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Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card
Earn 70,000 Bonus Miiles + Alaska's Famous Companion Fare!
How to Earn Alaska Airlines MVP Gold
Alaska Airlines has two high elite status
MVP Gold
and MVP Gold 75k. Both status has First Class Guest Upgrades. For the
purpose of this article about the First Class Guest Upgrades, let’s just focus
on the MVP Gold because if you reach MVP Gold 75k, you obviously have and
possibly more benefits than MVP Gold members do.
One of the benefits of becoming Alaska MVP Gold is ability to earn Four (4)
First Class Guest Upgrades each year. In order to earn MVP Gold:
- Fly and earn eligible 40,000 miles on Alaska Airlines.
-
Fly and earn eligible 50,000 miles on Alaska Airlines and elite-qualifying
partner airlines. -
Fly 60 segments on Alaska Airlines and elite-qualifying partner
airlines. -
Each segment is counted individually, meaning connection segments are also
counted. For example, you fly from A to B (layover) will be one segment
and B to C (destination) will be another segment. So that is a total of 2
segments.
Another option to earn MVP Gold is to do a Status Match Challenge.
Alaska Airlines allow status match from another frequent flyer program.
-
Once the match is approved, you will be given a challenge and Alaska elite
status for 90 days. -
After that, if you meet the challenge requirement within 90 days, your
Alaska status will be extended. See
Alaska Airlines Status Match Challenge for more details.
How To Use MVP Gold Guest Upgrade Code
Alaska Airlines MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k receive 4 First Class guest upgrade
codes per year. If you are an MVP Gold member, you can either use those codes
for your own flights or you can gift them to someone (just about anyone).
codes per year. If you are an MVP Gold member, you can either use those codes
for your own flights or you can gift them to someone (just about anyone).
Using the MVP Gold First Class guest upgrade code is quite simple and can be
done online. You can also reach out to Alaska Airline customer service via
phone to book and use the upgrade code. It’s worth noting that you cannot book
with an Alaska agent using Twitter or text message due to payment
security.
done online. You can also reach out to Alaska Airline customer service via
phone to book and use the upgrade code. It’s worth noting that you cannot book
with an Alaska agent using Twitter or text message due to payment
security.
It is also important to understand how MVP Gold First Class Guest Upgrade
Code works:
Code works:
- Each code is valid for one seat/person only.
- Each code can be used for one segment (one flight) in one direction.
-
If you have 1 connection to reach your destination, that is 2 segments and
you will need 2 upgrade codes if you want to upgrade for both 2 segments
(flights). -
A round-trip ticket that has only one flight each-way will require 2
upgrade codes. -
Your airfare must be in a fare code that is eligible to use the upgrade
code. The fare generally is a little bit more expensive but not too bad to
swallow.
To use MVP Gold First Class guest upgrade code online:
-
Go to
Alaska Airlines website. - Click on All search options.
-
Input your itinerary and date information. It can be one-way, round-trip
or multiple-city. -
On the right hand side under Upgrade type, select
MVP Gold guest from the dropdown list. - Click Find Flights.
-
Alaska Airlines will display all available flights. However, not every
flight is eligible to use the MVV Gold guest upgrade code. If you see a
flight segment that has a solid blue F next to it, that means that flight
is eligible to use the guest upgrade code. If the F letter is not solid
blue, then unfortunately that flight segment is not eligible. See
screenshot below. -
The First Class upgrade code can only apply to one segment and one seat.
So be sure to check the availability to use the upgrade code for a long
haul flight to really enjoy the First Class cabin. -
You are also required to pay for the Main Cabin fare that can use the
upgrade code. That fare is found in the
First Class Upgrade column on the result page.
-
After selecting the flight that you want, simply follow the booking
process like you normally would do. It is important to note that, Alaska
Airline booking interface requires payment first before taking you to
another page that allows you to input the MVP Gold guest upgrade
code. If the code is valid, you’ll be notified that you have
successful been upgraded to First class. -
Once the code is confirmed and used, it is final though there’s a
workaround on this that requires manual request that I’ll talk below under “Tip on How to Extend Expiring MVP Gold First Class Guest Upgrade”.
But at this point, use the code carefully before confirming especially
if the upgrade code was given to you by an MVP Gold member.
Can You Use Alaska Famous Companion Fare Code With MVP Gold Guest Upgrade
Code?
Yes. The booking process is very much the same as above and can be done
online. On the search page, be sure to put in your Companion Fare code before
clicking Find Flights. You will see the companion fare is applied accordingly
on the result page.
online. On the search page, be sure to put in your Companion Fare code before
clicking Find Flights. You will see the companion fare is applied accordingly
on the result page.
However, keep in mind that the MVP Gold guest upgrade code is only valid for
one seat, so in order to use both the companion fare code and the upgrade code
for 2 people on one reservation, you must have at least 2 upgrade codes in
order for this type of booking to work.
one seat, so in order to use both the companion fare code and the upgrade code
for 2 people on one reservation, you must have at least 2 upgrade codes in
order for this type of booking to work.
MVP Gold First Class Guest Upgrade Codes Cancellation Policy
In a nutshell:
-
The MVP Gold guest upgrade for First Class code is non-returnable once
it is used and confirmed on a reservation. -
If you are a guest receiving the upgrade code, do not cancel the
reservation. You will not be able to get the upgrade code back. You also
cannot change the reservation online and hoping that the upgrade code
follows that reservation. Below is Alaska Airlines policy of the gold
guest upgrades in terms of cancellation:
Once an MVP Gold Guest upgrade has been applied to an AS flight and the
passenger cancels a ticket, the MVP Gold Guest upgrade will be
forfeited. The non-Gold will be advised of this forfeiture and must
agree during the cancel/exchange process.
-
If you are an MVP Gold member, you may be able to request Alaska to
replace the upgrade code after a ticket’s cancellation. The process is
not automatic, you must request Alaska Airlines to manually request
that.
Tip on How to Extend Expiring MVP Gold First Class Guest Upgrade
As mentioned above up to this point, four Alaska Airlines First Class guest
upgrade codes are given to MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k members per year. Each
code expires on December 31st, the end of each year.
upgrade codes are given to MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k members per year. Each
code expires on December 31st, the end of each year.
In an event of cancellation of a reservation that contains an expiring MVP Gold
guest upgrade code, the Gold Guest Upgrade can be requested to go back to
the MVP Gold member’s account (not the code receiving guest’s account) where it came from. But the
member has to manually request it with Alaska Airlines. For whatever reason,
the new replaced Gold guest upgrade code has an expiration date of December
next year.
guest upgrade code, the Gold Guest Upgrade can be requested to go back to
the MVP Gold member’s account (not the code receiving guest’s account) where it came from. But the
member has to manually request it with Alaska Airlines. For whatever reason,
the new replaced Gold guest upgrade code has an expiration date of December
next year.
