Alaska Mileage Plan has long been one of my favorite frequent flyer programs. There is a lot to like, starting with the variety of international airline partners. But the most important factors supporting my opinion are:
- The ability to have a free stopover on one-way awards. This opens up a number of travel hacking opportunities, especially if you live near a major hub airport 😉
- The relatively low cost of First and Business Class awards to/from Asia on Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines in particular
But in the time since Alaska joined the Oneworld alliance, we have seen Alaska implement changes that are very worrying. The latest almost-no-notice changes involve awards on Alaska and American.
Alaska First Class Devaluation
Alaska Mileage Plan has increased the upper limit of First Class award flights.
This might not seem hugely relevant, especially if these higher prices only co-incide with expensive, peak date travel. But should a one-way flight in domestic First Class between Seattle and Chicago cost the same number of miles as a one-way flight in First Class between New York and Hong Kong or Tokyo???
American Airlines Dynamic Pricing
Perhaps we shouldn’t fault Alaska Mileage Plan for something that might be driven by American Airlines, but the idea of dynamic award pricing is rarely beneficial for consumers, especially for members of a PARTNER’s frequent flyer program.
Even if this opens up additional AA award space for Alaska Mileage Plan members, does anybody truly believe that American Airlines will allow a partner airline to charge fewer miles than AAdvantage charges to its own members?
New Partners Award Pricing is Atrocious
Alaska Mileage Plan has been slowly adding various Oneworld partners to its award options. We have written about a couple of the major additions, such as:
- Iberia Airlines – click here for details
- Qatar Airways – click here for details
Other airlines have also been added recently, such as Royal Air Maroc and Royal Jordanian.
With no exceptions that I am aware of, the award charts published for these airlines are SUBSTANTIALLY worse than alternative booking options such as American Airlines AAdvantage or the operating airline’s own frequent flyer program.
Bottom line
Alaska Mileage Plan used to have nice little customer-friendly business model. Earn miles from travel and day-to-day activities – or even buy them – and redeem them on aspirational long-haul partner airlines. With the added bonus of a free stopover to allow you to visit more than one city on your Asian or European holiday…
It was easy to place a high value on your Alaska miles when you didn’t need too many to fly to Asia in First Class. But how long until that sweetspot disappears? And with it a substantial percentage of the value of your Alaska miles?
Luckily I’ve already reduced my 6-figure balance of Alaska miles down to zero, as I think the good times are ending sooner rather than later…
What do you think about Alaska Mileage Plan? Let us know in the comments section…
I could not agree with you more! Bye Bye Alaska Airlines! I have been researching and booking flights for over 1 year now for the sole purpose of seeing if AS actually stands by their published award levels. I can tell you with 100 percent accuracy they do not. My test route was Seattle – Dallas . I booked and recorded each attempt to use my 10K award level one way 2 x per month for 12 months straight. Not one time did they offer a flight for the 10K miles like they publish. NOT ONCE 🙂 I called them to get them to book me something and the response I got was it is 10K + and they don’t have to offer that on all their routes or flight times. I said cool I will take the next available RT Flight you can book me from Seattle to Dallas. They could only find flight that connected in Portland and landed in Dallas the next day. This was 10K Miles PLUS MONEY one way. Even they could not locate a flight. I have over 100K miles on Delta and over 100K on Alaska. I switched from DL to AK under a recommendation of several friends that LOVED Alaska’s Award system. Those same friends have now started switching to other cards/carriers. I am regretting my move now since I would have well over 200K had I stayed with Delta.
Today I booked a flight from Seattle to Dallas on Expedia- Total fare 347.00 RT Traveling on Alaska Airlines
Today I also booked a flight from Seattle to Dallas on Alaska Airlines Directly and the total fare was $577.80
The flight leaving Seattle was a better time via expedia and not even offered on AS site. Flights left within 2 hours of each other. Return flight was exact same !
We here in the PNW have always loved Alaska Airlines- Unfortunately I think they are about to get knocked off their high horse.
I dont typically comment on articles as I know there are always so many variables that go into articles and opinions of others but after spending 4 hours today between trying to book flights and talking directly with Alaska Airlines I think the word needs to get out to steer clear of the Alaska Airlines Credit card and mileage plan. There are far better ones out there and far better loyalty programs to choose from. If you are not interested in the miles or perks just the airfare…even more of a reason to steer clear of Alaska Airlines…..At least out of Seattle.