American & Alaska Reciprocal Elite Upgrades Guide

In early 2021, Alaska Airways joined the oneworld alliance, which was a significant growth for the Seattle-based airline. To coincide with that, Alaska Airways and American Airways additionally rolled out reciprocal upgrades for elite members, as a part of a strategic partnership between the 2 airways.

On this publish I needed to check out the present state of reciprocal upgrades between the airways. Who’s eligible for top quality upgrades, who’s eligible for further legroom financial system upgrades, and the way does all of it work?

Alaska Mileage Plan elite upgrades on American

All Alaska Mileage Plan elite members are eligible for upgrades to further legroom seating when flying with American, whereas greater tier Alaska Mileage Plan elite members are eligible for top quality upgrades (find all the terms here).

American Primary Cabin Further upgrades

All Alaska Mileage Plan elite members are eligible for upgrades to American’s further legroom financial system seating, generally known as Main Cabin Extra. When you may choose these seats relies on your standing:

• MVP Gold 100K, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold members can choose Primary Cabin Further seats on the time of reserving
• MVP members can choose Primary Cabin Further seats inside 24 hours of journey

These premium seats could be chosen instantly on aa.com, both in the course of the reserving course of, or after reserving. So long as your eligible Alaska Mileage Plan is connected to the reservation, it’s best to routinely see the choice to pick these seats. Observe that Alaska Mileage Plan elite members aren’t eligible for Primary Cabin Further seating when reserving fundamental financial system fares. Moreover, this profit isn’t obtainable to companions of Mileage Plan elite members.

American top quality upgrades

Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K and MVP Gold 75K members are eligible for upgrades to American’s first class. As you’d anticipate, there are some restrictions related to this:

• That is solely obtainable in markets eligible for complimentary upgrades, together with journey inside the USA (together with Hawaii), and journey between the USA and Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Central America
• Upgrades may clear beginning 72 hours earlier than departure, and may clear any time up till departure; MVP Gold 100K and MVP Gold 75K members are prioritized behind American AAdvantage Platinum Professional members
• One companion touring on the identical reservation because the Alaska Mileage Plan elite members can be eligible for a complimentary improve
• Upgrades aren’t obtainable on fundamental financial system fares
• Flights could be marketed by Alaska or American, that means an Alaska codeshare on American is eligible for top quality upgrades

Observe that Alaska MVP Gold 100K and MVP Gold 75K members now additionally receive confirmed upgrade instruments on American, that are legitimate for lengthy haul flights. These work equally to American’s systemwide upgrades, and are separate from the complimentary improve program being supplied.

American AAdvantage elite upgrades on Alaska

All American AAdvantage elite members are eligible for upgrades to further legroom seating when flying with Alaska, whereas greater tier American AAdvantage elite members are eligible for top quality upgrades (find all the terms here).

Alaska Premium Class upgrades

All American AAdvantage elite members are eligible for upgrades to Alaska’s further legroom financial system seating, generally known as Premium Class. When you may choose these seats relies on your standing and the kind of fare you ebook:

• Concierge Key and Govt Platinum members can choose Premium Class seats on the time of reserving
• Platinum Professional and Platinum members can choose Premium Class seats — if booked within the Y, B, H, Ok, M, L, V, S or N fare courses, you may choose them on the time of reserving, whereas in any other case you may choose them inside 72 hours of journey
• Gold members can choose Premium Class seats — if booked within the Y, B, or H fare courses, you may choose them on the time of reserving, whereas in any other case you may choose them inside 48 hours of journey

These premium seats could be chosen instantly on alaskaair.com, shortly after ticketing a reservation. Observe that American AAdvantage elite members aren’t eligible for Premium Class seating when reserving Saver fares (within the “X” fare class).

Alaska top quality upgrades

American AAdvantage Concierge Key, Govt Platinum, and Platinum Professional members, are eligible for upgrades to Alaska’s first class. As you’d anticipate, there are some restrictions related to this:

• Upgrades could be confirmed as early as 120 hours earlier than departure, all the way in which as much as departure
• AAdvantage elite members are prioritized after MVP Gold 75K members, first by fare class after which by the request date and time

Observe that American AAdvantage elite members aren’t eligible for top quality upgrades when reserving Saver fares (within the “X” fare class).

Count on reciprocal upgrades to evolve

It’s nice to see the extent to which American Airways and Alaska Airways have rolled out upgrades. Until the 2 airways have a change of plans, I think that they’ll finally roll out this improve program even additional:

• I anticipate that finally all elite tiers shall be eligible for reciprocal top quality upgrades
• Since Alaska and American have aligned elite tiers, I anticipate that upgrades shall be prioritized extra carefully between tiers on the two airways
• I anticipate we’ll additionally finally see consistency in the case of companion upgrades

Different reciprocal elite perks by means of oneworld

Along with reciprocal improve alternatives, Alaska Mileage Plan and American AAdvantage elite members can take pleasure in reciprocal perks by means of their oneworld alliance tiers when flying on the other carrier. These advantages embody the next:

• Precedence check-in
• Precedence safety
• Lounge entry
• Precedence boarding
• Extra baggage allowance

Backside line

Alaska Airways and American Airways supply reciprocal upgrades, which is a unbelievable profit. All elite members are eligible for further legroom financial system seating on the opposite airline, whereas greater tier elite members are eligible for top quality upgrades. That is along with normal reciprocal oneworld perks, together with with premium check-in, precedence boarding, and extra.

Particularly, I’d say American AAdvantage members are in a reasonably great spot for home flying, as they get reciprocal elite perks on each Alaska and JetBlue.

Have any OMAAT readers had experiences with reciprocal upgrades between the 2 airways? What was your expertise like?