Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - Change/cancel question on an AS50 ticket purchased with gold miles

Question: I purchased an AS50 (50% off) ticket for another person (who doesn't have status) using my MVP Gold miles. I know what my change/cancel options are if this were a full mileage ticket, but I can't find any information on this type of award ticket.

Anyone have any input?

Question: I purchased an AS50 (50% off) ticket for another person (who doesn't have status) using my MVP Gold miles. I know what my change/cancel options are if this were a full mileage ticket, but I can't find any information on this type of award ticket.

Anyone have any input?

I ran into this when buying a ticket for someone else who couldn't travel. Bottom line: You (as the MVPG who purchased the ticket for them) can reuse the ticket's dollar value without penalty for yourself AND get the benefit of the AS50 discount on a future trip. But you can't redeposit the miles separately -- once ticketed, an AS50 discount is hardwired to the ticket.

You can also change the ticket on behalf of the other traveler, but you'd then pay a change fee unless the other traveler is also MVPG.

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I ran into this when buying a ticket for someone else who couldn't travel. Bottom line: You (as the MVPG who purchased the ticket for them) can reuse the ticket's dollar value without penalty for yourself AND get the benefit of the AS50 discount on a future trip. But you can't redeposit the miles separately -- once ticketed, an AS50 discount is hardwired to the ticket.

You can also change the ticket on behalf of the other traveler, but you'd then pay a change fee unless the other traveler is also MVPG.

You most certainly can re-deposit the miles, however at that point you forfeit the dollar value of the ticket. I think the only time it would make any sense to do this would be if the ticket is about to expire.

You most certainly can re-deposit the miles, however at that point you forfeit the dollar value of the ticket. I think the only time it would make any sense to do this would be if the ticket is about to expire.

Good clarification. Another way to explain the "separately" is that a Gold can't both reuse the dollar value of the ticket for another ticket and at the same time redeposit the miles redeemed for the AS50 discount back into the originating MVP Gold account for later use. The dollar value and AS50 discount are welded together, once the AS50 ticket is issued.

Even if you don't want the AS50 discount, you'll get it if you reuse the ticket's dollar value.

Why might this be a downside? AS50 tickets aren't eligible for upgrades. So if an MVP Gold reused it for him/herself, he or she would have to buy directly into F if they want to be in First, or plan to enjoy a discounted coach seat. As I once discovered.

From the AS site (where the AS50 is now called the Money & Miles Award) at
http://www.alaskaair.com/as/mileageplan/onlineawardchart.asp
Money & Miles Award: Starting at 7,500 Miles One Way and 15,000 Miles Round Trip
Valid on itineraries with flights operated only by Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Receive up to a 50% discount on most fares. Maximum discount is $250 (USD) off of the base fare for 15,000 Miles and $125 (USD) off of the base fare for 7,500 Miles. You earn 50% of the miles flown when traveling on this award. Complimentary upgrades not allowed.