Jan 5, 2016, 10:05 am
Last edit by: dgreen12
Welcome to the Alaska Airlines Newbie Lounge Thread for 2016!
Anyone is welcome to ask anything, even the most basic questions, in this thread without having to fear a snarky response. In this thread, there's no such thing as a dumb question--we were all new to Alaska Airlines, FlyerTalk, and even the whole idea of mileage programs once and needed some help navigating the ropes. We're here to help you do just that!
That said, if you want to do a little reading to see if your question has been previously discussed, links to some of the most common and extensive topics in this forum are listed in our FAQ thread -- click here to check it out.
Special care will be given in this thread to trying to provide answers in a clear manner with minimal use of acronyms and jargon.
If you need to contact someone for help, here's a current list of our forum's team:
Ambassadors (Our Greeters--members who have specifically volunteered to welcome and mentor newbies and monitor this thread):
ANC RED-EYE
baliktad
beckoa
golfingboy
Moderators (Our Janitors--members who have volunteered to do housekeeping/keep the forum in order)
Cholula
jackal
You are welcome to send a private message to any of these individuals for assistance, but you'll generally get a faster response and broader palette of answers if you simply post your inquiry here in this thread.
Note to FlyerTalk members who enjoy the ability to take advantage of loopholes--if someone posts something that exposes information you'd rather not be public, please remember this is a Flame-Free thread, and harsh or snarky posts are not permitted. Although FlyerTalk itself does not censor posts that share information, members are free to edit their own posts to remove information. If you wish to request any poster to remove information they have shared publicly, please do so politely and respectfully.
Welcome, and we look forward to providing any assistance we can!
~the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan forum team~
For the 2015 version of this thread, please click here
Anyone is welcome to ask anything, even the most basic questions, in this thread without having to fear a snarky response. In this thread, there's no such thing as a dumb question--we were all new to Alaska Airlines, FlyerTalk, and even the whole idea of mileage programs once and needed some help navigating the ropes. We're here to help you do just that!
That said, if you want to do a little reading to see if your question has been previously discussed, links to some of the most common and extensive topics in this forum are listed in our FAQ thread -- click here to check it out.
Special care will be given in this thread to trying to provide answers in a clear manner with minimal use of acronyms and jargon.
If you need to contact someone for help, here's a current list of our forum's team:
Ambassadors (Our Greeters--members who have specifically volunteered to welcome and mentor newbies and monitor this thread):
ANC RED-EYE
baliktad
beckoa
golfingboy
Moderators (Our Janitors--members who have volunteered to do housekeeping/keep the forum in order)
Cholula
jackal
You are welcome to send a private message to any of these individuals for assistance, but you'll generally get a faster response and broader palette of answers if you simply post your inquiry here in this thread.
Note to FlyerTalk members who enjoy the ability to take advantage of loopholes--if someone posts something that exposes information you'd rather not be public, please remember this is a Flame-Free thread, and harsh or snarky posts are not permitted. Although FlyerTalk itself does not censor posts that share information, members are free to edit their own posts to remove information. If you wish to request any poster to remove information they have shared publicly, please do so politely and respectfully.
Welcome, and we look forward to providing any assistance we can!
~the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan forum team~
For the 2015 version of this thread, please click here
2016 Alaska Airlines *FLAME-FREE* Q&A thread: all welcome, new and old!
Jan 4, 2016, 10:15 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,507
A frriend of mine, with a United Mileageplus Explorer card, bought a United ticket where the return segment was on Alaska Airlines - apparently they were given priority boarding (on the Alaska flight) - is this standard practice? (And if so, does the Explorer card get you free luggage for Alaska flights, as long as the ticket is bought from United?)
I'm thinking your friend was on some higher fare. Did it actually say "Priority" on the BP? Where did your friend buy the ticket from? The fare info itself would be more telling.
Jan 4, 2016, 10:16 pm
#17
Formerly richh1833
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SYD
Programs: QF P1, BA GGL, AS GMVP
Posts: 480
Another question. If I was matched to MVP Gold, and then I hit MVP Gold 75K through flying, would I be eligible for the 50k bonus miles or would the status match make in ineligible regardless?
Jan 4, 2016, 10:22 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,399
So if you fly the difference between Gold and Gold 75k, you'll still be only a gold, because you start your qualifying miles still at 0.
Jan 4, 2016, 10:25 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,507
Jan 4, 2016, 10:33 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,399
Question: Does status matching get you status for the year or for the year+1 (like early qualification)? Does it depend on when during the year (e.g. second half) you status match?
Jan 4, 2016, 10:42 pm
#21
Formerly richh1833
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SYD
Programs: QF P1, BA GGL, AS GMVP
Posts: 480
Cheers.
Jan 4, 2016, 11:56 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,507
yes, correct. I assumed he was asking about flying just the difference. If he flew enough to qualify for 75k in itself then that'd still work, yes.
Question: Does status matching get you status for the year or for the year+1 (like early qualification)? Does it depend on when during the year (e.g. second half) you status match?
Question: Does status matching get you status for the year or for the year+1 (like early qualification)? Does it depend on when during the year (e.g. second half) you status match?
Jan 5, 2016, 12:57 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Thanks!
I saw this and got excited https://www.alaskaair.com/order-food/
I'm in row 2 on my next flight so I should be fine. Just don't want to end up near the end since I'm a relatively picky eater.
So, what goes well with the Hazelnut Espresso Vodka?
I saw this and got excited https://www.alaskaair.com/order-food/
I'm in row 2 on my next flight so I should be fine. Just don't want to end up near the end since I'm a relatively picky eater.
So, what goes well with the Hazelnut Espresso Vodka?
When you put your info in on that page, does it show the ordinary coach or F options? Or try the same from the app?
Jan 5, 2016, 6:58 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Florida
Programs: Amex, AA, BA, Delta, True Blue, Hyatt, Fairmont, Marriott, HH, IHG
Posts: 136
Jan 5, 2016, 10:06 am
#25
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: GEG
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime SkyClub, AS MVP
Posts: 2,410
Wiki Created....
I've carried over the Wiki from the 2015 Flame-Free thread --- if there are any changes to the folks serving as Ambassadors or Moderators for 2016 please let me know and I'll update the Wiki.
Jan 6, 2016, 9:23 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: AS 75k, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 544
Getting to MVP Gold with the help of Alaska Airlines Partners
Hello everyone!
I'm new here.
My goal is to get MVP Gold status on Alaska Airlines this year. (I can't wait to have change fees waived!)
I've been looking at various Alaska Airlines partners and trying to fly them for my upcoming international trips this year. Currently I'm looking to book a flight from SFO to MGA (in Nicaragua) and I see that both AeroMexico and American Airlines have flights for this itinerary.
Of the two, what is the better airline to fly? They're both Alaska partners so the mileage will be posted - but other than that should I take anything else into consideration? Do I book through Alaska Airlines or through AeroMexico/American (whichever I end up going through)?
I also have the Amex Gold Premier Rewards Card that comes with the $100 airline credit. I've heard that it's possible to buy small ($50 or so) gift certificates on the airlines and get them reimbursed through Amex but I haven't heard if that works specifically with Alaska Airlines. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks so much!
I'm new here.
My goal is to get MVP Gold status on Alaska Airlines this year. (I can't wait to have change fees waived!)
I've been looking at various Alaska Airlines partners and trying to fly them for my upcoming international trips this year. Currently I'm looking to book a flight from SFO to MGA (in Nicaragua) and I see that both AeroMexico and American Airlines have flights for this itinerary.
Of the two, what is the better airline to fly? They're both Alaska partners so the mileage will be posted - but other than that should I take anything else into consideration? Do I book through Alaska Airlines or through AeroMexico/American (whichever I end up going through)?
I also have the Amex Gold Premier Rewards Card that comes with the $100 airline credit. I've heard that it's possible to buy small ($50 or so) gift certificates on the airlines and get them reimbursed through Amex but I haven't heard if that works specifically with Alaska Airlines. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks so much!
Jan 6, 2016, 10:22 am
#27
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
I've been looking at various Alaska Airlines partners and trying to fly them for my upcoming international trips this year. Currently I'm looking to book a flight from SFO to MGA (in Nicaragua) and I see that both AeroMexico and American Airlines have flights for this itinerary.
Of the two, what is the better airline to fly? They're both Alaska partners so the mileage will be posted - but other than that should I take anything else into consideration? Do I book through Alaska Airlines or through AeroMexico/American (whichever I end up going through)?
Of the two, what is the better airline to fly? They're both Alaska partners so the mileage will be posted - but other than that should I take anything else into consideration? Do I book through Alaska Airlines or through AeroMexico/American (whichever I end up going through)?
Jan 6, 2016, 10:28 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 917
I've never flown Aeromexico, so I can't compare the two airlines in terms of the product, but there are a couple of things worth considering when it comes to earning elite status.
As has been noted already, Aeromexico doesn't earn as much in cheaper fare classes, but American's earning rates are likely to change soon. You can look at the rates for partners on Alaska's web site. Click on the partner you want for details. Each one is different.
Jan 6, 2016, 12:02 pm
#29
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: AS 75k, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 544
Ooh, good to know. Thank you Jinglish for the info!
Jan 6, 2016, 12:05 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: AS 75k, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 544
Welcome!
I've never flown Aeromexico, so I can't compare the two airlines in terms of the product, but there are a couple of things worth considering when it comes to earning elite status.
As has been noted already, Aeromexico doesn't earn as much in cheaper fare classes, but American's earning rates are likely to change soon. You can look at the rates for partners on Alaska's web site. Click on the partner you want for details. Each one is different.
I've never flown Aeromexico, so I can't compare the two airlines in terms of the product, but there are a couple of things worth considering when it comes to earning elite status.
As has been noted already, Aeromexico doesn't earn as much in cheaper fare classes, but American's earning rates are likely to change soon. You can look at the rates for partners on Alaska's web site. Click on the partner you want for details. Each one is different.
I guess I never paid attention to fare class before.