MVP flight plan, SMF to ANC
Jan 26, 2015, 1:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: ANC
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 101
MVP flight plan, SMF to ANC
Hey all,
I'm flying back to ANC from SMF sometime next month. Probably three weeks from now. What's the best flight itinerary for being an MVP getting complimentary upgrades, especially the SEA to ANC portion? I'm assuming Tuesday or Wednesday would be my best bet? I'm buying the ticket this time. Stupid mileage tickets.
THANKS!
I'm flying back to ANC from SMF sometime next month. Probably three weeks from now. What's the best flight itinerary for being an MVP getting complimentary upgrades, especially the SEA to ANC portion? I'm assuming Tuesday or Wednesday would be my best bet? I'm buying the ticket this time. Stupid mileage tickets.
THANKS!
Jan 26, 2015, 2:40 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: ANC
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 101
Thanks Chugach. Should I do the morning or evening flight out of PDX? I actually prefer the PDX airport. I used to live by Mall 205. The only bad thing would be doing the Horizon flight out of SMF. But not a big deal.
Jan 26, 2015, 2:42 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,733
I think the fare rules permit a connection in both SEA and PDX so I would route SMF-SEA-PDX-ANC.....you'd avoid out of SMF and your upgrade chances into ANC should be much better.....for you ANC flyers out there, is it true that the upgrade chances out of PDX to ANC are WAY better than SEA or is it not as big of a difference I think?
My route suggestion also gets you over 500 more EQMs!!
My route suggestion also gets you over 500 more EQMs!!
Jan 26, 2015, 4:27 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
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I think the fare rules permit a connection in both SEA and PDX so I would route SMF-SEA-PDX-ANC.....you'd avoid the Q400 out of SMF and your upgrade chances into ANC should be much better.....for you ANC flyers out there, is it true that the upgrade chances out of PDX to ANC are WAY better than SEA or is it not as big of a difference I think?
My route suggestion also gets you over 500 more EQMs!!
My route suggestion also gets you over 500 more EQMs!!
Jan 26, 2015, 4:29 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,995
I think the fare rules permit a connection in both SEA and PDX so I would route SMF-SEA-PDX-ANC.....you'd avoid out of SMF and your upgrade chances into ANC should be much better.....for you ANC flyers out there, is it true that the upgrade chances out of PDX to ANC are WAY better than SEA or is it not as big of a difference I think?
My route suggestion also gets you over 500 more EQMs!!
My route suggestion also gets you over 500 more EQMs!!
Jan 27, 2015, 9:12 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,650
SMF-LAX-ANC, with SMF-LAX on American or Delta.
PDX is another reasonable option but I bet LAX has better odds.
The horizon flight isn't that bad, I fly it constantly. Just enjoy the view and the free beer. Usually it routes right over Shasta and Crater Lake.
PDX is another reasonable option but I bet LAX has better odds.
The horizon flight isn't that bad, I fly it constantly. Just enjoy the view and the free beer. Usually it routes right over Shasta and Crater Lake.
Jan 27, 2015, 10:49 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: SMF/HPN
Programs: DL DM, AS MVP, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, SPG Gold, TSA PreCheck
Posts: 464
Just fyi.
Jan 27, 2015, 10:56 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,995
Here's the other issue with LAX. If your upgrade doesn't clear, you're in coach for 5 hours. If you connect in PDX or SEA and your upgrade doesn't clear, you're in coach for 3 hours.
3 hours in coach is better than 5 hours in coach.
3 hours in coach is better than 5 hours in coach.
Jan 27, 2015, 12:34 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
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Wirelessly posted (beckoa's BB: Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9810; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.11+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/7.1.0.694 Mobile Safari/534.11+)
But more miles so they can earn MVPG 
Originally Posted by Chugach
Here's the other issue with LAX. If your upgrade doesn't clear, you're in coach for 5 hours. If you connect in PDX or SEA and your upgrade doesn't clear, you're in coach for 3 hours.
3 hours in coach is better than 5 hours in coach.
3 hours in coach is better than 5 hours in coach.
Jan 27, 2015, 2:01 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,995
Plus, routing through LAX means flying partner metal, which increases the threshold for MVPG by 10,000 miles. Unless you plan on flying AA/DL enough to make up that extra 10k it's a faster route to Gold to stick to AS metal.
Jan 27, 2015, 2:15 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
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I honestly think LAX-ANC would be the easiest upgrade of the three options.
Jan 27, 2015, 3:22 pm
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
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Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
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