$110 Companion Ticket Valid for COACH class only - Effective August 1st, 2012
Jul 7, 2012, 4:50 pm
#18
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
This change will probably affect most of you down in "America" but this is still an amazing perk for those of us in #49. Many of you get the perks of paying $300 r/t to fly almost anywhere in the Lower 48, while $300 will barely get us to Anchorage and back. Just to fly to Florida, I'm looking at $850 roundtrip, while I'm paying only $320 roundtrip to fly from Seattle to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Yes, it sucks they can't be used for First Class... but that doesn't make these worthless. Just worth LESS than before...
Yes, it sucks they can't be used for First Class... but that doesn't make these worthless. Just worth LESS than before...
Jul 7, 2012, 4:51 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ANC
Programs: AS MVP, Club 49, Global Entry, National Emerald Club, Hilton Silver
Posts: 1,400
From AS FB page...
"All new companion fare certificates issued after August 1st will be valid in conjunction with Coach Class only. Any unused certificates may still be used towards First Class until their expiration date. Ongoing cost pressures and growing demand for limited space in First Class (particularly on flights to Hawaii and the East Coast) prompted the changes. Our companion fare still offers tremendous value in that - unlike other airlines' offerings - it can be used for travel to anywhere we fly, including Hawaii and Mexico. Additionally, as an MVP Gold, you can still use your benefits to upgrade to First Class when traveling on a companion fare ticket. -David"
What a bunch of bull
"All new companion fare certificates issued after August 1st will be valid in conjunction with Coach Class only. Any unused certificates may still be used towards First Class until their expiration date. Ongoing cost pressures and growing demand for limited space in First Class (particularly on flights to Hawaii and the East Coast) prompted the changes. Our companion fare still offers tremendous value in that - unlike other airlines' offerings - it can be used for travel to anywhere we fly, including Hawaii and Mexico. Additionally, as an MVP Gold, you can still use your benefits to upgrade to First Class when traveling on a companion fare ticket. -David"
What a bunch of bull
Jul 7, 2012, 4:51 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,631
Jul 7, 2012, 4:54 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: JNU
Programs: HH D, AS MM/MVPG for life/AL, Awesome Wipes VIP Club, NEXUS, Hertz 5-Star Gold
Posts: 2,893
I think s/he was just trying to project the spotlight on high air fares out of here and how the companion code can really make a big difference in lowering the cost of a trip.
Last edited by dave1013; Jul 7, 2012 at 4:54 pm Reason: Gender neutrality
Jul 7, 2012, 4:56 pm
#22
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: ANC, SAP
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Priority Pass
Posts: 1,863
This change will probably affect most of you down in "America" but this is still an amazing perk for those of us in #49. Many of you get the perks of paying $300 r/t to fly almost anywhere in the Lower 48, while $300 will barely get us to Anchorage and back. Just to fly to Florida, I'm looking at $850 roundtrip, while I'm paying only $320 roundtrip to fly from Seattle to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Yes, it sucks they can't be used for First Class... but that doesn't make these worthless. Just worth LESS than before...
Yes, it sucks they can't be used for First Class... but that doesn't make these worthless. Just worth LESS than before...
Dear fellow Juneauite - I hear ya. The sun will come up tomorrow despite this loss.
However, when you step back and take a look at the bigger picture ... well .... I can't help but feel like the proverbial frog that fell into the pot of water on the stove. Our Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, AS, turned on the heat but put it at a low setting. But each time a change was instituted, the heat got ratcheted up a smidge. Therefore, us frogs really didn't feel it too badly when they did away with the cookies .... and then took away the BR visitations when we weren't flying .... and then foisted the G/T no-can-upgrade switcheroo on us .... and then ix-nay'ed the 1,000 bonus for online ticket purchases .... and then today's masterpiece. I'm sure I missed a couple. Before we knew it, the water was boiling and we were thoroughly poached!
As you well know, here in Juneau don't have a choice for getting out of town save for the ferry. Until the road to Skagway gets built (Kevlar suit being donned).
Taken one at a time, yes, the world isn't about to end (Mayan lore notwithstanding). But compare where we are today versus a couple years ago. The difference is pretty substantial.
However, when you step back and take a look at the bigger picture ... well .... I can't help but feel like the proverbial frog that fell into the pot of water on the stove. Our Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, AS, turned on the heat but put it at a low setting. But each time a change was instituted, the heat got ratcheted up a smidge. Therefore, us frogs really didn't feel it too badly when they did away with the cookies .... and then took away the BR visitations when we weren't flying .... and then foisted the G/T no-can-upgrade switcheroo on us .... and then ix-nay'ed the 1,000 bonus for online ticket purchases .... and then today's masterpiece. I'm sure I missed a couple. Before we knew it, the water was boiling and we were thoroughly poached!
As you well know, here in Juneau don't have a choice for getting out of town save for the ferry. Until the road to Skagway gets built (Kevlar suit being donned).
Taken one at a time, yes, the world isn't about to end (Mayan lore notwithstanding). But compare where we are today versus a couple years ago. The difference is pretty substantial.
The bigger concern for me is that I perceive this trend as a sign of things to come...as is being discussed in all of the rest of the threads on this forum currently. A couple of further key bean counting changes will have me looking elsewhere for my primary business. At least based in ANC I have the option to look elsewhere, albeit limited.
Jul 7, 2012, 5:00 pm
#23
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Alaska
Programs: Alaska MVPG
Posts: 265
Corporate Alaska Air really doesn't care what their loyal clientele think about these changes; amazing how they can do it and still post cheery notices as to how this really benefits everyone. Bottom line is that it benefits the bean-counting "suits" who come up with these awesome ways to chip away. They truly don't care what we think - sad but true. As long as they get their million dollar salaries and perks, they're happy.
Eventually Alaska Air will be absorbed/merged with someone else and then none of this will truly matter since the corporate brains will be out of jobs anyway and can no longer make idiotic decisions.
Eventually Alaska Air will be absorbed/merged with someone else and then none of this will truly matter since the corporate brains will be out of jobs anyway and can no longer make idiotic decisions.
Jul 7, 2012, 5:01 pm
#24
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: PDX
Programs: Alaska Airlines, SPG, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 85
Any chance they will refund the annual fee I paid when I got this card in October? I have not used the companion cert yet. Can I book it before august 1 and change flights later?
Ugh. The 1k bonus was 50% of why I got this card... The companion cert to book F tickets was the other 50... Pretty disappointing.
Ugh. The 1k bonus was 50% of why I got this card... The companion cert to book F tickets was the other 50... Pretty disappointing.
Jul 7, 2012, 5:14 pm
#26
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: ANC, SAP
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Priority Pass
Posts: 1,863
Any chance they will refund the annual fee I paid when I got this card in October? I have not used the companion cert yet. Can I book it before august 1 and change flights later?
Ugh. The 1k bonus was 50% of why I got this card... The companion cert to book F tickets was the other 50... Pretty disappointing.
Ugh. The 1k bonus was 50% of why I got this card... The companion cert to book F tickets was the other 50... Pretty disappointing.
Also...one consideration for many who use the companion cert for F booking...the way I read this, any cert issued prior to August 1 is still valid on F; since this card is churnable and one can have more than 1, I'd think if you apply now you'd still get the bonus and another cert valid for 1 year in F...perhaps BofA will see a huge surge in applications...and subsequent cancellations in the upcoming months.
And the silver lining for elites is that perhaps upgrade percentages will increase with the loss of this F purchasing revenue - though that would be a bit ironic if it opens up significant space in transcons or HI that they end up giving away. They'd be better off selling those as companion certs.
Jul 7, 2012, 5:33 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,631
Any chance they will refund the annual fee I paid when I got this card in October? I have not used the companion cert yet. Can I book it before august 1 and change flights later?
Ugh. The 1k bonus was 50% of why I got this card... The companion cert to book F tickets was the other 50... Pretty disappointing.
Ugh. The 1k bonus was 50% of why I got this card... The companion cert to book F tickets was the other 50... Pretty disappointing.
Jul 7, 2012, 5:34 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,631
And the silver lining for elites is that perhaps upgrade percentages will increase with the loss of this F purchasing revenue - though that would be a bit ironic if it opens up significant space in transcons or HI that they end up giving away. They'd be better off selling those as companion certs.
Jul 7, 2012, 5:36 pm
#29
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ANC
Programs: AS MVP, Club 49, Global Entry, National Emerald Club, Hilton Silver
Posts: 1,400
Jul 7, 2012, 5:46 pm
#30
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: ANC, SAP
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Priority Pass
Posts: 1,863
From AS FB page...
"All new companion fare certificates issued after August 1st will be valid in conjunction with Coach Class only. Any unused certificates may still be used towards First Class until their expiration date. Ongoing cost pressures and growing demand for limited space in First Class (particularly on flights to Hawaii and the East Coast) prompted the changes. Our companion fare still offers tremendous value in that - unlike other airlines' offerings - it can be used for travel to anywhere we fly, including Hawaii and Mexico. Additionally, as an MVP Gold, you can still use your benefits to upgrade to First Class when traveling on a companion fare ticket. -David"
What a bunch of bull
"All new companion fare certificates issued after August 1st will be valid in conjunction with Coach Class only. Any unused certificates may still be used towards First Class until their expiration date. Ongoing cost pressures and growing demand for limited space in First Class (particularly on flights to Hawaii and the East Coast) prompted the changes. Our companion fare still offers tremendous value in that - unlike other airlines' offerings - it can be used for travel to anywhere we fly, including Hawaii and Mexico. Additionally, as an MVP Gold, you can still use your benefits to upgrade to First Class when traveling on a companion fare ticket. -David"
What a bunch of bull