Alaska Airlines

Tag Archives for Alaska Airlines.

How Alaska Airlines Is Considering Changing Its Frequent Flyer Program

by Gary Leff on March 5, 2020

Mar 05 2020

Alaska Airlines is surveying potential changes to their program, including moving to revenue-based earning and offering elite tiers starting at just 5000 qualifying miles.

While programs survey potential changes all of the time, and many of the potential ideas being surveyed never see the light of day, since it’s reasonable to expect to see changes to the program coming as a result of the American and oneworld partnership, changes that Mileage Plan is surveying now become especially interesting.

Alaska’s Squirrelly Gambit To Make Up Lost Ticket Sales Due To Coronavirus

by Gary Leff on February 28, 2020

Feb 28 2020

Alaska is making a similiar – albeit less generous – move as what JetBlue has announced. They are also suspending fees on new ticket purchases made made March 11, ~~but they are only suspending fees until March 11~~. (Update: That was mistaken info provided by Alaska.)

One Restriction That Will Be Placed On Elites When Alaska Joins oneworld

by Gary Leff on February 16, 2020

Feb 16 2020

If you are a oneworld sapphire member – think British Airways Silver – you get lounge access domestically within the U.S. even though American Airlines frequent flyers don’t.

In fact oneworld sapphires, which is the mid-tier elite level, get American’s Flagship lounge (international business class lounge) access on U.S. domestic itineraries. American gets a carve-out in oneworld rules so they do not have to offer this to their own members.

Why Alaska Airlines Will Devalue Mileage Plan As Part Of Joining oneworld

by Gary Leff on February 14, 2020

Feb 14 2020

American Airlines had been winding down its partnership with Alaska Airlines. American viewed Alaska Airlines as a competitor once Alaska acquired Virgin America. They emphasized the substantial route overlap rather than the unique contributions of each airline.

Now they’ve done a 180 degree turn. But for this to work for American, can Alaska have such a generous frequent flyer program?

Alaska Is Joining oneworld and American Launching India Service

by Gary Leff on February 13, 2020

Feb 13 2020

American and Alaska are partners again. The previously-announced March 1 breakup isn’t happening. Alaska Airlines is joining oneworld. And American will fly from Seattle to Bangalore, India (and Seattle – London).

Alaska’s Extremely Lucrative Partner Bonus Mile Promotion

by Gary Leff on February 4, 2020

Feb 04 2020

This doesn’t just give you a lot more miles than you’d normally earn on the cheapest fares, it serves as a reason to credit those fares to Alaska’s Mileage Plan program.

Alaska is already super generous with earning on premium cabin fares on partners, offering big bonuses as part of the program. But this promotion focuses on delivering the most value to customers flying the least expensive tickets – a real departure in recent times for the industry.

More Generous Frequent Flyer Program Drives Profits At Alaska Airlines

by Gary Leff on February 1, 2020

Feb 01 2020

Despite being hobbled by a less aggressive co-brand credit card issuer in Bank of America, Alaska reports in their fourth quarter earnings call that they “saw double-digit percentage growth in our revenues” from Mileage Plan and that comes on top of “incredible years of growth in our loyalty program since the acquisition.”

The financial performance of the program demonstrates that charting their own course – investing more in marketing – drives customer loyalty and revenue to the airline and helps them to compete effectively against less generous airlines

A Way To Book Singapore Airlines First Class Awards Not Even Available To Singapore’s Own Members

by Gary Leff on January 7, 2020

Jan 07 2020

Alaska Airlines partners with Singapore Airlines. Alaska has access to more award space than other Singapore Airlines partners. Usually partner airlines, like fellow Star Alliance members United and Avianca, cannot book business or first class long haul awards on Singapore Airlines at all.

Alaska not only is able to book premium cabin awards between the U.S. and Asia on Singapore Airlines but Alaska seems to show availability soemtimes when Singapore isn’t offering the space to its own Krisflyer members.

Alaska Airlines: Double Miles And Up To 50% Off Fiji Airways Awards

by Gary Leff on January 6, 2020

Jan 06 2020

Alaska Airlines is offering double miles when crediting paid Fiji Airways travel to Mileage Plan. Registration required. Tickets must be booked by February 29 for travel between February 1 and June 30.

And they’re also running a discount of up to 50% on Fiji Airways award redemption through February 29.

Alaska Airlines Apologizes. And I Like It.

by Gary Leff on December 22, 2019

Dec 22 2019

Alaska Airlines had twice the usual number of baggage handlers call in sick since Friday morning, though the airline says this is not part of a coordinated job action. As a result many bags didn’t make it to their destination. That’s frustrating for customers, of course.

What’s notable to me, though, is the Alaska Airlines apology. There’s nothing mealy mouthed about it. There’s no hedging. It’s not offered in the third person.