Did alaska change the terms on fly & buy miles for refundable tickets?
Apr 6, 2014, 6:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Kamuela, Hawaii
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, AA Plat, UA Silver, AS MVP, HA premier
Posts: 509
Did alaska change the terms on fly & buy miles for refundable tickets?
I just noticed this term in the T&C for alaska's "Fly & Buy" miles:
"Fly & Buy Miles purchased with a ticket that is later refunded will be subject to additional fees at the standard rate of 2.75 cents per mile plus applicable taxes"
Questions:
1) Is this a new provision? I don't recall seeing it before.
2) Has anyone had any experience with this? Are they actually enforcing it?
3) If someone has been charged, is Alaska charging the difference between the 2.75 cent standard rate and the 2.0 cent discounted rate, or are they charging both?
I can understand that someone at Alaska may be worried about "abuse" of Fly & Buy. (Although it's not obvious why, since they routinely have offers to buy at the 2.0 cent price.) However, people legitimately buy refundable tickets. It would be a pain to have to track one particular refundable ticket that has to be modified instead of refunded if I don't want to be charged (or double charged) for miles.
"Fly & Buy Miles purchased with a ticket that is later refunded will be subject to additional fees at the standard rate of 2.75 cents per mile plus applicable taxes"
Questions:
1) Is this a new provision? I don't recall seeing it before.
2) Has anyone had any experience with this? Are they actually enforcing it?
3) If someone has been charged, is Alaska charging the difference between the 2.75 cent standard rate and the 2.0 cent discounted rate, or are they charging both?
I can understand that someone at Alaska may be worried about "abuse" of Fly & Buy. (Although it's not obvious why, since they routinely have offers to buy at the 2.0 cent price.) However, people legitimately buy refundable tickets. It would be a pain to have to track one particular refundable ticket that has to be modified instead of refunded if I don't want to be charged (or double charged) for miles.
Apr 6, 2014, 6:31 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: AS MVPG, CO, NW(now DL), Flying Blue
Posts: 6,554
they probably did change the terms. There was a fellow with a thread on here not too long ago that had their account blocked for repeatedly doing this to game the system. While I dont know for sure, Im thinking you would just be charged the additional .75. To me this makes complete sense. Perhaps if you wanted the funds as a credit rather than a refund you wouldnt be charged extra fees most likely
Apr 6, 2014, 7:05 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,387
Just call this rule the "I'm going to buy a discounted trip in EK F or CX F by buying a bunch of SEA-PDX refundable Y tickets with miles, and refunding the tickets every time" rule.
Oct 23, 2014, 3:43 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Kamuela, Hawaii
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, AA Plat, UA Silver, AS MVP, HA premier
Posts: 509
It's been about 6 months since Alaska added this provision. Has anyone been charged yet? I'm curious as to whether actual experience answers any of my original questions.
Oct 23, 2014, 9:00 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS 75k, Starwood
Posts: 123
Oct 23, 2014, 10:32 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,387
Eeeeexactly.
And to be honest, I doubt people are going to be posting on FT about "hey, I totally bought 20 refundable Y tickets just to fly EK F and AS never charged me the extra cash they were supposed to once I refunded the tickets", even if it happened, for pretty obvious reasons.
Hint: AS employees are active FT participants. Especially in this forum.
It's an application of the "DON'T CALL THE AIRLINE ON A MISTAKE FARE" rule...
Oct 24, 2014, 6:28 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Eeeeexactly.
And to be honest, I doubt people are going to be posting on FT about "hey, I totally bought 20 refundable Y tickets just to fly EK F and AS never charged me the extra cash they were supposed to once I refunded the tickets", even if it happened, for pretty obvious reasons.
Hint: AS employees are active FT participants. Especially in this forum.
It's an application of the "DON'T CALL THE AIRLINE ON A MISTAKE FARE" rule...
