Alaska Airlines has changed their elite upgrades from paper certificates to electronic upgrades and added fare class restrictions. Elite members who qualify for MVP Gold for 2012 will receive four electronic upgrades in their Mileage Plan account that will expire on Dec. 31, 2012. All paper upgrade certificates will expire on Dec. 31, 2011.

After purchasing an eligible ticket, MVP Gold members can request an upgrade using the electronic Guest Upgrade code. Log into your MVP Gold account and the code will automatically be entered into the appropriate field. Flights booked in G or T classes (which are the lowest fares) will no longer be eligible for upgrades.

Mileage Plan members can now earn more miles when flying on Full Flex (Y) coach fares. Passengers on Full Flex coach fares will now earn 125 percent of miles flown and the miles will count toward elite status. Previously, members only earned 100 percent of miles flown in Y.