Jan 4, 2017, 7:30 pm
Last edit by: Calchas
Welcome to the Alaska Airlines Flame-Free Q&A Thread for 2017!
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)
ryandc99
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 2016 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)
ryandc99
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 2016 version of this thread, please click here
2017 Alaska Airlines *FLAME-FREE* Q&A thread: all welcome, new and old!
Jul 27, 2017, 5:57 pm
#1051
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Berkeley, CA
Programs: UA Silver, Southwest A-List, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 818
Sanity Check: Cancelling fare less than cancellation fee
Ok, so I want to run a sanity check and make sure my logic is correct here.
I am an MVP and have a non-refundable ticket ($100) whose value is less than the change fee ($125). My options for cancelling the ticket are:
1. Put it into my wallet. However, I'm going to get charged $125 today so I come out - $25.
2. E-mail the credit. Same as above where I come out -$25.
3. E-mail cancelled ticket # and retrieve the value later. Looks like I don't pay upfront, so worst case I just let the value expire. Best case, I make MVPG before the expiration date and buy a new ticket without the change fee?
I know this is a super basic question and the searches of the thread have led me to the conclusions above. However, it would be nice to get confirmation of my assumptions.
Thanks in advance for the help!
I am an MVP and have a non-refundable ticket ($100) whose value is less than the change fee ($125). My options for cancelling the ticket are:
1. Put it into my wallet. However, I'm going to get charged $125 today so I come out - $25.
2. E-mail the credit. Same as above where I come out -$25.
3. E-mail cancelled ticket # and retrieve the value later. Looks like I don't pay upfront, so worst case I just let the value expire. Best case, I make MVPG before the expiration date and buy a new ticket without the change fee?
I know this is a super basic question and the searches of the thread have led me to the conclusions above. However, it would be nice to get confirmation of my assumptions.
Thanks in advance for the help!
Jul 27, 2017, 6:39 pm
#1052
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Ok, so I want to run a sanity check and make sure my logic is correct here.
I am an MVP and have a non-refundable ticket ($100) whose value is less than the change fee ($125). My options for cancelling the ticket are:
1. Put it into my wallet. However, I'm going to get charged $125 today so I come out - $25.
2. E-mail the credit. Same as above where I come out -$25.
3. E-mail cancelled ticket # and retrieve the value later. Looks like I don't pay upfront, so worst case I just let the value expire. Best case, I make MVPG before the expiration date and buy a new ticket without the change fee?
I know this is a super basic question and the searches of the thread have led me to the conclusions above. However, it would be nice to get confirmation of my assumptions.
Thanks in advance for the help!
I am an MVP and have a non-refundable ticket ($100) whose value is less than the change fee ($125). My options for cancelling the ticket are:
1. Put it into my wallet. However, I'm going to get charged $125 today so I come out - $25.
2. E-mail the credit. Same as above where I come out -$25.
3. E-mail cancelled ticket # and retrieve the value later. Looks like I don't pay upfront, so worst case I just let the value expire. Best case, I make MVPG before the expiration date and buy a new ticket without the change fee?
I know this is a super basic question and the searches of the thread have led me to the conclusions above. However, it would be nice to get confirmation of my assumptions.
Thanks in advance for the help!
Jul 27, 2017, 8:27 pm
#1053
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Berkeley, CA
Programs: UA Silver, Southwest A-List, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 818
Thanks. Should have mentioned that it was 30 days until the flight.
Can anyone confirm if the cancellation fee gets waiver if I make MVP Gold next year before rebooking?
Can anyone confirm if the cancellation fee gets waiver if I make MVP Gold next year before rebooking?
Jul 27, 2017, 9:28 pm
#1054
Moderator: Chase Ultimate Rewards
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 2P, MR LT Plat, IHG Plat, BW Dia, HH Au, Avis PC
Posts: 5,457
I will be starting to commute on AS in September. AS has the best flights for my commute, so it seems to be the way to go. Is the AS Sig card the best way to go if I want to lower the cost of my overall commute in the long run, or should I use a cash back card or some other card that has higher miles/$? (AMEX?)
Hypothetically, if your commute route requires 25000 AS miles for a free ticket, but that free ticket would otherwise have a cash cost of $350, then an AS mile is worth 1.4 cents to you. Now, you can compare your options for buying the ticket:
Alaska Visa (3 miles/$) = $350 x 3 x 1.4 cents = $14.70 (4.2% return)
Chase Sapphire Reserve (3 points/$ worth minimum 1.5 cents) = $350 x 3 x 1.5 cents = $15.75 (4.5% return)
Amex Business Platinum (5 points/$ worth minimum 1.35 cents after rebate) = $350 x 5 x 1.35 cents = $23.62 (6.7% return)
You should figure out for yourself how much these different currencies are worth, based on how you will redeem them, then simply do the math, while accounting for any annual fees.
If you want to add one more wrinkle, you might identify the second best airline for your route and see if it makes sense to collect their miles from the purchase price (probably thru Chase or Amex points). That would give you leverage in a week when Alaska is expensive.
Jul 28, 2017, 12:00 am
#1055
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: SEA
Programs: MVPG
Posts: 34
I'm in the same situation where I have a cancelled ticket ($185) from when I was MVP. I'm now MVP Gold, but when I try to exchange the ticket or deposit its value, I see a $125 fee.
Jul 28, 2017, 12:18 am
#1056
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Alaska
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 131
My suggestion would be to talk to an agent. They may be able to waive the fee.
Jul 28, 2017, 6:51 am
#1057
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Status on a ticket doesn't automatically update when you change elite status, its always taken a phone call. Even the upgrades you stay stuck on the list as an MVP and not as a gold, it take a removal and readdition of MP # to fix it, don't let any agent tell you that it automatically updates. A phone call would be necessary on emailed ticket credit
Jul 28, 2017, 10:37 am
#1058
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Queens!
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan, Marriott Bonvoy, NEXUS
Posts: 334
Status on a ticket doesn't automatically update when you change elite status, its always taken a phone call. Even the upgrades you stay stuck on the list as an MVP and not as a gold, it take a removal and readdition of MP # to fix it, don't let any agent tell you that it automatically updates. A phone call would be necessary on emailed ticket credit
Aug 1, 2017, 10:43 am
#1059
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere
Programs: AS MVP, EK Silver, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 921
Anyone have a quick way to get 7,014 tier miles quickly without flying butt-in-seat? I missed one of the work trips to HYD and it would be nice to have a few more fare buckets instantly upgradeable as a 75k.
Aug 1, 2017, 10:58 am
#1060
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,834
You do get bonus EQM's for flying in paid F (and to a lesser extent, Y, S, M or B) though. So a short ~2000 mile RT AS flight in F would get you there.
Last edited by Finkface; Aug 1, 2017 at 11:04 am Reason: My math was a bit off
Aug 1, 2017, 11:05 am
#1061
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere
Programs: AS MVP, EK Silver, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 921
Fortunately (unfortunately for you, though), the only way to get EQM's on AS is by flying. Butt-in-seat is the only path to status on AS. It is why many of us love the program - you can't buy or spend your way to status without flying.
You do get bonus EQM's for flying in paid F though. So a short ~2000 mile RT flight in F would get you there.
You do get bonus EQM's for flying in paid F though. So a short ~2000 mile RT flight in F would get you there.
Aug 1, 2017, 5:11 pm
#1062
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 4
My husband and I were MVP Gold for the first time this year and would like to have it again next year. Based on our current planned travels we will be a little short at the end of 2017 to get it for 2018. United has often given us about 60 days the following year to earn the additional miles. Does Alaska ever offer this to earn MVP Gold?
Aug 2, 2017, 12:10 am
#1064
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
Posts: 42,953
My husband and I were MVP Gold for the first time this year and would like to have it again next year. Based on our current planned travels we will be a little short at the end of 2017 to get it for 2018. United has often given us about 60 days the following year to earn the additional miles. Does Alaska ever offer this to earn MVP Gold?
This program afaik did not happen for 2017 elite year.