The Absolute Best for Elite Level Flyers
Written: Oct 20 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use and generous mileage plan. Excellent Benefits.
Cons: NONE.
The Bottom Line: The best mileage plan I've participated in. Excellent for anyone on the west coast. Great partner carrier network to earn and use points.
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| fredelledge's Full Review: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan |
I've been an Alaska MVP Gold member for over 10 years, and wouldn't dream of flying with anyone else, unless it was absolutely necessary. I also belong to NW Worldperks (just so-so), United Mileage Plus (ugh) and American Aadvantage (just so-so).
Alaska has some of the easiest mileage requirements in the industry to achieve MVP and MVP Gold status. For 2004 they have gently increased requirements and here they are:
To achieve MVP status and receive a 50% bonus on all miles flown, just fly 20,000 miles on Alaska or Horizon (their local partner) within a year. OR fly 25,000 actual miles on Alaska, Horizon or their partner carriers American, Northwest, KLM, or Lan Chile.
For GOLD status and to receive a 100% bonus on all miles flown, just fly 40,000 miles on Alaska or Horizon, or 50,000 miles with Alaska or their partners.
Besides lots of bonus miles, MVP's and Gold MVP's receive some of the most generous first class upgrades for free in the industry. I love it. The www.alaskaair.com web site lists all the details.
Alaska's first class is wonderful. Great seats, good recline, the best food of any first class domestic cabin I've flown in. On long flights they provide dvd players for free to first class passengers! Gold MVP's are also given 4 free upgrades for first class that they can give to other passengers....how's that for unheard of with other airlines! And Gold MVP's also receive 4 upgrades to use for first class on Northwest Airlines...which is just average in my opinion, but it sure beats sitting in coach.
Have a friend flying with you? Alaska Gold status allows that friend to be upgraded with you for a first class seat as long as they are booked on the same reservation as your ticket. Just call within 72 hours of the flight to see if seats are available! If you buy a full coach fare (Y,B,S, M, H or Q) you'll be upgraded immediately and do not need to wait until 72 hours before the flight.
MVP's and Gold MVP's get priority boarding, use the first class lines to check in, and get to use the priority security lines at the airports!
Gold members also get FREE changes made to tickets that are in the same class of service. Regular MVP's do get charged a change fee like everyone else.
In addition, if you look at the Alaska Mileage Award Chart, the partner carriers allow you to fly virtually anywhere in the world. Alaska has a travel desk that will book all your travel and the staff is amazing. I've booked several international trips in First or Business and with stopovers or open jaws, and the staff has been first rate in accomodating my needs. I can't say enough about their excellent customer service. When booking a trip once the reservation is made you have a week before the points are actually taken out of your account, to confirm other travel reservations for your trip, which is a really nice feature if you're trying to book hotels, or tour packages.
Do your research and you'll find this is one of the most generous and customer friendly mileage plans of any airline!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
fredelledge
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Reviews written: 32
Trusted by: 0 members
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