Deceptive Alaska Airlines Amazon Employee Fast-Track Challenge?
May 9, 2017 | 6:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: Alaska
Posts: 5
Deceptive Alaska Airlines Amazon Employee Fast-Track Challenge?
Hi!
My employer has a deal with Alaska that gives a mileage boost for flying AS, but the airline is sketchily refusing to credit the miles. The details of the offer are:
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/de...spx?lid=vanity
In actuality, after your second round trip they will bump you to MVP status, but do not credit the 20,000 EQMs to your account. So if you're trying to make MVP Gold, you still need to earn 40,000 EQM even with the promotion -- even though they state the offer "puts you halfway to MVP Gold".
In my mileage report, the 20,000 was not in the available balance as expected, but it didn't post to the elite qualifying miles counter. This is contrary to what the fine print reads:
Has anybody else gotten bamboozled by this? Is there any recourse or is this par for the course for AS?
My employer has a deal with Alaska that gives a mileage boost for flying AS, but the airline is sketchily refusing to credit the miles. The details of the offer are:
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/de...spx?lid=vanity
Code:
Fly Earn 1 round trip 1,000 bonus miles 2 round trips MVP status, plus a head start on MVP Gold*1 3 round trips 5,000 bonus miles *1 After your second round trip, we'll award you 20,000 elite-qualifying miles. You won't be able to redeem those miles for flights, but they'll instantly give you MVP status, and put you halfway to MVP Gold status.
Code:
"The 20,000 does not go to your available balance it is just the trigger that is applied to your tier status to post the MVP status to your account. The 1,000 and 5,000 go to your available balance."
Code:
"Eligible members ... will receive 1,000 bonus miles after flying two segments, 20,000 elite-qualifying miles after flying four segments, and 5,000 bonus miles after flying 6 segments"
Last edited by alaskafasttrack; May 9, 2017 at 8:39 pm
May 9, 2017 | 7:24 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
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Before we start going "bamboozled" here and going OMG CALL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WT!11F!!BBQ!!!1111!! (because you seem to be all OMG THIS IS FRAUD 1111!!!!! based on one interaction with customer service), has your status actually been upgraded to MVP, or not?
Is it possible the EQMs might not show online? Your AS rep seems to be telling you it won't show on your available balance. Might it not show at all? If you're actually an MVP now... seems like SOMEHOW they know you managed to fulfill terms, right?
Is it possible the EQMs might not show online? Your AS rep seems to be telling you it won't show on your available balance. Might it not show at all? If you're actually an MVP now... seems like SOMEHOW they know you managed to fulfill terms, right?
May 9, 2017 | 7:52 pm
#3
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If you have concerns about the deal your employer has with AS, perhaps a better place to raise that concern is in private with your travel/procurement department that negotiated that deal.
My employer would probably not appreciate it if I went on Flyertalk and ranted about such an agreement.
My employer would probably not appreciate it if I went on Flyertalk and ranted about such an agreement.
May 9, 2017 | 7:53 pm
#4
Moderator, Mileage Run
Join Date: Dec 2009
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If you have concerns about the deal your employer has with AS, perhaps a better place to raise that concern is in private with your travel/procurement department that negotiated that deal.
My employer would probably not appreciate it if I went on Flyertalk and ranted about such an agreement.
My employer would probably not appreciate it if I went on Flyertalk and ranted about such an agreement.
May 9, 2017 | 8:42 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: Alaska
Posts: 5
Agreed 100% with above; just wanted to check if hidden EQMs were part of the AS mileage system. We'll escalate internally.
[MENTION=147986]eponymous_coward[/MENTION]; the 20,000 EQMs did not post, just status was bumped. Unfortunately must have been a "typo" in their terms.
[MENTION=252890]ryandc99[/MENTION]; this is all public information -- dozens of companies have similar challenges with AS. Here's one for Starbucks, for example:
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/de...spx?lid=vanity
[MENTION=147986]eponymous_coward[/MENTION]; the 20,000 EQMs did not post, just status was bumped. Unfortunately must have been a "typo" in their terms.
[MENTION=252890]ryandc99[/MENTION]; this is all public information -- dozens of companies have similar challenges with AS. Here's one for Starbucks, for example:
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/de...spx?lid=vanity
May 9, 2017 | 8:50 pm
#6
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I was just about to say eponymous_coward, are you insane.... Then i realized this was likely split from another thread so context is completely missing 
May 9, 2017 | 8:51 pm
#7
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Don't you think if they were trying to cheat you, you wouldn't have gotten MVP status?
May 9, 2017 | 8:53 pm
#8
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Agreed 100% with above; just wanted to check if hidden EQMs were part of the AS mileage system. We'll escalate internally.
[MENTION=147986]eponymous_coward[/MENTION]; the 20,000 EQMs did not post, just status was bumped. Unfortunately must have been a "typo" in their terms.
[MENTION=252890]ryandc99[/MENTION]; this is all public information -- dozens of companies have similar challenges with AS. Here's one for Starbucks, for example:
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/de...spx?lid=vanity
[MENTION=147986]eponymous_coward[/MENTION]; the 20,000 EQMs did not post, just status was bumped. Unfortunately must have been a "typo" in their terms.
[MENTION=252890]ryandc99[/MENTION]; this is all public information -- dozens of companies have similar challenges with AS. Here's one for Starbucks, for example:
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/de...spx?lid=vanity
May 9, 2017 | 9:09 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: Alaska
Posts: 5
[MENTION=147986]eponymous_coward[/MENTION]; I sadly had 19,000 EQM prior to the bump and was supposed to get MVPG together with the other bonuses 
These offers are targeted to bring in more business travelers from SEA companies. Thousands of employees purchased their flights on AS instead of other carriers because they thought the terms were accurate. It sounds like typos like these are uncommon for AS, so that's fine -- we'll just ask for the terms to be updated.
These offers are targeted to bring in more business travelers from SEA companies. Thousands of employees purchased their flights on AS instead of other carriers because they thought the terms were accurate. It sounds like typos like these are uncommon for AS, so that's fine -- we'll just ask for the terms to be updated.
May 9, 2017 | 9:11 pm
#10
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May 9, 2017 | 9:17 pm
#11
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[MENTION=147986]eponymous_coward[/MENTION]; I sadly had 19,000 EQM prior to the bump and was supposed to get MVPG together with the other bonuses
These offers are targeted to bring in more business travelers from SEA companies. Thousands of employees purchased their flights on AS instead of other carriers because they thought the terms were accurate. It sounds like typos like these are uncommon for AS, so that's fine -- we'll just ask for the terms to be updated.
These offers are targeted to bring in more business travelers from SEA companies. Thousands of employees purchased their flights on AS instead of other carriers because they thought the terms were accurate. It sounds like typos like these are uncommon for AS, so that's fine -- we'll just ask for the terms to be updated.
Based on the conversation you had with the customer service rep, I am not convinced she got what you were saying. You are best off escalating through your travel department. Has it been 4-6 weeks?
May 9, 2017 | 9:30 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: Alaska
Posts: 5
It's a bit hard to keep track of your story, as you keep revealing details that change it.
Based on the conversation you had with the customer service rep, I am not convinced she got what you were saying. You are best off escalating through your travel department. Has it been 4-6 weeks?
Based on the conversation you had with the customer service rep, I am not convinced she got what you were saying. You are best off escalating through your travel department. Has it been 4-6 weeks?
Story is consistent: 20,000 EQM will not be credited for employer-targeted challenges, terms are incorrect. Only MVP status bump as per customer service representative.
May 9, 2017 | 9:39 pm
#13
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Read exactly what your CS rep said. Again. It is not identical to what you said just now. From what I can tell she is saying your EQMs don't post to your account as RDM (EQMs are not available balance, RDMs are). Your question may have been misunderstood. Also, the terms and conditions say "4-6 weeks". If you got MVP status through normal flying, there may be a lag for the 20k and getting to Gold.
May 9, 2017 | 9:53 pm
#14
Moderator, Mileage Run
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Try typing in company names into the link by replacing the company name... Microsoft comes up as an expired offer, but other companies based in Seattle either come up or come up with an error message.
May 10, 2017 | 10:53 am
#15
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If you have concerns about the deal your employer has with AS, perhaps a better place to raise that concern is in private with your travel/procurement department that negotiated that deal.
My employer would probably not appreciate it if I went on Flyertalk and ranted about such an agreement.
My employer would probably not appreciate it if I went on Flyertalk and ranted about such an agreement.
I can assure you that the terms of the offer, as written, are correct.