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Losing a benefit is never fun, even if said benefit is sometimes hard to use. In this instance, the latest casualty is the international upgrade certificates, or American Airlines Systemwide Upgrades, that Alaska Airlines awards its Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K and 100K members annually. Starting in 2025, Alaska will sunset this benefit.
Here's what Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan elites need to know about this development.
Alaska Airlines To Sunset American Airlines Systemwide Upgrade Vouchers for Mileage Plan Elites
Alaska Airlines and American Airlines have a cozy relationship, courtesy of both carriers belonging to the Oneworld alliance. And for travelers flying either carrier, this relationship is easy to appreciate, given several reciprocal benefits that make flying AA or Alaska more rewarding.
For Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K and 100K elites, Alaska awards one or two one-way international upgrade certificates for use on American Airlines annually, depending on your status. Commonly known as “Systemwide Upgrades,” Alaska is pulling the benefit starting in 2025.
On the American–Alaska reciprocal benefit page, you'll find the following statement:
“We’re committed to continually improving your experience. Based on guest feedback, we’ll be sunsetting American Airlines systemwide upgrade vouchers beginning in 2025, while we continue to invest in other ways to provide improved access to and utility of your Alaska Air upgrade benefits. You’ll also continue to enjoy eligibility for unlimited complimentary upgrades on American Airlines in North America (based on availability) – no upgrade certificates required.”
To distill, nothing is changing outside of the free AA Systemwide Upgrades (SWUs) going away. As a Mileage Plan elite, you'll still enjoy Main Cabin Extra seating, complimentary upgrades on flights within North America, and a checked bag allowance.
It's unclear what — if anything — will replace the outgoing SWUs. Hopefully, Alaska will make its MVP Gold 75K and 100K members whole. Time will tell, but eliminating this benefit in the guise of “improving your experience” is a bit odd.
Final Thoughts
Elite status — especially the upper echelons of Mileage Plan elite status — is hard to earn. Generally, pushing for those higher tiers requires a hard look at the benefits, the effort needed to get the status, and whether it's worth it. Ultimately, earning elite status and having a benefit stripped away is disappointing.
American Airlines Systemwide Upgrades can be hard to use. All to say, the departure of this Mileage Plan benefit might not faze some. But for those able to maximize the one or two vouchers issued per year, this could be very disappointing.
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