Alaska Airlines Fixes Their Award Chart After Lack of Trust Meant a Major Scare

May 06 2016

This morning I wrote that Alaska Airlines award charts were showing higher prices for Cathay Pacific awards intra-Asia — with business class up over 120% and first class up over 150%.

Intra-Asia awards appeared to be the same price as US-Asia awards. As I wrote, when readers first reported this several days ago I assumed it “was a mistake related to Alaska updating the way they displayed award charts.” Indeed, one-way premium economy awards at 15,000 one way and 70,000 roundtrip made no sense. However Alaska was confirming the new pricing as correct.

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Airline Lobbyists Want to Shame — But Not Fix — The TSA

May 06 2016

Denver airport is known for unmatched security wait times. One thousand American Airlines passengers missed flights at just one airport – Chicago O’Hare – in just one month (March) due to long security wait times.

Atlanta airport was so frustrated that they threatened to privatize. Now Atlanta is closing down the South security checkpoint for renovations and the TSA plans to turn over some of the process to Delta there.

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When Will American AAdvantage Go Revenue-Based?

May 06 2016

American announced in the Fall that they’ll start awarding miles for flights based on price of ticket rather than distance flown in “late 2016.”

There have also been references to “the second half of 2016” which is the language American used in its most recent SEC form 10-K filing. That’s got members worried.

One of the most frequent questions I get is when this change will happen, with customers even booking away from American now on the fear that it could happen July 1 (which is, of course, in “the second half” of the year).

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Mistake Not a Devaluation? Alaska Airlines Still Pricing Cathay Pacific Awards at Old Rates

May 06 2016

This morning I wrote that Alaska Airlines award charts were showing higher prices for Cathay Pacific awards intra-Asia — with business class up over 120% and first class up over 150%.

Intra-Asia awards appeared to be the same price as US-Asia awards. As I wrote, when readers first reported this several days ago I assumed it “was a mistake related to Alaska updating the way they displayed award charts.” However Alaska was confirming the new pricing as correct.

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Alaska Airlines Devalues Without Notice Again, Doubling Intra-Asia Cathay Pacific Awards

May 06 2016

A little over a month ago Alaska Airlines made no-notice changes to their Emirates award charts for business and first class travel, raising prices by as much as 100%.

Alaska Airlines sought to reassure members, that this incident aside, they’d provide advance notice of changes in the future. Except, it seems, that they made no-notice changes again.

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AMAZING $354 New York – Hong Kong Roundtrip

May 05 2016

There’s currently availability to fly New York – Hong Kong roundtrip for an incredible $354.

Most of the flying is on Air Canada, and it’s an Air Canada fare (fare basis KLXUNV) available for outbound travel August 21 through December 11.

You have to fly the transpacific segment using Air Canada on a Monday through Thursday in each direction. Minimum stay is 3 days from departure of your last flight, and maximum stay is 6 months. Tickets are non-refundable.

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