Alaska Airlines joins the oneworld alliance March 31. Before the pandemic it seemed inevitable that Alaska’s joining oneworld would mean devaluing the mileage program.
Alaska’s Mileage Plan miles are more valuable than, for instance, American AAdvantage miles. Would American be partnering with Alaska so closely if they hadn’t addressed this – a pain point in the relationship between the two airlines in the past?
However Alaska says no changes to current partner redemption pricing when they join oneworld, and to expect advance notice of any changes. Alaska external relations communications manager Ray Lane shares,
We’ll announce award pricing for new oneworld partners as redemption is launched. As always, we’ll strive to give at least 90 days’ notice if changes were coming to any current partner awards.
There are no planned changes to current oneworld partner award pricing for March 31.
Currently some of Alaska’s one-way sweet spots include:
- Cathay Pacific to Asia in business (50,000) and first (70,000)
- Cathay Pacific to Africa in business (62,500) and first (80,000, though expect to fly first only US-Asia)
- Cathay Pacific to Australia in business (60,000) and first (80,000, though expect to fly first only US-Asia)
- Japan Airlines to Southeast Asia in business (65,000) and first (75,000)
- British Airways first class to Europe for 70,000 and to Africa (80,000)
- Qantas to Australia in business (55,000) and first (75,000)
Cathay Pacific First Class
Not making changes to existing award chart pricing upon joining oneworld suggests that when Alaska joins oneworld we’ll still have separate award charts for individual partners, with new charts being added,
- Since award pricing varies by partner, and Alaska says pricing isn’t changing, this suggests we may still see separate redemption charts for each oneworld partner (or at least for existing partners).
- Perhaps they’ll introduce award booking that allows combining more than one partner airline on the same award itinerary. That would involve a new ‘multi-partner’ redemption chart.
- Alaska’s current chart for partners does not allow travel between all cities those partners serve. That’s been assumed to change with Alaska joining oneworld. For existing partners perhaps additional travel regions will be added to each chart.
Alaska is the best airline in the us
Other notable bests in the us:
1. Food: Kansas City BBQ
2. Drink: Spindrift
3. City: Mianus, CT
4. Car: Tesla
5. Stock: $PLTR
6. College: Dartmouth
7. Pillow: purple harmony
8. Blog: marginal revolution
With American Airlines breathing down their neck, it’s only a matter of time before Alaska caves in and devalues their program.. It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when.
And you believe them?
Alaska Airlines Changed Their Mind About Why They Devalued Without Notice
by Gary Leff on April 3, 2016
Alaska Airlines Devalues Without Notice Again, Doubling Intra-Asia Cathay Pacific Awards
by Gary Leff on May 6, 2016
Alaska Airlines Guts Emirates Awards Without Notice, But There’s a Trick to Still Save Miles
by Gary Leff on March 31, 2016
Alaska Airlines Begs for Forgiveness After Today’s Devaluation, Might Do It Again
by Gary Leff on March 31, 2016
Are oneWorld carrier going to release more award space now since there are more people going for the same award seats?
Safe to assume OW Emerald status via AS will *NOT* allow entry to Admirals Clubs on domestic itineraries??
Easy, instead of devaluing the chart as they join OW on Mar 31st, just devalue on the perfect day, the very next: April 1st!
@Danny: my thoughts exactly! “As always, we’ll strive to (give at least 90 days notice)…”
instead of “We will (etc)”.
Though it’s been already almost five years ago, I still can’t forget the bad taste the overnight Emirates awards’ gutting left me with.
@beyounged: LOL! You’re so funny. And we’ll be the (April) Fools
CX F awards Noth America to Africa are 70K AS Mileage Plan Miles, not 80K. The 7.5K supplement for the TPAC in F is a great deal. The HKG-JNB/CPT flight will be in J since CX doesn’t operate 4 Cabin aircraft on the route. AS also allows stopovers on one-way awards which adds even greater value.