T_R_Oglodyte
TUG Lifetime Member
Many people lamented when Bank of America removed the First Class ticketing option from the Alaska Air Companion Fare certificates. There is one way you can still do First Class, but it's tough and it only works if you are MVP Gold or higher frequent flyer status, because the process requires that you have at least two available first class upgrade certificates. MVP Gold and higher get four certificates per year.
When you book using a Companion Fare certificate, look for flights that have available first class upgrades for MVP Gold or higher. You do that on the initial booking screen - see screen snip below. Select the upgrade type corresponding to your FF status level, and enter your companion fare code in the box. Then proceed with "Find Flights".
The next screen will display flight options. Where there is a white "F" inside a solid blue box that indicates that the First class upgrade is available - see the yellow highlights on the screen snip, below. A blue "F" inside a white box, as with the 11:20 am departure, indicates that no upgrade is available for that flight.
Select the "First Class Upgrade" option.
You then proceed through the next series of screens to book the flight, being sure that "upgrade to First Class if available" is active during the booking process. At this point, as you complete the reservation you will not be booked into First Class.
After you finish booking the reservation, return to the reservation details page, and there should be an option to upgrade to first class. Click on that link and it will take you to a screen where you can apply available upgrade certificates. Apply the certificates, and you will have made a First Class booking using your Companion Fare Certificate.
Some added comments:
When you book using a Companion Fare certificate, look for flights that have available first class upgrades for MVP Gold or higher. You do that on the initial booking screen - see screen snip below. Select the upgrade type corresponding to your FF status level, and enter your companion fare code in the box. Then proceed with "Find Flights".
The next screen will display flight options. Where there is a white "F" inside a solid blue box that indicates that the First class upgrade is available - see the yellow highlights on the screen snip, below. A blue "F" inside a white box, as with the 11:20 am departure, indicates that no upgrade is available for that flight.
Select the "First Class Upgrade" option.
You then proceed through the next series of screens to book the flight, being sure that "upgrade to First Class if available" is active during the booking process. At this point, as you complete the reservation you will not be booked into First Class.
After you finish booking the reservation, return to the reservation details page, and there should be an option to upgrade to first class. Click on that link and it will take you to a screen where you can apply available upgrade certificates. Apply the certificates, and you will have made a First Class booking using your Companion Fare Certificate.
Some added comments:
- Even if you're an elite FF, first class upgrades are often not available. I've only been able to pull it off a few times for most of the traveling that I do.
- It seems to work better if you're booking early. The snips I posted above are for flights to Kauai almost ten months out, and on the booking screen there is a lot of availability.
- You need to use one certificate for each passenger each direction. So if you have the full complement of four certificates for the year, you can get FC for you and your companion both ways if the upgrades are available.
- With a companion fare, both passengers need to have the same itinerary. So it isn't possible to upgrade only one person. You have to use upgrade certificates two at a time when using a companion fare.
- On the snip above, note that there is a routing that has a connection at LAX. I don't know if separate certificates are needed for both segments, or if one certificate also carries through on a connecting flight.
- All travel must be on Alaska Air metal. Companion fares don't work on partner airlines or with Codeshares.
- In my experience, it is not uncommon for the First Class fare to be less than the First Class Upgrade fare. Doesn't make sense, but I don't make the rules.
- Even if there is no upgrade available (blue "F" inside white box), you might want to consider purchasing the First Class upgrade if the fare is the same as or not too much more than the Premium Class Upgrade fare. The reason is that will put you in the top tier within your FF status level for available FC upgrade as they clear the upgrade wait lists.
- Remember that once you burn an upgrade certificate, it is gone. If you later change or cancel the flight, the certificate doesn't come back or transfer to the new flight.
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