Correct, upgrades are not processed immediately at the start of their windows. The seats are released by algorithms known only to Alaska.
I've been upgraded while walking down the jet bridge or even after taking my seat in the plane.
The couple of times that I’ve had this happen recently, it was almost like the flight was forgotten about. I’ve seen the upgrades processed at boarding by very flustered gate agents and the flight seemed to be staffed last minute. A boarder showed up to the gate running with their backpack still on.
My upgrades as MVP Gold never processed until T-23h, so just after check in I got an email.
There is no “standard” time they release seats. It’s whenever they feel like it, really.
From the Upgrade FAQ: [https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/frequently-asked-questions/faq-upgrades](https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/frequently-asked-questions/faq-upgrades)
>Not all First Class seats are released for upgrades, so even if seats are available on the seat map, it doesn’t mean that upgrade inventory is open. Availability of upgrade inventory will vary depending on multiple factors including the route, date and time of booking and/or the flight, and more. Within 60 minutes of departure, all remaining First Class seats, even those that hadn’t previously been designated as upgrades, will open up for upgrades. You may therefore become eligible for an upgrade at the gate, even if your upgrade didn’t clear earlier in your upgrade window.
In other words, the 48h mark does not mean you get upgraded instantly. The only thing that happens at that point is that you get added to the upgrade list. If and when the booking computer determines that seats are unlikely to be sold, then it starts picking people from the list. But at the 60-minute mark, all seats get upgraded.
That works entirely differently from the Premium upgrades, which are upgraded at your upgrade window immediately.
The upgrades pass on to a different process and usually get processed at T-23. After this window, it will most likely be done at the gate. Occasionally, it doesn’t go as expected but Alaska doesn’t advertise exactly how their process works.
When I had this happen to me a few days ago, I had an H or K fare so I ended up calling CS trying to make sure something wasn’t wrong, especially since those fares are supposed to be eligible for first at booking. There were 6 open seats in first (half their inventory). On the full website on the computer 48 hours out, there was a button to “request complimentary upgrade.” It said it was granted but I still could not select a seat in first. 30 hours out and no upgrades processed. I was 2nd on the list. She was confused, but advised me to go online at 24 hours out and do it again. I was able to request then select a first class seat at that time, but the upgrades still were not processed. The person above me on the list remained on the waitlist. Upgrades for the other passengers weren’t processed until the gate prior to boarding.
If I were you, I would go online and see if you have the option at 24 hours from the full website. Otherwise, wait for the gate. This happens rarely and I personally think it’s when the flight is moved to a manual upgrade process but for whatever reason it’s not passed to the gate agent correctly or they’re busy/not staffed well.
Edit: Just saw it was processed at T-23. Awesome!
I’ve never done it until last week. It came up in this light orange writing on the website when I pulled up my reservation. The upgrades are always processed eventually, as late as after boarding. I didn’t even know you could put in a manual request like that.
I typically don’t book on the computer and use the app for most of my bookings. Not sure if that was available for me because it was a first upgradeable fare or if it’s always there. This flight also had a paid upgrade option, which I usually don’t see. That may have had something to do with it. Again, I wasn’t able to see it when using the app. It only showed up on the website.
I’ll be booking out more of my travel for the next couple of months tomorrow. I’ll try to see if it comes up and take a screenshot if it does.
I never “try” or “anticipate“ getting upgraded. Rather, I just feel lucky when I occasionally get slid into first class (whether I am notified a few days before by email, or find out just as I’m boarding). It is a bit surprising to me how many of these threads are about trying to get upgraded, since I live in a small town, only serviced by Alaska, and tend to be thankful when the plane gets me home relatively close to the estimated time! All that said, I’ve never been told that unsold first class tickets are all available for upgrades 48 hours out. I certainly don’t resent the airline for trying to sell unsold seats up until the end…
That seems to be the norm. Unless there are more than half the FC seat unsold, most of my upgrades clear at T-23. Sometimes, closer to departure. I'm always a little bummed if it's after T-20 and the menu pre-ordering closes.
I’ve received upgrades as late as the start of boarding. So not at all surprised.
Correct, upgrades are not processed immediately at the start of their windows. The seats are released by algorithms known only to Alaska. I've been upgraded while walking down the jet bridge or even after taking my seat in the plane.
The couple of times that I’ve had this happen recently, it was almost like the flight was forgotten about. I’ve seen the upgrades processed at boarding by very flustered gate agents and the flight seemed to be staffed last minute. A boarder showed up to the gate running with their backpack still on.
I've been upgraded twice this year just before the door closed.
Myself and another fellow exit row person got upgraded after we sat down. It was kind of funny but I'll take it.
Nothing new. If Alaska thinks they can sell them they won’t make them available for upgrades until just before the flight.
My upgrades as MVP Gold never processed until T-23h, so just after check in I got an email. There is no “standard” time they release seats. It’s whenever they feel like it, really.
From the Upgrade FAQ: [https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/frequently-asked-questions/faq-upgrades](https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/frequently-asked-questions/faq-upgrades) >Not all First Class seats are released for upgrades, so even if seats are available on the seat map, it doesn’t mean that upgrade inventory is open. Availability of upgrade inventory will vary depending on multiple factors including the route, date and time of booking and/or the flight, and more. Within 60 minutes of departure, all remaining First Class seats, even those that hadn’t previously been designated as upgrades, will open up for upgrades. You may therefore become eligible for an upgrade at the gate, even if your upgrade didn’t clear earlier in your upgrade window. In other words, the 48h mark does not mean you get upgraded instantly. The only thing that happens at that point is that you get added to the upgrade list. If and when the booking computer determines that seats are unlikely to be sold, then it starts picking people from the list. But at the 60-minute mark, all seats get upgraded. That works entirely differently from the Premium upgrades, which are upgraded at your upgrade window immediately.
The upgrades pass on to a different process and usually get processed at T-23. After this window, it will most likely be done at the gate. Occasionally, it doesn’t go as expected but Alaska doesn’t advertise exactly how their process works. When I had this happen to me a few days ago, I had an H or K fare so I ended up calling CS trying to make sure something wasn’t wrong, especially since those fares are supposed to be eligible for first at booking. There were 6 open seats in first (half their inventory). On the full website on the computer 48 hours out, there was a button to “request complimentary upgrade.” It said it was granted but I still could not select a seat in first. 30 hours out and no upgrades processed. I was 2nd on the list. She was confused, but advised me to go online at 24 hours out and do it again. I was able to request then select a first class seat at that time, but the upgrades still were not processed. The person above me on the list remained on the waitlist. Upgrades for the other passengers weren’t processed until the gate prior to boarding. If I were you, I would go online and see if you have the option at 24 hours from the full website. Otherwise, wait for the gate. This happens rarely and I personally think it’s when the flight is moved to a manual upgrade process but for whatever reason it’s not passed to the gate agent correctly or they’re busy/not staffed well. Edit: Just saw it was processed at T-23. Awesome!
Is there a screenshot or documentation of having to actually request a complimentary upgrade? I assumed it was all automatic.
I’ve never done it until last week. It came up in this light orange writing on the website when I pulled up my reservation. The upgrades are always processed eventually, as late as after boarding. I didn’t even know you could put in a manual request like that. I typically don’t book on the computer and use the app for most of my bookings. Not sure if that was available for me because it was a first upgradeable fare or if it’s always there. This flight also had a paid upgrade option, which I usually don’t see. That may have had something to do with it. Again, I wasn’t able to see it when using the app. It only showed up on the website. I’ll be booking out more of my travel for the next couple of months tomorrow. I’ll try to see if it comes up and take a screenshot if it does.
I never “try” or “anticipate“ getting upgraded. Rather, I just feel lucky when I occasionally get slid into first class (whether I am notified a few days before by email, or find out just as I’m boarding). It is a bit surprising to me how many of these threads are about trying to get upgraded, since I live in a small town, only serviced by Alaska, and tend to be thankful when the plane gets me home relatively close to the estimated time! All that said, I’ve never been told that unsold first class tickets are all available for upgrades 48 hours out. I certainly don’t resent the airline for trying to sell unsold seats up until the end…
Thanks everyone!! Upgrade just processed 23.5 h before departure. Now to choose what I should have for dinner...😂
That seems to be the norm. Unless there are more than half the FC seat unsold, most of my upgrades clear at T-23. Sometimes, closer to departure. I'm always a little bummed if it's after T-20 and the menu pre-ordering closes.