AS Mileage Plan and VX Elevate Speculation Thread [Consolidated]
#31
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
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++++++1.....the fact that AS is a traditional mileage-based rather than revenue-based program is the #1 reason I'm loyal to this airline.
#32
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: SEA, FLL, Martha’s Vineyard
Programs: AS MVPGold75K, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Pan Am million-miler
Posts: 2,019
Predictions of VX Mileage Earning
When do people think AS will roll out the ability to earn miles, or do anything MileagePlan related on VX operated flights before they are all one entity and everything is completed by 2018? My guess is within 6 months, but I could be wrong. I'm thinking this merger will be similar to the AA-US merger. AA and US each had reciprocal benefits, and you could earn miles, and get elite benefits well before they completely merged FF programs and computers.
Thoughts and ideas?
Thoughts and ideas?
Last edited by Cholula; Apr 7, 2016 at 9:51 am Reason: Removed profanity
#33
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When do people think AS will roll out the ability to earn miles, or do anything MileagePlan related on VX operated flights before they are all one entity and everything is completed by 2018? My guess is within 6 months, but I could be wrong. I'm thinking this merger will be similar to the AA-US merger. AA and US each had reciprocal benefits, and you could earn miles, and get elite benefits well before they completely merged FF programs and computers.
Thoughts and ideas?
Thoughts and ideas?
Last edited by Cholula; Apr 7, 2016 at 9:51 am
#34
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Location: SEA, FLL, Martha’s Vineyard
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Alaska won't do anything with VX-operated earning until they own it, and maybe not for 3-12 months after that. They can't do anything to interfere with VX's business, and setting VX management direction - like demanding reciprocal benefits - could be seen as interference.
#35
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYZ/SFO
Programs: AS MVPG, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 271
Just got a mass-email from VX about Elevate (a follow-up distinct from the April 4th email) which clarifies absolutely nothing
In particular, many flyers have questions about whether there will be an immediate impact on their Points, Status and the flying experience they've come to expect from Virgin America. Please know that you will not see any changes during the next several months – and potentially until the end of the year – until the merger receives regulatory and shareholder approval. Furthermore, there will likely be no significant changes to your flying experience for as many as 18 months or more while the two airlines merge into one. Until the transaction is officially approved – typically a process that can take upwards of six months – both airlines will continue to operate independently and there will be no changes to our flight schedules, the Virgin America product and guest experience, Elevate Status levels or your ability to earn and redeem points. Each airline will maintain separate websites, separate guest service teams and distinct frequent flyer programs. If you book a Virgin America flight, you will fly on Virgin America. In short, there will be no short-term changes in what you have come to expect from Virgin America's award-winning experience.
At the point when the Virgin America Elevate program is merged into the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™ program, you should also know there will be no disruption to your earnings or redemptions. Your Points balance and Status level will be honored in Alaska Airline's Mileage Plan, which has been ranked the #1 airline rewards program by U.S. News and World Report for the past two years. In addition, you will be able to use your Status levels and earned Points across a significantly expanded network – including 114 destinations in North America and 900 global destinations through Alaska Airline's robust network of international partners. This means that you can continue to fly Virgin America and accrue Points as normal, from now until when the plans combine, and you can be confident that all your points – whether earned prior to or after the transaction announcement – will be reflected in your new or existing Alaska Mileage Plan account.
At the point when the Virgin America Elevate program is merged into the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™ program, you should also know there will be no disruption to your earnings or redemptions. Your Points balance and Status level will be honored in Alaska Airline's Mileage Plan, which has been ranked the #1 airline rewards program by U.S. News and World Report for the past two years. In addition, you will be able to use your Status levels and earned Points across a significantly expanded network – including 114 destinations in North America and 900 global destinations through Alaska Airline's robust network of international partners. This means that you can continue to fly Virgin America and accrue Points as normal, from now until when the plans combine, and you can be confident that all your points – whether earned prior to or after the transaction announcement – will be reflected in your new or existing Alaska Mileage Plan account.
#36
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Clarifies quite a bit, actually. Chances that you can swap miles or credit in the other program in the next six months = nil, chances that you can do it during 2016 = almost nil.
Basically, nothing much is likely to happen on the frequent flyer level until 2017.
Basically, nothing much is likely to happen on the frequent flyer level until 2017.
#38
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Fort Worth TX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 475
VX-SQ partnership?
Any thoughts on what will become of the VX-SQ partnership? Earnings look horrible, but redeeming rates look quite good, even for F suites now that EK has dramatically increased. For a former UA flyer, will be great to hopefully have SQ as an option to redeem on again.
https://www.virginamerica.com/cms/el...apore-airlines
https://www.virginamerica.com/cms/el...apore-airlines
#39
https://blog.alaskaair.com/alaska-ai...ons/#more-4707
Neil
What about your codeshare/frequent flier partners?
At this point it is too early to know any concrete details about the future of ours and Virgin America’s partnerships with other airlines. I can tell you we’ll be looking thoughtfully at both our current portfolio of codeshare and frequent flier partnerships and Virgin America’s to ensure that we provide the greatest available network as a combined company.
At this point it is too early to know any concrete details about the future of ours and Virgin America’s partnerships with other airlines. I can tell you we’ll be looking thoughtfully at both our current portfolio of codeshare and frequent flier partnerships and Virgin America’s to ensure that we provide the greatest available network as a combined company.
#41
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#44
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What makes you say AS doesn't like *A? I don't think the lack of *A partners is any real indicator. You can only have so many partners who are in direct competition of one another. Also seems as is more interested in adding independents recently as example adding FI again and the newest Asian partner HU. But yea adding/keeping SQ could be a long shot as SQ doesn't have much to gain from it.
#45
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP , Delta Gold Medallion, "Credit Card" status for various hotels
Posts: 672
What makes you say AS doesn't like *A? I don't think the lack of *A partners is any real indicator. You can only have so many partners who are in direct competition of one another. Also seems as is more interested in adding independents recently as example adding FI again and the newest Asian partner HU. But yea adding/keeping SQ could be a long shot as SQ doesn't have much to gain from it.
AS seems okay with partnering with airlines that compete with one another (AA/DL, BA/AF) so I'm not sure why an SQ partnership wouldn't work. It seems possible this partnership may continue. We will have to wait and see.