Seat 2A

My job in Denali National Park does not require any work related travel either, so like you, all of my travel is on my own dime.

I guess it's all in how one looks at it. Even as a "mere" Gold, speaking only for myself here - I'd still be appreciative most of all for the waived fees but also for the ability to select premium seats (albeit in the main cabin) at time of booking, the complimentary cocktail(s), the double mileage earned and the GGUs. First Class upgrades are nice but as one who logged my first millionth mile over 30 years ago and remember flying when First Class was much, much nicer, I don't get all that excited about the current "First Class" product anymore. Given the extra legroom and perks in Premium Economy, I'm not at all unhappy there. Additionally, it's not like Golds aren't getting any upgrades anymore. I know of at least a couple of "mere" MVPs who do surprisingly well in this regard flying primarily FAI-SEA and SEA-DEN.

So while "showered" might seem a bit superlative, I honestly feel Alaska does a great job of showing its appreciation on most every flight throughout the year.

pinniped

First-time base-level MVP here. What did MVP's get in the past?

I need to know what I'm whining about not getting now.

Westcoaster

One proviso: If MVPGs want to select premium seats at time of booking on planes with Premium Class we have to be in certain fare classes. So we have to pay extra for it.

eponymous_coward

I feel the same, and I bounce between Gold (this year and some years in the past) and MVP (next year and some years in the past). Never been remotely close to 75K.

I do as well. It's a pretty good deal, all things considered. I don't get bent out of shape that AS gave some love to new people and not to me (while honoring the deal they had with me, that part of which is exactly what I expected- they came through on what they promised to me, and it's none of my business if someone ELSE got a better deal because AS bought VX). Instead, I've been collecting DL miles for next to nothing because DL is giving love to some new people, plus the usual allotment of WN/UA/AV when a good deal comes along.

I'm not going to labor under an illusion that I'm a particularly valuable customer to AS, but I'm happy with the program at the moment. If that changes I'll just go elsewhere instead of taking it personal. The brick doesn't love me, and that's OK.

jinglish

Golds and 75Ks had, for some time, gotten an end-of-the-year gift in addition to the stated benefits--I believe it was a choice of extra GGUs, lounge passes, or something else. Nothing last year, hence the whining.

eponymous_coward

And in the distant past it was chocolate-covered cookies.

Points Scrounger

I got the cookies my first year as gold before they axed those.

Akck

I was able to make multiple changes to my flights without any change fees, only needing to pay the fare difference or getting a credit. That alone is worth being Gold or above. The complementary upgrades and the ability to get immediate upgrades are just icing on the cake.

dayone

With all the integration bumps this year, it wouldn't be the worst idea to throw a bone to the elites.

beckoa

Think I still have one left. Not sure I'd want to eat it anymore.

I'd like to echo these thoughts, although I've only been an AS MP member since '04 myself. But my first AS flight was in the early 90's

ctporter

For me it comes down to the old idea of "smile and you will feel better, you will be happier; frown and you will find more things that make you feel bad" Others have said it better, but if I had to answer the question "what have you (AS) done for me lately" it would be a long list actually. I got several discount codes for flights where the aircraft was swapped and premium class was no longer available. I got some discounts for long flight delays last month. I was able to take my husband to the Earth Wind and Fire concert and met several other FFs as well as AS employees and had a blast. I do get to board early and always have space by my seat in the overhead bin because of that. I was able to cancel and re-book two different trips due to a client not being ready without having to pay a change fee. I do not have to pay for baggage (unless part of my trip is on AA where AA is the first leg) I do get very nice "thank you for being a Gold or a 75k even if I am upgraded to FC which is another nice thing that AS does for me about 80% of the time. So, while I DO understand your frustration Eujeanie, and support your right to express frustration over it, I also think it is important to focus on why AS is the right airline to use. What makes you chose AS over another?

Eujeanie

First of all, while I did start this thread, I did not recently resurrect it...and you're right, we get a lot more out of AS than we would from any other airline serving Eugene. I was initially upset last year when we were overlooked in favor of the VX's for the end of year gifts, I guess I'm old school and am a "if you don't have enough candy for everyone in the class, nobody gets any".

We manage to fly First on almost all our long haul flights, either through the 4 GGU's we earn from turning Gold each year, or paying the upcharge for a regular Gold upgrade. But I can't remember a single short-haul (to us that means LAS/LAX/PHX/SAN/SFO, etc.) where we were upgraded this year. And I don't like the upgrade glitches that enable my no-status neighbors to get ostensibly the same upgrades we do (mentioned in another thread).

Living in EUG, I love that we get 500 miles for the puddle jumpers we HAVE to take to get positioned to get anywhere. If we lived in SEA, say, with non-stops everywhere, we'd be lucky to make MVP every year, never mind Gold.

So yes, I like to grumble, I'm human, but I do like Alaska and they will continue to be our airline. Now if I could only stop checking my in-box for that "Happy Holidays!" email...

jiburi

Only temporary but being able to upgrade on a VX fleet, post 4/25 is a small but worthy bone.

Jiburi

dayone

Certainly anecdotal, but I haven't seen any U on post-4/25 Airbus flights.

alphaeagle

I'm on several Airbus flights that I've used GGUs on next year to upgrade. They aren't common, but they are out there.