These have just been sent to members for 2024. Unfortunately it has also been announced that this perk will be discontinued as of next year.
In this post:
Alaska MVP Gold 75K & 100K international American upgrades
Alaska Mileage Plan elite members receive international upgrade certificates for travel on American, which have just been emailed to members (on April 10, 2024):
- MVP Gold 75K members get one one-way international American upgrade certificate
- MVP Gold 100K members get two one-way international American upgrade certificates
This is based on the status that was qualified for the previous year. Note that this is only for members who meet the published qualification criteria for an eligible tier, and those who earned status via nomination, a status match promotion, or special offer, aren’t eligible.
How can Alaska elites use American international upgrades?
While they’re named differently, for all practical purposes Alaska Mileage Plan elite members are being given systemwide upgrades. How do you go about redeeming these?
- These need to be redeemed by phone with American Airlines, by sharing your unique upgrade code
- Each upgrade can be used for a one-way journey with a maximum of three segments
- Upgrades need to be requested and used for flights by December 31, 2024
- Upgrades are subjected to capacity controls, and availability is the same as it would be for American’s confirmed upgrades; if an upgrade doesn’t clear immediately, it will be waitlisted
- Flights must be marketed and operated by American Airlines, and codeshare flights aren’t eligible
- Upgrades are not eligible on basic economy tickets or award tickets
- You can use the upgrades from economy or premium economy to business class, or from business class to first class
While you can maximize these upgrade certificates by using them for international flights, you could also use them for a domestic flight if you’d like. I know some Mileage Plan members have been frustrated by the short window in which these upgrade certificates can be used — they’re only being sent out in mid-April, while they need to be used by the end of the year, so you have just over eight months to use them.
Alaska elites won’t receive upgrade certificates as of 2025
While these upgrade certificates have been emailed out for 2024, there is one negative development. Alaska has announced that this perk will be discontinued as of 2025. Per a note on Alaska’s website:
We’re committed to continually improving your experience. Based on guest feedback, we’ll be sunsetting American Airlines systemwide upgrade vouchers beginning in 2025, while we continue to invest in other ways to provide improved access to and utility of your Alaska Air upgrade benefits. You’ll also continue to enjoy eligibility for unlimited complimentary upgrades on American Airlines in North America (based on availability) – no upgrade certificates required.
That’s totally fair, though I can’t help but be a bit amused by the claim that these upgrade certificates are being eliminated based on guest feedback.
In all honesty, I’m not surprised to see these upgrade certificates be discontinued. When the enhanced cooperation between American and Alaska was launched, the logic of these upgrade certificates made a lot of sense:
- American planned to build up an international long haul gateway in Seattle, and Alaska would provide the regional feed for those flights; American announced plans to fly from Seattle to Bangalore, London, and Shanghai, with more routes to come
- American had a huge long haul presence in Los Angeles, and Alaska also has a big presence there, so Alaska could provide significant feed for those long haul flights
The concept of strongly incentivizing Alaska flyers to take long haul American flights made sense, especially with Delta also being strong in Seattle. However, a lot has changed since then:
- American now operates no long haul flights out of Seattle, and the Bangalore and Shanghai flights never even launched
- American has cut many long haul routes out of Los Angeles, so the airline really isn’t that global from the West Coast anymore, at least compared to before
- For some time, American was heavily focused on growing in New York with its JetBlue partnership, but that has been discontinued in the meantime as well
So at this point American is mostly on its own for international connectivity. American’s biggest focus continues to be on providing as much domestic connectivity as possible.
Bottom line
Eligible Alaska Mileage Plan elite members who earned status in 2023 should have received an email with codes for American Airlines long haul upgrade certificates. These work similarly to American systemwide upgrades, so that’s a nice perk.
This benefit will be discontinued as of 2025, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, given that American’s Seattle strategy never materialized.
To Alaska elites, do you plan on using your American upgrade certificates?
Interesting as a MM'er I never received an email from AS ! The new redemptions / mileage plan is horrible but in keeping with the current management team which has slowly gutted. I was looking at some seats to Europe last week upon checking a range of dates came across a coach seat for 100K to LHR that took my breath away. I realize nothing is free however having flown well in excess of mm's on AS I would have expected little more.
Alaska is changing its FF program in 2024 - points still called EQM but CC spend can also get 4K EQM at 10K miles. Also includes all partners. So spending $250K gives you the 100K EQM without flying. AS has also added choice rewards - so I suspect you will be able to get SWUs based on EQM earning levels like AA.
So elminiating the SWUs makes sense.
Although the CC spend EQM is limited to 20K - so correction - you won't be able to earn based on $250K spend.