Alaska’s Mileage Plan has consistently been running a 50% bonus on elite qualifying miles flown on Alaska flights (for instance here and here. This is being extended through end of 2021.
The airline isn’t doing a straight-up status extension like Delta and Hilton are doing. Instead, their plan to keep elite members who don’t qualify in 2021 is more of a ‘winback’ offer.
- Anyone who doesn’t requalify this year gets their status extended through April 30, 2022
- And they’ll have a status challenge to keep that status based on flying done during January – April, 2022.
Alaska Airlines First Class
Travel companies have a conundrum. They want to use their status programs to incentivize travel. But they don’t want to lose good customers that aren’t back to traveling yet. And the most lucrative customers tend to be business travelers, and many businesses aren’t yet back on the road. Even a mostly-domestic airline like Alaska (and Southwest) has this to wrestle with, though airlines with international route networks even more so.
I fly on business. I am not flying now.
I risk being Cattle level Elite. If so, I will think hard choosing an airline. It won’t necessarily be the airline that I’ve been elite for 7 years in a row. The airline could sweeten it and say that I can reclaim my status one time within the next 5 years. I do not see return to travel in 2022, which is 3 1/2 months away. 2023 is possible but 2024 is more likely.
Gary can you post a copy of the email? I’m MVP Gold but can’t find a copy in my inbox or spam folders.
Per TPG also 2,500 EQM per $2,500 of spend on the AS Credit card to 20,000 max.
This is incorrect. AS will extend the status you had on 1/1/21. Minor but important detail. I am AS75K now, but wasn’t on 1/1/21. My 75K status will expire on 12/31/21
@Deltahater if you earned a higher status in 2021, it’s already valid through 1/31/2023.