first class upgrade

Tag Archives for first class upgrade.

American Airlines Now Awards Miles And Status Credit When You Buy A Cabin Upgrade

by Gary Leff on August 14, 2024

Aug 14 2024

Upgrades are tough out there. First class doesn’t cost as much as it used to when airlines sold only about 10% of the seats up front. Planes are full and plenty of people have status. They’re more likely to pay for first class outright. And airlines sell first class upgrades aggressively. There are far fewer leftover seats available complimentary to those with airline status.

Now, at least, American Airlines will reward you when you buy a coach ticket and take their paid offer for an upgrade.

Emirates First Class Upgrades Are Easy, Great Deal

by Gary Leff on October 16, 2023

Oct 16 2023

You can upgrade award tickets! This isn’t limited to buying business class with cash and upgrading with miles. If your upgrade doesn’t clear in advance, you can upgrade at the airport. And there there are no capacity controls. And there are no cash co-pays in addition to miles for the upgrade.

Plus their first class is a special product.

Self-Upgrader Takes Former Surgeon General’s First Class Seat, Refuses To Move

by Gary Leff on March 5, 2022

Mar 05 2022

Former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, who served during the Trump administration, reports that a self-upgrader tried to take his first class seat this week. And it wasn’t just someone trying to sneak into the cabin and grab an empty seat – they persisted. They claimed the seat was theirs. They wouldn’t move. But the good doctor held his ground.

The New Way Alaska Airlines Is Making First Class Upgrades Available

by Gary Leff on February 15, 2021

Feb 15 2021

Alaska is no longer blocking seats in first class, or in regular coach. And they’ve taken baby steps at re-opening first class confirmable upgrade (“U” bucket) inventory. Here’s the current upgrade philosophy at Alaska Airlines.

Alaska Airlines Considering Replacement For Guest Upgrades

by Gary Leff on July 14, 2020

Jul 14 2020

In early March I wrote about ideas they’re surveying about potential changes to the program. Now they’re researching ways to change elite benefits, especially the 4 annual confirmed upgrade certificates given to MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K members.

Sadly they appear to be looking at alternatives I’d consider to be less valuable than what they offer today.

American Airlines Change May Let You Keep Your First Class Upgrade When Changing Flights

by Gary Leff on July 23, 2019

Jul 23 2019

This change has been consistent in reports whether confirming a same day change to an itinerary, or swapping flights during irregular operations using the American Airlines app. Presumably because American sees you in R and is simply rebooking you into R, and R is now far more available since it’s been given a dual use as the second highest first class fare class.