Atmos Rewards: Decrypting Upgrades on Alaska Air

It’s no secret I love to travel, and being in front of the curtain makes it even better. It’s great to reap the benefits of elite frequent-flyer perks like free upgrades, but they’re not always as easy to decipher as one might hope. Here’s my best attempt (updated August 2025) to share what I’ve learned about Alaska Airlines’ Atmos Rewards upgrades (and a brief primer at the end of this post for upgrades from now until Spring 2026 on Hawaiian-operated flights). Check out my other posts about earning points and elite status perks, too.

The Bottom Line

It should go without saying, but if you want to fly in First Class, book First Class tickets. Upgrades aren’t guaranteed, and of late, it seems they’re fewer and further between and even when they happen, they’re being confirmed later and later—up to and including once folks are on board. But if you’re willing to take your chances, read on …

Complimentary Upgrades

All Alaska elite frequent flyers—now Atmos Rewards elites, as of August 2025–are eligible for complimentary, space-available* upgrades to Premium Class and First Class seats for themselves and one companion traveling with them on the same itinerary on Alaska- or American Airlines-operated flights in North and Central America. Upgrade priority is based on the traveler with the highest elite status. Elites flying on Hawaiian-operated flights in North America also get complimentary, space-available upgrades to Extra Comfort seats (First Class upgrade opportunities are coming in Spring 2026).

Waiting lists can be viewed by checking the flight’s status on Alaska’s website 24-48 hours before scheduled departure, or within 24 hours when looking at the passenger’s itinerary in the Alaska app. Note that the website has information than like number of open seats that’s not in the app, though my experience is that the usefulness of this information is usually questionable.

It’s important to note that “space available” in the context of upgrades means “available seat(s) set aside in the ‘U’ fare class.” These vary by flight, and just because there’s an open seat on the seat map, or the seat selection shows “Upgrade Available” does not mean it’s available if you’re not willing to pay for it. Lots of FAQs here.

The Waitlist

Some tickets are eligible for immediate upgrade when booking; many simply qualify for the upgrade waitlist. Once complimentary upgrade inventory is available (see above for definition of available), upgrades on Alaska flights are made for the elite member and one traveling companion on the same itinerary in the following order:

1. Elite status level
   • Atmos Titanium
   • Atmos Platinum
   • American top tier (OneWorld Emerald)
   • Atmos Gold
   • American Platinum (OneWorld Sapphire)
   • Atmos Silver
   • American Gold (OneWorld Ruby)
2. If there are multiple passengers at a particular status level, the first tie-breaker is Million Miler status. If needed, any further tiebreakers are made based on:
3. Atmos Summit credit card holders, then
4. Corporate travelers, then
5. Status points earned in the current and previous year, then
6. Time of booking

Note that, if only one upgrade seat is available, a single traveler who is next on the upgrade list would be prioritized over a higher-priority elite who is traveling on a single itinerary with a companion. And for itineraries booked using Saver fares (“X” class), travelers are only added to the waitlist within 2 hours of a flight’s scheduled departure, regardless of status level, although if space is available within this window upgrades are processed with the same priority as described.

As an example, if three first class seats were available 24 hours prior to departure and all travelers are individuals (no companions), upgrades would be processed as follows:

1. Atmos Platinum Million Miler
2. Atmos Platinum Summit credit card holder
3. Atmos Gold, regardless of Million Miler status or credit card.

In the above example, if there were only one first class seat available and both Atmos Platinum members were traveling with a companion on their same itinerary, the Gold member would be upgraded to the lone first class seat. This is true for Premium Class upgrades as well.

Immediate Upgrades at Booking

Certain fares are available to be upgraded immediately on a space-available basis (there’s that available thing again) to either Premium Class or First Class at booking or within prescribed windows prior to departure (eligible fares vary based on status level – follow the link for details). Note that sometimes a discounted First Class fare might be available that’s less expensive than an upgrade-eligible Main Cabin fare. It’s weird, but it happens.

Immediate upgrades during booking are how upgrade certificates work as well, whether they’re used for the elite member or for guests. For travelers using an upgrade certificate, the difference between this and a complimentary upgrade based on status is that additional fare classes qualify for upgrade certificates. As well, upgrade certificates are either available or not—they’re never waitlisted.

Premium Class Upgrades

Five notes about Premium Class upgrades, in addition to the First Class tips above:

1. Upgrading to Premium Class will not impact a traveler’s placement on the First Class upgrade list
2. Choosing an exit row seat means a traveler will NOT be put on the Premium Class waitlist (exit row selection has no impact on First Class waitlisting)
3. Upgrades are only processed automatically if the same position of seat (window or aisle) is available. Someone in a middle seat will be automatically upgraded into any available Premium Class seat, however.
4. Regardless of #3 and #4, elite members, including those who reserved exit row seats, can manually choose any available Premium Class seat within their eligible upgrade window (which varies depending on status and purchased fare class).

Note that sometimes the upgrade-eligible fare is less than the price to “buy up” into Premium Class during seat selection or after booking, sometimes it’s the other way around. Be aware; however, if you buy up during seat selection and are later upgraded into First Class, you will not get your money back for the cost of the Premium seat.

Additional Notes

As noted above, not all First Class seats are released for upgrades. Just because it shows as available on a seat map doesn’t mean that upgrade inventory is open. Availability varies based on things like the route, whether other passengers have reservations but didn’t select seats, or other factors.

About one hour prior to departure, Alaska “releases” any First Class seats that aren’t booked. These seats are assigned by the gate agent, so they may not confirm any upgrades until the last minute, depending on what other tasks they’ve prioritized while readying the flight. Of late, it seems like a lot of travelers are seeing this happen after boarding. Not the best process, in my opinion, but Alaska didn’t ask me.

As noted (and picture) above, seat upgrades for Alaska elite travelers are limited to Alaska operated flights and domestic American Airlines flights (details on those here). There are no upgrades on any other partner airlines, regardless of OneWorld membership or status.

Lots of additional FAQs here.

Upgrades on Hawaiian 🌺

Alaska Air’s acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines opened up a whole new set of opportunities (and maybe headaches) for flights and upgrades, which so far are done completely differently than on Alaska-operated flights.

On Hawaiian, first class upgrades are only available to those who have completed a status match between Alaska’s Mileage Plan and Hawaiian’s Pualani elite program. For inter-island flights, the first class upgrades are space-available at time of check in. For longer flights, upgrades utilize certificates each member earns and require the traveler to log in (or call) and request to be added to the flight’s waitlist no more than 30 days and up to 24 hours prior to the flight (Main Cabin Basic fares are not eligible). Upgrades are then confirmed 24 hours prior to departure, with priority given based on time of request. A flight to/from Hawaii and the West Coast utilizes one certificate per passenger. Longer flights utilize two certificates per passenger.

Besides first class upgrades, travelers with Atmos elite status do get some benefits on Hawaiian, including ones available without completing the status match. Those benefits include priority check-in, priority boarding, complimentary checked baggage, and if available, complimentary preferred seats at booking (seats near the front of the plane). Additional benefits are are being rolled out in the coming months.