Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Elite Status
Written: Oct 01 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy first class upgrades, generous mileage bonuses, great elite member benefits.
Cons: Few choice of awards, higher mileage requirement for partner awards.
The Bottom Line: Unlimited first class upgrades, unrestricted tickets for restricted ticket prices, fewer mileage redemption opportunities - a great program for elite members.
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| jkc22's Full Review: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan |
The Two-Tier System
I am an MVP Gold member in the Mileage Plan and find it a very good frequent flyer rewards program (FFP) in comparison to other FFP's such as AAdvantage (American), Mileage Plus (United), World Perks (Northwest). One of the primary reasons is that Alaska's FFP has only a two-tier elite system, whereas the aforementioned FFP's all have a three-tier elite system. This allows one to obtain Alaska's MVP Gold status (the top elite status) rather quickly by flying only 50,000 miles (other carriers require flying 100,000 miles to obtain top elite status).
Elite Benefits
Alaska's FFP offers some of the best elite member benefits of all carriers. I am also a member of the AAdvantage (Platinum) and Mileage Plus (Executive), and find that their elite member benefits not as good as Alaska's. Alaska gives its MVP Gold members the following:
- 100% bonus flight miles
- 50K bonus miles for each 75K flight miles
- Unlimited first-class upgrades for member and one companion
- Confirmed first-class upgrade at time of ticket purchase (any fare!)
- Guest upgrade certificates
- Ticket change fees waived on all restricted Alaska and Horizon tickets!
- Board Room (Alaska's lounge) initiation fee waived
It is also important to note that Alaska's upgrades are "one-way" upgrades (regardless of flight length), whereas other carriers issue upgrade "credits" for 500-mile segments. On a flight from SEA-EWR one would have to use 6-credits to upgrade one-way for either American or United. Credits for American and United are issued at a rate of 4 credits for every 10,000 flight miles. Technically, one would have to fly 30K miles to earn a free upgrade from SEA-EWR on American or United, whereas on Alaska it's absolutely free!
Service
Service I received from Alaska has always been polite and efficient. Elite member have dedicated phone lines for all services. I have never been put on hold for more than one minute during any time of day. Also, as an elite member one receives "first-class" service (check-in, security check, baggage claim). One may never have to travel in coach class on Alaska if one maintains his elite status.
Partners
Alaska's FFP is partnered with American Airlines, British Airways, Horizon Air, Lan Chile, KLM, Continental Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Quantas. One may redeem and accrue miles on all Alaska's partners, but only accrue elite status "qualification miles", "bonus miles", and "class of service bonus miles" on American, Horizon, Lan Chile, and KLM. Alaska does not have as many partners as American or United. Also, Alaska does not belong to any "alliances" (OneWorld or Star), but I expect this to change soon. Alaska's elite members do not receive any reciprocal elite member benefits on any partners (except Northwest, which offers first-class upgrades), and vice-versa.
Awards
Awards are the usual offered by all other FFP's. However, Alaska has "Saver Awards" which allows one to redeem tickets for less miles (20K for domestic coach). However, if one wants to redeem domestic first award, the mileage requirement is 40K for "Saver Award". In redeeming partner awards, mileage requirement for business class tickets is higher (50K for American compared to 40K required under the AAdvantage). Also, upgrade only awards are not available for redemption on partner airlines.
Miles
Miles earned in Alaska's FFP never expire. Other mileage earning opportunities include credit cards, dining plans, hotels, rental cars, long distance services, and investment services. Alaska's FFP does not offer as many service partners as American or United.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
jkc22
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Location: San Francisco, CA
Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
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