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Contents 1 Alaska Airlines Flights for the AA Flyer 1.1 General 1.2 PNRs (Confirmation Codes) 1.3 Seat Assignments 1.4 Upgrades 1.5 Check-in 1.6 Baggage 1.7 Security 1.8 Boarding 1.9 AA Mileage Accrual

[edit] Alaska Airlines Flights for the AA Flyer

The information below is based on the contributions of nomore1k and others in this thread. Don't forget to check the Alaska Airlines forum for additional information.

[edit] General

If you live on the West Coast, particularly anywhere outside of the LAX area, chances are you'll be flying Alaska Airlines (AS) in order to stay true to AAdvantage without changing planes in DFW.

The good news: AS is a good airline overall with mostly relatively new planes, good first class service, and nice crews. You will get AA EQMs, EQPs, segments and elite bonuses on all AS flights, just as if you were flying on AA. Further, most (but not all) AS flights have an AA codeshare number, and if you fly on an AA flight number, the EQPs also count toward Challenges. Your AA Elite Status will get you into nicer Y seats on AS if your flight is booked as an AA flight number.

The bad news: AA elite status does not provide any preferential treatment towards upgrades on AS. There are no powerports on AS planes. Admirals Club membership does not provide access to AS lounges (Board Rooms).

[edit] PNRs (Confirmation Codes)

If you’ve booked a codeshare ticket (AA flight number), your AA PNR or Record Locator is different from your AS 'Confirmation Code', which is all letters with no numbers. You will need your AS Confirmation Code in order to complete online check-in or change seats. The only way to get it is to call AS, give them your flight number and last name, and they will give you your Confirmation Code.

[edit] Seat Assignments

AA Elites and those booked in full fare Y are entitled to sit in row 6 (front of Y, but not necessarily a bulkhead seat) or the exit rows. If your ticket is booked through AA.com, your AA status will be recognized automatically and you will usually be assigned directly into row 6. You may not be able to access the preferred seats online at alaskaair.com unless you paid full fare Y, however, if you call your AA Elite line, they will be able to assign those seats to you. Row 6 is allowed to board ahead of the rest of economy class, but all AA elites should also be able to preboard (see below).

Note that if you book through a alaskaair.com or an outside agent with an AA flight number, the AS systems will NOT recognize your AA Elite Status and you will not have access to preferred seats.

[edit] Upgrades

AA elite status earns no upgrade privileges on AS other than those available to any passenger. Any coach passenger can upgrade at the airport at a kiosk, ticket counter, or gate if F seats are still available after all AS elites have been accommodated. AS elites get unlimited, complimentary upgrades on AS. Full fare Y passengers may also be able to upgrade at online check-in. It costs $50 on short flights and $100 on mid-cons. The procedure for releasing the seats is unclear (check the AS forum) but it does not appear to be possible to upgrade prior to online check-in. It is also unclear if there is a waiting list like the AA PALL List - you ask, you can either buy an upgrade or you can't.

[edit] Check-in

Online check-in is available 24 hours in advance using the AS Confirmation Code. If you have an AS flight connecting to an AA flight, the online check-in will check you in for both flights. Alaska Airlines will print boarding passes for AA-operated connecting flights at check-in and vice versa. It is not clear if this counts as AA check-in time with respect to standby priority.

Kiosk check-in is available at most (all?) AS airports, and some are airside. You cannot check-in on these until the day of the flight.

Although it is not clearly marked, AA Elites are allowed to use AS First Class check-in lines.

[edit] Baggage

AA Elites are NOT exempt from the AS $15 first or $25 second checked bag charges, which were instituted in May 2009 and July 2008.

[edit] Security

Several AA Elites have had good luck accessing the AS Elite security lines at SFO, SAN, and PDX using their AA Elite cards. This is significant because there are no AA gates behind the security used for AS at those airports and the signs do not explicitly say AA Elites are allowed to use the lines.

[edit] Boarding

Boarding order on AS is:

1. Pre-boards
2. First and AS 'MVP Golds'
3. Row 6, AS 'MVPs' and partner Elites (including AA Elites)
4. Row 15 and higher
5. General boarding

There are separate boarding lines for First Class and Economy passengers. While it may not be official AS policy, AA Elites report being able to use the First Class line at any point during the boarding process.

[edit] AA Mileage Accrual

AA codeshare flights on AS metal accrue EQM/EQP as if on AA metal. For flights with AS flight numbers, see AA.com for EQM/EQP accrual rules.