Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - Any more signs of MVP Platinum tier?

Anyone heard anything recently about the possibility of an MVPP tier? The last update I could find was this one (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7186560) from the Feb MVPG lunch that didn't make it seem too likely.

Just curious, as it's getting to that time of year where qualification threshholds start to impact my travel booking decisions :D

A change to the elite structure would most likely be announced towards the end of the year to begin with the 1st of the following year. That way everyone would be on an equal footing to start off. For example, MVP Plat starting in program year 2009 would be announced late 2007 with qualifying starting 1/1/2008. Those reaching the threshold during 2008 would have status for the remainder of the year and all of 2009. Since it appears that there were no FT'ers in attendance at the last luncheon, it's hard to say if the topic was discussed however it has been discussed in the past. My Gold status ended 12/31/06 and I have been "regular" MVP since and actually do not miss being gold. The FC product out of Phoenix is so lackluster now and as a Gold upgrades on transcons were few and far between. I may lose AS status altogether at the end of this year due to a combination of change in flying patterns and disdain for the "upgraded experience" on AS. This year I have credited most of my AS miles to CO where I get 100% EQM towards status that, while upgrade success is about equal, the product I am upgraded to is far superior.

I was at the Gold Lunch on the 19th and no mention was made of MVPP

I was at the Gold Lunch on the 19th and no mention was made of MVPP

Thanks SEAFFLYER - we have all been wondering what was discussed but there has yet to be a contribution to the thread here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=716006) from a FT'er who actually attended. If you have a few moments could you please add to that thread and give us some insight? I know alot of us would greatly appreciate it. I am particularly curious to know who from AS attended and if VX's entry into the market was brought up. Again, thanks in advance for the contribution.

I was at the Gold Lunch on the 19th and no mention was made of MVPP

Please!Please!Please!SEAFLYER help us out your the closet to an attendee we've had yet.

As they say in political campaigns, its the inventory, stupid. They can call it titanium, if they like, but without seat availalbility, status doesn't mean much. I first became Gold on a status match, some years ago. At the time, upgrading was a piece of cake. My original observation was that all of the flights were heavy with seniors, who had figured out that with time, flexibility, and special fares, they could suck the seats out First before anybody got there. By the way, I'm not dumping on old people. I am just pointing out that the system favored the first come user. In my case, I could buy and upgrade a transcon for under $400. Today, that same ticket is closer to $800, or nearly 80% of full fare, unless you want to stand by for the complimentary upgrade. It makes a joke out of EQM, since, as a walk up, you get everything a Gold does, including free BR entry, except the Christmas cookies. In my case, I have concluded that it is cheaper to buy them than submit to more limited schedules than competitors, in many instances, or create extra trips to make EQM. Theoretically, its more efficient for AS, since that leaves more seats to sell, but it also means they will lose the highest yield tickets, and that would seem to be the current concern over there, based on recent quarterly operating results. AS,having warmed to the cutbacks of other carriers, I fear the worst is yet to come. Sitting in the North terminal yesterday, waiting for a flight to Newark, delayed for nearly an hour and a half, because a Captain had called in sick, and the nearest Reserve one was in Juneau, and had to fly in (end of month shortages on hours, no doubt), I heard the announcement from the adjacent UA gate, offering to sell coach passengers a better seat (aisles, I believe they said, not E+) for $30, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As for MVP lunchers, don't forget that old saying, "there is no FREE one". I am beginning to finally believe that.

As they say in political campaigns, its the inventory, stupid. They can call it titanium, if they like, but without seat availalbility, status doesn't mean much.

I both agree and disagree with your statement. The number of F seats in an aircraft is finite and barring AS making any major cabin changes it will remain the same. AS has every right to manage it's inventory to maximize revenue. I too fly SEAEWR on both AS and CO. Ask anyone in the CO forum and they will agree it is one of the most difficult routes to score an EUA simply because CO sells so many F seats in the market. I would think the same would apply to AS. What a 3-tier elite program would accomplish, however, is to add another layer of differention so that the 60K or 75K (whichever threshold they wish to set) per year flyer feels that s/he is being rewarded with an upgrade before the 40K-50K flyer receives his or hers. The general feeling among AS elites is that there are now too many GOLDfish in the pond.

I first became Gold on a status match, some years ago. At the time, upgrading was a piece of cake. My original observation was that all of the flights were heavy with seniors, who had figured out that with time, flexibility, and special fares, they could suck the seats out First before anybody got there. By the way, I'm not dumping on old people. I am just pointing out that the system favored the first come user.

By "senior" I think you meant those who had maintained Gold status for several years, not necessarily their age? In any case, I too was first upped to Gold through a status match and then maintained it. A couple of years it was a challenge since MRs out of PHX are neither cheap or convenient. I agree that under the old rules it was almost a guarantee that Gold status would mean upgraded travel almost every time. A combination of the changes to the rules and an increase in the number of Golds have made it increasingly more difficult to score those upgrades. I can't blame AS for the changes they made since statistics will show they are selling more F seats now than they were then and that is the name of the game. I can, however, blame Golds who cry foul all the time since they seem to feel entitled to those F seats and that for some reason the current EUA system is unfair because it more closely matches that of other legacy carriers. IMHO they should be thankful they had it so good for so long. I remember at one point AS was seriously considering reducing the number of F seats and/or doing away with the F cabin altogether. Let's be thankful for what we have and that what almost was did not happen!

Sitting in the North terminal yesterday, waiting for a flight to Newark, delayed for nearly an hour and a half, because a Captain had called in sick, and the nearest Reserve one was in Juneau, and had to fly in (end of month shortages on hours, no doubt), I heard the announcement from the adjacent UA gate, offering to sell coach passengers a better seat (aisles, I believe they said, not E+) for $30, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As for MVP lunchers, don't forget that old saying, "there is no FREE one". I am beginning to finally believe that.

Aren't you glad AS hasn't resorted to the "nickle-and-diming" that some others have? Even long-time partner NW has gone to charging extra for advanced assignment of aisle/window seats for non-elites. As for your delay, be glad it was only 90 minutes and that you were getting a well-rested crew for your transcon to EWR. Out of Phoenix we still have mostly MD80s and although for some reasons I will be sad to see them go next year, when there are crew issues it is a guarantee of at least a three hour delay or more.

I know there are alot of Golds, present and past, who will disagree with at least some of what I've said, but before the digs start coming in, know this. My Gold status ended 12/31/2006. Currently I am MVP and happy with the limited perks it affords me since, as a Gold, I felt both the rewards and the F product have declined substantially. I could have retained Gold status with just a few more AS segments and was ultimately offered a status challenge in February that I neither asked for nor accepted. I chose to vote with my feet and currently most of my business goes to CO or DL. I still shop AS and when they offer the best fare I'll buy but the miles now go to CO because I feel my Plat status there is worth more than Gold on AS.

I still think of the 50K bonus miles you get when you reach 75K flight miles as the AS MVP Platinum tier.

Hey, it's something.

CoplatASgld, I agree with you. All airlines have the right to manage their inventory. When they finally lowered F tickets to a rational level, as opposed to the old days, when they were so mindlessly priced, nobody bought them, they actual started selling them. My beef is threefold. Firstly, quit trying to entice customers by promoting opportunites which don't exist (the use of the term "unlimited upgrades" by many carriers is misleading). Secondly, be fair. This F7 U0 stuff, even within 24 hours of departure, doesn't make a lot of sense. Upgrading at the airport is inherently unfair. Someone checking in upline, can grab a seat before someone in Seattle, for instance. It puts distribution control in the hands of the station agents. Lastly, try to make the coach experience more tolerable. It's just plain uncomfortable, and there is a straight line correlation between the degradation of that service level, and the elevation of F seating demand to near hysteria on the part of heavy travelers. Creating new, higher elite levels (the subject of this thread), in the face of an obvious decison by carriers to use the programs less for building traffic, will just create more discontent.