How Do I Request an Upgrade on My Alaska Flight? (Full Guide)

Introduction

Securing an airline upgrade is one of the best ways to make your trip more comfortable—especially when flying with Alaska Airlines, where the airline offers multiple upgrade paths, from paid upgrades to elite-tier complimentary upgrades and mileage-based upgrade requests. Whether you’re looking for more legroom, a quiet cabin, or priority services, an Alaska Airlines seat upgrade can make your travel day far more enjoyable.

But what makes the upgrade process confusing for many passengers is knowing when upgrades become available, how much they cost, whether you can use miles, and how to take advantage of Alaska’s elite upgrade window. Plus, many travelers want to better understand the Alaska Airlines seat selection policy, fees, seat maps, and whether Alaska Airlines offers assigned seating (yes, they do—more on this soon).

This blog breaks everything down in a simple, detailed, and traveler-friendly way. So if you’ve ever wondered “How do I request an upgrade on my Alaska flight?”—you’re about to get every answer you need.

👉 Quick Overview: Alaska Airlines Seat Upgrade

✈ Upgrade Options: Alaska Airlines offers paid upgrades, mileage upgrades, day-of-departure upgrades, and complimentary upgrades for elite Mileage Plan members.

✔ Paid Upgrades: Available at booking or anytime through “Manage Reservation.” Prices vary based on route, cabin, and demand.
✔ Mileage Upgrades: Use Mileage Plan miles to upgrade eligible fares; works best on Main and higher fare types.
✔ Complimentary Elite Upgrades: MVP, MVP Gold, and 75K members get first-class and Premium Class upgrade windows based on status.
✔ Seat Selection Rules: Alaska uses assigned seating with a detailed Alaska Airlines seat map displaying availability, Premium seats, and upgrade-eligible rows.

📲 Need booking or upgrade assistance? Call Tours N Travel Pro at +1-866-679-5070 for personalized help.

What Is an Alaska Airlines Seat Upgrade?

An Alaska Airlines seat upgrade allows you to move from a standard Main Cabin seat to Premium Class or First Class—giving you extra legroom, premium snack options, priority services, and overall more comfort. The airline offers multiple upgrade types: paid upgrades, mileage upgrades, same-day upgrades, and Alaska Airlines complimentary upgrades for elites.

Whether you want a better seat on a short domestic route or a full First Class experience on a longer trip, Alaska gives you flexible upgrade paths to fit your budget and status level.

Ways to Request an Upgrade on Alaska Airlines

1. Request a Paid Upgrade (Easiest & Most Direct Method)

One of the simplest ways to secure an upgrade is to purchase it directly through Alaska’s website or app.

How to do it:

Visit AlaskaAir.com
Go to Manage Trip
Enter your confirmation details
Select “Upgrade Options”
Choose between Premium or First Class
Pay the Alaska Airlines seat upgrade cost

Upgrade Cost

Prices vary based on:

Route
Distance
Travel date
Remaining seat availability

Typical upgrade prices range from $29 to $199+ for Premium Class and much higher for First Class.

2. Request an Upgrade Using Miles (Upgrade with Mileage Plan Miles)

If you prefer using Alaska miles, many fares are eligible for a mileage upgrade.

How this works:

You can request an Alaska upgrade seat with miles at booking
OR add it later through “Manage Reservations”
Upgrades usually require a fixed amount of miles plus sometimes a cash co-pay

Mileage upgrades work best on higher Main Cabin fare classes like Y, Z, S, or Q.

3. Complimentary Elite Upgrades (MVP, Gold, and 75K)

If you are a Mileage Plan elite member, you can qualify for Alaska Airlines complimentary upgrades, depending on your tier.

Upgrade windows:

MVP: Complimentary Premium upgrades at booking; First Class upgrade window opens 48 hours before
MVP Gold: First Class upgrade window opens 72 hours before departure
MVP Gold 75K: Upgrade window opens 120 hours before departure and highest priority
MVP Gold 100K: Highest upgrade priority and earliest booking access

These upgrades appear automatically in your reservation if seats are available.

4. Request an Upgrade at Check-In

If your upgrade doesn't clear earlier, check-in is your next chance.

When you check in (online or at the airport), you can:

See remaining upgrade seats
Purchase an instant upgrade
Use miles if eligible
Confirm complimentary upgrades if space opens

5. Same-Day Airport Upgrade

If seats remain open in Premium or First Class at the airport, Alaska may offer discounted upgrade rates at:

Kiosk check-in
Alaska counter
Gate desk

These deals can be some of the cheapest upgrade opportunities of all.

2. Alaska Airlines Seat Selection Policy (Explained)

Many travelers planning an upgrade also want clarity on Alaska’s seat rules.

Here’s what to know:

Alaska does have assigned seating—you choose your exact seat during booking.
The Alaska Airlines seat selection fee depends on seat type.
Standard Main Cabin seats are free, but:
- Premium Class seats cost extra
- Exit rows cost extra
- Seats with more legroom cost extra

You can select or change seats anytime through your booking.

Understanding the Alaska Airlines Seat Map

Before choosing or upgrading your seat, you can view the Alaska Airlines seat map to see:

Available Main Cabin seats
Premium Class rows
First Class seats
Exit row availability
Legroom differences
Seats unavailable for paid selection (held for elites)

The Alaska Airlines seating chart is available on both the website and the mobile app.

Alaska Airlines Premium Seats (What They Include)

Premium Class is Alaska’s “better than economy” experience.

Benefits include:

Extra 4–6 inches of legroom
Priority boarding
Free alcoholic beverages
Better seat location

Premium seats cost more via the Alaska Airlines seat selection fee, but many travelers say it’s worth the upgrade.

Alaska Airlines First Class Upgrades

If you upgrade to First Class, here’s what you get:

Wider recliner-style seats
Free meals on flights over 670 miles
Priority services at every step
Two free checked bags
Most comfortable cabin on Alaska

Upgrades are available through cash, miles, or elite complimentary windows.

Alaska Airlines Seat Upgrade Refund Policy

If you purchased an upgrade and your flight changes or gets downgraded, Alaska offers an Alaska Airlines seat upgrade refund in several situations.

You qualify for a refund if:

Alaska changes your aircraft
You get moved from Premium/First due to operational issues
You cancel a refundable ticket with an upgrade
You downgrade and no upgraded seats remain

Refunds go back to the original payment method or miles account.

Key Takeaways

Alaska Airlines offers multiple upgrade options: paid, mileage-based, complimentary, and same-day.
You can view all upgrade availability using the Alaska Airlines seat map.
Premium Class is very affordable and adds real comfort.
Alaska does have assigned seating, and fees apply for premium positions.
Elite Mileage Plan members receive the best upgrade benefits.
Refunds are available for operational downgrades.
Upgrade early for the best chance of success.

📲 Need help booking or upgrading? Call Tours N Travel Pro at +1-866-679-5070 for expert, fast assistance.

Conclusion

Requesting an Alaska Airlines seat upgrade is easier than many travelers think—but timing matters, fare class matters, and understanding Alaska’s upgrade tiers is key. Whether you want a cheap Premium Class upgrade, a mileage upgrade to First Class, or your complimentary elite upgrade window, knowing how Alaska’s system works puts you ahead of most travelers.

If you need quick, reliable help choosing seats, viewing the Alaska Airlines seat selection policy, checking the seat map, or requesting an upgrade, the experts at Tours N Travel Pro are ready to help.

📞 Call +1-866-679-5070 for fast booking help and the best upgrade options available.