Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - MVP Gold cards Late?

I was told yesterday that AS is late sending out their 09 Gold cards. In the past I always received the new card when I qualified, for me it was usually in September(I qualified in August last year). So I would always have a new card months before the actual year ended.

While traveling back from Texas last week I noticed that my card still has 08 as the expiration. AS's response was that the new 09 cards would be going out in February... Seems pretty lame to me. I don't want to have the gate argument with a partner airline.... "Sir, your card expired at the end of last year"
"Get to the back of that line!":(


EDIT! Sorry I just noticed the other thread and I should have posted this there....

Mine took about a month or so to arrive after qualification in mid Dec.

My wife qualified on 12/31, still waiting for that package...

Mine took about a month or so to arrive after qualification in mid Dec.

My wife qualified on 12/31, still waiting for that package...

I think I read somewhere they are being mailed out this week.

good, i need more gold certs to decorate my front door with.

I don't recall from the last couple years, and would like to confirm some first seats....

Still no card, paper upgrades or anything for 2009.

I qualified in November, got my card about 2 weeks later.

Bill

I don't recall from the last couple years, and would like to confirm some first seats....

Inside the envelope is your gold card, some certs, and some gushy letter about how you are the best customer they have.

the certs have pretty holograms and serial numbers.

I was told yesterday that AS is late sending out their 09 Gold cards. In the past I always received the new card when I qualified, for me it was usually in September(I qualified in August last year). So I would always have a new card months before the actual year ended.

While traveling back from Texas last week I noticed that my card still has 08 as the expiration. AS's response was that the new 09 cards would be going out in February... Seems pretty lame to me. I don't want to have the gate argument with a partner airline.... "Sir, your card expired at the end of last year"
"Get to the back of that line!":(


EDIT! Sorry I just noticed the other thread and I should have posted this there....


If you qualified in August, you should have had the card by year end. That batch was done in late November, early December. I'm not sure what the "February" info is all about. If you want to PM me, or send an email to flyertalk at alaskaair.com I can look into it for you. Bottom line is you should have the card already.

Just about a month ago (well, kinda... either 12/20, 21, 22, or 23 could have been the qualifying date) and have seen no card yet either... oh well, no flights until mid feb and am in F them anyway :)

My wife is last (12/31) .. but since we already have some certs from my earlier qualification, it doesnt matter really.

6.5 weeks since qualifying and no Gold Card. But I did get an invite to the Seattle Gold Lunch. Thank you, but I will be on the road that day,

6.5 weeks since qualifying and no Gold Card. But I did get an invite to the Seattle Gold Lunch. Thank you, but I will be on the road that day,

I requalified on Dec 5th and still haven't received my package. Last year, I had to do a mileage run at the end of the year and I had already received my package by this time last year. It seems to be taking longer this year and I thought they had a new vendor where it would be faster this time around.

As far as the SF Gold Lunch, I sent an email to RSVP over a week ago (1/9/09 to be exact) and haven't heard back yet.

If you qualified in August, you should have had the card by year end. That batch was done in late November, early December. I'm not sure what the "February" info is all about. If you want to PM me, or send an email to flyertalk at alaskaair.com I can look into it for you. Bottom line is you should have the card already.

Thanks, a friend of mine works for AS, and she just ordered me a new card. it seems weird that there has been no communication (and no card) from AS...but I'm sure it will be figured out:)

Coming up on the end of the month and still no card. Anyone else having the same issue?

requalifited at the last minute (almost literally), so I wasn't expecting it too early, but nothing yet.

I requalified on Dec 5th but haven't received anything yet. I renewed my boardroom pass on 1/15/09 and already received my new card. I am seriously rethinking my decision to renew my boardroom membership due to how late my Gold Card is being processed.

I requalified last year on Dec 31st and received my Gold card sooner than this. I could've used my gold certs already and yet they haven't arrived.

My wife qualified on 12/31 ... still nothing.

if you want to PM me your Gold number I can deal with it in the morning.

requal 12/17. No card yet, just thought I'd ask at the next lunch, as I finally got invited.

Just curious...why do we get so worked up about this?

Is there anywhere that you are actually expected to flash the card? Occasionally I pull it out when I'm trying to priority board on AA or CO (which I'm probably not even entitled to anyway), but other than that, having my number in my reservation recognizes my gold status for everything I need on AS (upgrades, premium seating, security lines with "gold" printed on my boarding pass).

I suppose having the 1st class upgrade certs is nice. But I already reserved seats on a flight in April, I just told the agent that I'd be using the certs, but I hadn't actually received them yet, and she put it in the reservation no problem (this was before I'd actually even qualified for gold, but did have confirmed reservations to put me over the needed miles).

Anyway...what do you all do with your cards? Perhaps AS could do away with the cards all together if we don't really need them. They could put that cost towards sending 2 extra cookies at Christmas time (just finished my last one yesterday).

RED-EYE

Just curious...why do we get so worked up about this?

Is there anywhere that you are actually expected to flash the card? Occasionally I pull it out when I'm trying to priority board on AA or CO (which I'm probably not even entitled to anyway), but other than that, having my number in my reservation recognizes my gold status for everything I need on AS (upgrades, premium seating, security lines with "gold" printed on my boarding pass).

I suppose having the 1st class upgrade certs is nice. But I already reserved seats on a flight in April, I just told the agent that I'd be using the certs, but I hadn't actually received them yet, and she put it in the reservation no problem (this was before I'd actually even qualified for gold, but did have confirmed reservations to put me over the needed miles).

Anyway...what do you all do with your cards? Perhaps AS could do away with the cards all together if we don't really need them. They could put that cost towards sending 2 extra cookies at Christmas time (just finished my last one yesterday).

RED-EYE


I don't care so much about the card as I do the FC UG certs. My parents just flew to SJD and it would have been nice to UG them on the way back especially since they are celebrating their anniversay soon.

I called AS customer service the other day and they said it was mailed out on Janurary 7th but it takes 4-6 weeks to receive them? I asked why the boardroom cards were quicker to arrive. She said they come from somewhere else.

Hopefully they will be in today's mail but I'm not holding my breath.

FC upgrade certs and annoying partners who require to see the card. they send people to back of the line.

I called AS customer service the other day and they said it was mailed out on Janurary 7th but it takes 4-6 weeks to receive them? I asked why the boardroom cards were quicker to arrive. She said they come from somewhere else.

That is annoying. You really should be able to use that published benefit. Although you may have been able to arrange something in advance via Mileage Plan or customer care if you had called and explained the situation. I guess I am pretty much counting on getting my certs before I fly in April...so if I don't have them then, I guess I'll just call and see what happens (though I suspect I will have received them by then).

My wife's showed up (qualification on 12/31)

I find the card usefull to get in premium lines at Airports when flying DL or AA where gold doesent appear on the boarding pass. I don't have my Gold card yet and neither does my wife have her MVP card. We both requaled mid December.

I find the card usefull to get in premium lines at Airports when flying DL or AA where gold doesent appear on the boarding pass. I don't have my Gold card yet and neither does my wife have her MVP card. We both requaled mid December.

DL and AA wont "take your word for it" either ive noticed.

And the Horizon agents at the express screening line won't believe you either. Last year I was flying DL and they QX personnel wouldn't let me through because I had an expired card. I ended up calling the gold line and handed the phone to the QX person to be let through. He said he knew the cards were late, but only begrudingly let me through after the Gold Rep let him know I was legitimate. I would just like mine before my next non-AS trip

for the record, 2/1 here and still no MVP (not MVPG) card... requal on 12/21 or 12/23 depending on what system was looking at it at the time...

DL and AA wont "take your word for it" either ive noticed.

Why would AA take your word for it? I showed them my card, and they said AS MVPG's aren't elegible for any elite benefits on AA.

As for DL...well, who knows what we're entitled to. I got priority boarding, and the phone agent would have given me priority seating, but only middles were left. The gate agent told me she thought I should be elegible for upgrades, but there weren't any *and* the system wasn't recognizing my status. So, any updates on what exactly our relationship with DL is?

Maybe the AA agents are humoring me.

DL would not let me into the business class check in or boarding line without showing the card. They actually waited while i spent a good chunk of time trying to figure out where my card went off to.

How long does it take to get a MVP card (not gold) after status matching? I see Boardroom cards are quicker as I joined the day after my status match and already have that card. I'm sure its not that important when only flying AS becasue MVP is on the boarding pass

I got my MVP Gold package today. Woohoo!

Still waiting for mine....:mad::td:

And the Horizon agents at the express screening line won't believe you either. Last year I was flying DL and they QX personnel wouldn't let me through because I had an expired card. I ended up calling the gold line and handed the phone to the QX person to be let through. He said he knew the cards were late, but only begrudingly let me through after the Gold Rep let him know I was legitimate. I would just like mine before my next non-AS trip

This is exactly why I'm starting to get pretty steamed!:mad: I've been gold since this program started back in the '80's! Now I have an expired card that means nothing to the partners....

Still waiting for mine....:mad::td:


It will take 3-4 weeks from when your friend ordered it to receive the card.

For the record...my card came today. Yea! Good thing as I have a Delta flight coming up real soon.

Mine was waiting for me on my return from SFO. 3/4 upgrades this year even without the card, but I've not flown any partners yet, either.

For the record...my card came today. Yea! Good thing as I have a Delta flight coming up real soon.

YEA, mine finally came today :cool:...Now I wonder if this is the original, or the re-order?:)

It sure seemed at bit messed up....

for the record, 2/1 here and still no MVP (not MVPG) card... requal on 12/21 or 12/23 depending on what system was looking at it at the time...

arrived yesterday. i like the new style - less mid-80s, more mid-90s. can't wait for 10 years from now when the design hits mid-00's

For the record...my card came today. Yea! Good thing as I have a Delta flight coming up real soon.

Mine came on Sat. Any word on when the benefits on Delta kick in?

Just got my MVP card from status match in the mail. I got my USAirways silver card in the mail today too but that one can go in the garbage. AS is the only airline for me.

Just got my MVP card from status match in the mail. I got my USAirways silver card in the mail today too but that one can go in the garbage. AS is the only airline for me.

Well... you still get to use the US Airways club in BOS... (When I was there on Jan 20th... they had no adult refreshments - just diet coke... apparently they are changing vendors) They do have a nice assortment of magazines though ^

...So there is some association still (that and they do the gate agent work in BOS):D

Well... you still get to use the US Airways club in BOS... (When I was there on Jan 20th... they had no adult refreshments - just diet coke... apparently they are changing vendors) They do have a nice assortment of magazines though ^

...So there is some association still (that and they do the gate agent work in BOS):D

I'm going to keep it just for teh heck of it. my wallet is getting full with 2 elite cards and my boardroom card

Wow.

I just got my 2009 MVP card in yesterday's mail.

I qualified in August. (I haven't sent any special requests to reorder one, so it's not like my original was lost and this is a replacement.)

I think AS needs to have a little chat with their new vendor... :D

Greetings! I just made MVP Gold (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alaska-airlines-mileage-plan/977236-newly-minted-mvp-gold.html). I'll let everyone know how long it takes me to get my MVP Gold credentials.

In the meantime, is anyone going to the MVP Gold Luncheon in Redmond this Wednesday? I am trying to get an invite... sent two separate e-mails to the e-mail address listed on the MVP Gold Section of the website, have not heard back yet and time is running out! :eek: I'll try to call the MVP Gold Desk on Monday to see where this is at.

-A

Greetings! I just made MVP Gold (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alaska-airlines-mileage-plan/977236-newly-minted-mvp-gold.html). I'll let everyone know how long it takes me to get my MVP Gold credentials.

In the meantime, is anyone going to the MVP Gold Luncheon in Redmond this Wednesday? I am trying to get an invite... sent two separate e-mails to the e-mail address listed on the MVP Gold Section of the website, have not heard back yet and time is running out! :eek: I'll try to call the MVP Gold Desk on Monday to see where this is at.

-A

The gold event is full. Generally speaking, it takes 2 - 3 years as a gold to get around the invite list

The gold event is full. Generally speaking, it takes 2 - 3 years as a gold to get around the invite list
Hmm... okay. :rolleyes: That's interesting. Thanks! ;)

-A

Greetings! I just made MVP Gold (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alaska-airlines-mileage-plan/977236-newly-minted-mvp-gold.html). I'll let everyone know how long it takes me to get my MVP Gold credentials.

In the meantime, is anyone going to the MVP Gold Luncheon in Redmond this Wednesday? I am trying to get an invite... sent two separate e-mails to the e-mail address listed on the MVP Gold Section of the website, have not heard back yet and time is running out! :eek: I'll try to call the MVP Gold Desk on Monday to see where this is at.

-A
To my pleasant surprise, I have already received my MVP Gold credentials (just 4 days after I received my MGP Gold status). Can anyone give me the "skinny" on the UG certs that come with the welcome package? Can I let friends & family use these certs or are they just for me? I need data, please!
^ :)

Thanks!

-A

Not going to make it until deep in Q4 - not enough BOS-SEA anymore....:p

To my pleasant surprise, I have already received my MVP Gold credentials (just 4 days after I received my MGP Gold status). Can anyone give me the "skinny" on the UG certs that come with the welcome package? Can I let friends & family use these certs or are they just for me? I need data, please!
^ :)

Thanks!

-A

They are freely transferable (actually, they're kind of designed to be handed out to entice others to earn MVPG--the fact you can use them to your advantage is kind of an unpublished benefit).

One certificate works for one "leg" (i.e. one one-way trip or one half of a round-trip). The upgrades come out of "U" space, so you need to find and book flights with U space (or watch for U space to open up). There are a few different ways to do this:



Look for flights with a gold U on the alaskaair.com results when searching by schedule
When booking, call and ask for the agent to search for flights with instant ugprades available (but make sure to let the agent know you'll be booking with the upgrade certs (use the code on the cert) so the agent doesn't book you with the more expensive, automatically upgradeable Value fare)
Utilize the services of sites which display fare class availability (such as http://flyaow.com/classamex.htm, although rumor is that it's no longer accurate)--a list of some helpful links is at http://flyaow.com/classavailability.htm)
Set up an alert at http://lmoffice.com/FlightTracker/, which will watch your flights for U space to open up and email you, letting you know to call to secure your upgrade


In any case, once you find a flight with availability (either when booking or when U space opens up after you've already booked, you'll need to call the MVPG desk and ask them for the upgrade (mention the code on the cert). Make sure to bring the cert with you when checking in (or if upgrading friends/family members, give it to them before they fly), as if you don't have it, you might end up downgraded to coach (and put in a bad seat, since all the good seats will be taken!).

To my pleasant surprise, I have already received my MVP Gold credentials (just 4 days after I received my MGP Gold status). Can anyone give me the "skinny" on the UG certs that come with the welcome package? Can I let friends & family use these certs or are they just for me? I need data, please!
^ :)

Thanks!

-A

Friends and family or you...they are for anyone!

Can anyone give me the "skinny" on the UG certs that come with the welcome package? Can I let friends & family use these certs or are they just for me? I need data, please!
Wow! Thanks for everyone's responses. I actually gave two to my client (who is also a very good friend) for his upcoming trip SEA-LAX in November in route to Hawaii. He had no problem using them to snag his FC UG's, except my certs are actually for 2010 (with no effective date on them) so the nice AS Agent had to use the 2009 code on the phone. This is a very nice perk. I can tell you coming from NW/DL that the PU503's they gave me as a PE have "loads o'restrictions" on them, most notable that I have to be on the same PNR! Wow, hats off to AS for taking care of their Elite travelers!!! ^ :D :-: :-: :-:

-A

Wow! Thanks for everyone's responses. I actually gave two to my client (who is also a very good friend) for his upcoming trip SEA-LAX in November in route to Hawaii. He had no problem using them to snag his FC UG's, except my certs are actually for 2010 (with no effective date on them) so the nice AS Agent had to use the 2009 code on the phone. This is a very nice perk. I can tell you coming from NW/DL that the PU503's they gave me as a PE have "loads o'restrictions" on them, most notable that I have to be on the same PNR! Wow, hats off to AS for taking care of their Elite travelers!!! ^ :D :-: :-: :-:

-A

Had he chose to fly AS to Hawaii... those could have been upgraded as well (assuming there was 'U' avail...) :D (also unlike NW :p - upgrades to Hawaii)

Back OT-

Another friend of mine received his credentials in the mail shortly after (within a couple week(s)) of achieving MVP and he now proudly carries his card in his wallet ^

(If only he had not booked award travel back to school :p)