"Elite Leave" Status Extension Benefit
May 11, 2017, 11:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Snohomish, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,793
"Elite Leave" Status Extension Benefit
https://blog.alaskaair.com/alaska-ai...n/elite-leave/
This is certainly a nice additional benefit, but I wonder why they didn't choose to go Hilton's route with the diamond status extension model that allows you to request a status extension for any reason (such as temporary change in job travel patterns, etc.)
Neil
[...] That’s where Elite Leave comes in – a brand-new program enabling Alaska Mileage Plan elite members to extend status for an additional year when they go on parental leave. That means members who have taken or will take a parental leave that ends this year can extend their status through the end of 2018. In future years, status will be extended through the calendar year following the end of leave.
Neil
May 11, 2017, 1:32 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle WA, USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, AS Lounge
Posts: 3,478
May 11, 2017, 1:41 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,838
That said, while I won't benefit from this new benefit, I still think it is a good thing. And hopefully a "pilot" for future extension.
May 11, 2017, 1:46 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,623
Having been a customer of this company for 31 years, I would expect and believe that after some time of being a good customer, if you had a very specific legitimate reason for needing a one time extension, the Mileage Plan would listen and consider a request.
I think it wise not to have a "cat (or dog) ate my Mileage Plan Card" panoply of excuses as a published benefit.
I think it wise not to have a "cat (or dog) ate my Mileage Plan Card" panoply of excuses as a published benefit.
May 11, 2017, 7:12 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
Having been a customer of this company for 31 years, I would expect and believe that after some time of being a good customer, if you had a very specific legitimate reason for needing a one time extension, the Mileage Plan would listen and consider a request.
I think it wise not to have a "cat (or dog) ate my Mileage Plan Card" panoply of excuses as a published benefit.
I think it wise not to have a "cat (or dog) ate my Mileage Plan Card" panoply of excuses as a published benefit.
Alaska’s customer service agents, who are empowered to go beyond to make things right for customers, have long been making these exceptions on a case-by-case basis when elite flyers inquire. Today’s announcement formalizes the policy for all new parents.
By the way, Virgin Australia has had a similar policy for years. (My spouse took advantage of it.) It looks like Qantas matched recently.
May 12, 2017, 6:56 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: JNU
Programs: HH D, AS MM/MVPG for life/AL, Awesome Wipes VIP Club, NEXUS, Hertz 5-Star Gold
Posts: 2,893
There are conditions attached to Hilton's program, too. I.e., 3 years of Diamond status and either a minimum number of paid nights or bonus points.
May 12, 2017, 6:45 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SEA, NW/DL 1.6Million Miler
Programs: DL 1MM Annual Silver,AS 100K 22-24, AS 75K 15-21
Posts: 4,278
I have no qualms with this policy, except I'm afraid, someone might take advantage for the wrong reasons...
jiburi
"I'm not making my status for this year, so let's have a kid"
May 12, 2017, 6:57 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,399
May 12, 2017, 9:33 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Snohomish, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,793
May 13, 2017, 1:23 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon or Costa Alegre take your pick
Programs: AS MVPG,
Posts: 1,066
May 13, 2017, 7:48 pm
#14
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
Nov 28, 2017, 12:47 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 54
Reminder for anyone who qualifies for Elite Leave to submit their request!
And a question, for anyone who knows or is better at interpreting the terms. How does Alaska handle situations where new parent leave straddles two years? If I’m 75K for 2017, but due to decreased travel in 2017 only qualified for MVP for 2018, what status would they extend if my leave began in 2017 and ends in January 2018?
The terms state:
To me it’s not clear which “current status” they’re referring to—the one when the leave began in 2017, or the one when it ended in 2018. The example in the second sentence seems to contradict the most straightforward interpretation of the first sentence.
And a question, for anyone who knows or is better at interpreting the terms. How does Alaska handle situations where new parent leave straddles two years? If I’m 75K for 2017, but due to decreased travel in 2017 only qualified for MVP for 2018, what status would they extend if my leave began in 2017 and ends in January 2018?
The terms state:
Mileage Plan™ elite status (MVP®, MVP® Gold and MVP® Gold 75K) members who go on parental leave at any time starting in 2017 are eligible for Elite Leave: eligible members will be presumed to qualify for their current status in the year in which their parental leave ends, to apply for the following year. As an example, a current (2017) MVP® member who takes parental leave which ends in 2018 will receive MVP® status through 2019.