How Alaska Airlines upgrades work

Alaska upgrades come in two forms under Atmos Rewards, a complimentary status upgrade and a milestone-earned upgrade certificate, and in North America both clear out of the same U-class first-class bucket, so on any given flight there the only question that matters is whether U is open. Complimentary upgrades clear at booking on your tier's qualifying fares when U is open, or from your tier's window otherwise (2 hours out on a Saver fare); a certificate confirms as soon as you apply it on a North American flight where U is open, while long-haul certificate requests queue from 72 hours out in status order.

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Alaska upgrades come in two forms through Atmos Rewards: complimentary status upgrades that every elite tier receives automatically on eligible fares, and shareable upgrade certificates earned at elite milestones. In North America both clear against the same U-class first-class inventory, so on any given flight there the real question is whether U class is open. That's what to check first.

Complimentary status upgrades

Book a qualifying fare as an Atmos Rewards elite and you're upgraded at booking when U is open; otherwise you're on the upgrade waitlist automatically. Nothing to request: upgrades clear by availability and tier priority.

Upgrade eligibility windows by Atmos Rewards tier
Atmos tier Window Eligible flights
Titanium 120 hours AS + HA North American routes, plus day-of-departure Business upgrades to and from Asia, Europe and Oceania
Platinum 120 hours AS + HA North American routes
Gold 72 hours AS + HA North American routes
Silver 48 hours AS + HA North American routes
Eligible fares: any fare except Saver, on every status tier
Outside the tier windows: Saver fares (X class) aren't upgraded on the schedule above
Companions: One travel companion on the same reservation gets the same upgrade priority

Upgrade certificates

What a certificate is, who can use it and how to apply one is on how to use an Alaska upgrade certificate. What U class means, and which flights to target for it, is on the Alaska upgrade strategy guide.

Earned as milestone reward choices at the 55K, 95K, 125K, 150K, 200K and 250K status point milestones. A certificate confirms where U class is open, and you can share it with anyone.

Key details

  • Offered as a Milestone Reward choice once you reach the qualifying status point milestones
  • Apply to Alaska and Hawaiian-operated North American flights, and to long-haul routes to Asia, Europe and Oceania for flights departing on or after April 22, 2026
  • Shareable, so the traveler doesn't need elite status
  • Confirm when U-class first-class inventory is available
  • Listed under Upgrade certificates in your Atmos Rewards account

Full certificate guide

Requesting an Alaska upgrade

There's no upgrade request form to fill in for the complimentary path, and there's no way to jump the queue. What you can control is the fare you buy, the flight you pick, and whether you're holding a certificate when it matters.

The complimentary waitlist

Booking as an Atmos Rewards elite puts you on that flight's upgrade waitlist automatically, unless a qualifying fare already upgraded you at booking. You can see the list in the Alaska app and at the airport. Nothing is submitted and nothing is requested: the list processes from your tier's window (2 hours out on a Saver fare) and clears as far down as open U-class first-class seats allow. A booking of 3 or more people can't be upgraded together; Alaska's Reservations team can split it so you join the list without your companions.

How upgrade priority is ordered

Tier comes first: Titanium and Platinum are processed at 120 hours, Gold at 72, Silver at 48. Within a tier, Alaska orders the list by the standard tie-breakers, so two Golds on the same flight are separated by factors like million miler standing and booking time rather than by anything you can ask for. One companion on your reservation shares your priority, and the two of you can clear together only when two seats are open. Applying a certificate moves you out of the waitlist entirely when U class is open, because a certificate confirms rather than queues.

Paid first-class upgrades

If you hold no status and no certificate, Alaska sells the seat directly. Alaska lists First Class paid upgrades from a starting price rather than one flat fee, and you can pay for one during online check-in or at an airport ticket counter. Points can't buy an upgrade: Alaska's upgrades FAQ says upgrades aren't currently available for purchase with points, though you can redeem points for a First Class ticket.

Pick the flight, not the request

In North America the complimentary and certificate paths end at the same gate: open U-class inventory on that flight, on that date. Comparing two departures on the same route before you book beats anything you can do afterward. Browse every Alaska Airlines route to see where the network goes, then track upgrade space on the flights you actually want.

Eligible flights

Upgrade eligibility depends on which airline operates the flight and which one markets it.

Operating carrier requirements

  • Alaska-operated (AS): All North American routes. First-class upgrades via U-class inventory
  • Hawaiian-operated (HA): All North American routes. Same upgrade mechanics as Alaska flights
  • Partner-operated: Certificates don't apply. On American-operated flights in North America, Atmos status members are eligible for complimentary upgrades instead, confirmed as early as 72 hours out in status order (see American flights). Other partner-operated flights aren't eligible for complimentary upgrades or certificates and may have separate award availability
Track with 2LNR: Select Alaska Airlines in the upgrade matrix to monitor first-class upgrade space on the Alaska routes we cover. Set up alerts to get notified when space opens.

Sources

Atmos Rewards is still changing. Where this page and Alaska's own pages disagree, Alaska's pages win.

More about Alaska upgrades

Upgrade certificates

Earning, using, and maximizing Alaska upgrade certificates.

Alaska upgrade strategy

Complete strategy guide for complimentary upgrades and certificates.

AA upgrade strategy

SWUs and complimentary upgrades on American Airlines.

2LNR vs ExpertFlyer

A feature-by-feature comparison of the two tools.

Frequently asked questions

How do Alaska upgrades work?
Alaska upgrades come in two forms under Atmos Rewards, a complimentary status upgrade and a milestone-earned upgrade certificate, and in North America both clear out of the same U-class first-class bucket, so on any given flight there the only question that matters is whether U is open.
How do complimentary upgrades work on Alaska Airlines?
On Alaska or Hawaiian-operated flights in North America, an Atmos Rewards elite on a qualifying fare is upgraded at booking when U class is open, and other elite bookings join the upgrade waitlist automatically, except Saver fares, which Alaska adds 2 hours before departure. Upgrades clear based on U-class first-class availability and your tier priority. Titanium and Platinum get a 120-hour window, Gold gets 72 hours, and Silver gets 48 hours before departure.
How do I request an Alaska Airlines upgrade?
For the complimentary path there is nothing to request. Booking as an Atmos Rewards elite upgrades you at booking when your fare qualifies and U class is open, and otherwise adds you to that flight's upgrade waitlist automatically, which processes at your tier's window: 120 hours for Titanium and Platinum, 72 for Gold, 48 for Silver, or 2 hours before departure on a Saver fare. If you hold an upgrade certificate, applying it to an eligible North American booking confirms the seat outright when U class is open, rather than putting you in the queue. With no status and no certificate, you can buy a paid First Class upgrade, which Alaska lets you pay for during online check-in or at an airport ticket counter.
Are Basic Economy fares eligible for upgrades on Alaska?
Not on the tier schedule. Saver fares in X class sit outside the upgrade windows, so they are not processed at 120, 72, or 48 hours the way other economy fares are. Alaska adds them to the waitlist 2 hours before departure instead. Any other fare puts a status holder on the normal waitlist.
How do I get a first class upgrade on Alaska Airlines?
Atmos Rewards gives you two ways, and in North America both need U-class space open on the flight: a complimentary status upgrade, which clears at booking on your tier's qualifying fares or otherwise from your tier's window (2 hours out on a Saver fare), or an upgrade certificate applied to an eligible booking, which confirms as soon as U is open and can be shared with someone who holds no status. Without either, you can buy a paid upgrade.

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