Originally Posted by
Jimgotkp
OP can maybe status match to AS MVP which is 100% bonus miles which is beneficial..
No, it's 50%. Which is still better than UA/DL/AA 25%.
AS MVPG is 100%. Which is better than UA 50%.
Originally Posted by
cleome
Thanks for overwhelming vote for AS.
I did some research and here are the options for the flights that I found suit my schedule. Of course schedule can change anytime.
Options PDX-IND
UA PDX (2130)-EWR-IND (9AM)
UA PDX (1120PM)-ORD-IND (9AM)
US PDX (1030PM)-CLT-IND (930AM) (Seasonal)
AS PDX(5PM)-LAX-DL-IND(5AM)
DL PDX(11PM)-ATL-IND(10AM)
AS PDX(930PM)-SEA-AA-ORD-IND (8:35AM)
Return
UA IND(7PM)-ORD-PDX (10:30PM)
UA IND(5PM)-IAH-PDX(11:30PM)
US IND(6PM)-PHX-PDX (11PM) (Seasonal)
AA IND(5PM)-DFW-PDX (10:30PM) (Seasonal)
DL IND(730PM)-MSP-PDX (11PM) (Seasonal)
This wide variation is what has confused me. My current strategy would be credit *A routes to UA, AS/DL to AS and AA to AA. If redeeming AS is as easy as AA, I may even consider crediting AA to AS.
I understand that with my flying pattern, I would hit the super elite level of any airline next year. But I am not sure if it is worth the extra money I would have to shell out in choosing the flights which earn me credit.
Should I rethink my strategy?
It sounds to me like what you want is as many miles as humanly possible ("In the next few years, I want redeem Y awards to Hawaii, Carribean, South America (Brazil/Argentina/Chile/Peru), Australia/New Zealand and of course last minute PDX-IND if required.")
AS MVPG75K (75,000 miles on AS only, 90K on AS+partners) gives you a 50,000 RDM bonus. That by itself is a big chunk of a Y trip. You would also get no checked luggage fees and better Y seating on AS/AA/DL at at least the AS MVP level (which as mentioned you should be able to match to), and (this one is important) no change fees on tickets/awards booked through AS. AS also has partnerships with LA (S. America) and CX/QF (Australia/NZ).
The big caveat with AS is AS allows only one partner + AS on an award, and no partner one-ways (yet, they're working on it)- you can't fly AS/AA to IND, AS/DL from IND.
AS, AA and DL awards are searchable online on alaskaair.com. I've found the AS partner award desk easy to deal with over the years (for the ones that are not). There is a $25 fee for partner awards that you can't avoid (it's basically the only fee AS will charge a Gold).
It seems to me that if you truly want to be agnostic about status because upgrades are unimportant, AS's program is the one for you, since you can put DL/AA/AS miles in that bucket, leaving all your *A flights to UA...