Jan 1, 2018, 3:17 pm
Last edit by: Baze
Welcome to the Alaska Airlines Flame-Free Q&A Thread for 2018!
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
For the 2017 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
For the 2017 version of this thread, please click here
2018 Alaska Airlines *FLAME-FREE* Q&A thread: all welcome, new and old!
Apr 30, 2018, 3:26 pm
#676
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
Hi all - I'm new to this process and have read about "mileage runs", however, do you actually have board the flight? I've been having a discussion with a coworker who claims he was able to upgrade to Elite status by simply purchasing several long-distance flights but not actually boarding the plane. He checked-in to the flights but never actually boarded the plane. In essence he paid for Elite status without having to actually fly anywhere. Is this really possible?
There is a way to purchase MP (Plan, not that familiar with Plus yet) miles and qualifying miles, but you'd have to head over to UA forum @:-)
Maybe AS has something like that as well, but someone more familiar with this program would have to chime in.
Apr 30, 2018, 6:15 pm
#677
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 10
My apologies, I didn't realize that the person who responded was the resident guru. Also, I'll keep it to one string. Thanks for letting me know.
Apr 30, 2018, 9:24 pm
#678
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
No apology necessary. That’s what this newbie, flame-free forum is for. I was just trying to gently get you started in the right direction. Even though you have been a member for quite a few years, you haven’t posted a lot. You will find the folks here in the Alaska forum among the very best that Flyertalk has to offer, especially Beckoa, who responded to your other thread. Stick around and don’t hesitate to ask even the simplest of questions - you will learn a lot. And hopefully contribute a bit as well as I am sure you have a lot to offer.
Apr 30, 2018, 9:59 pm
#679
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Hi all - I'm new to this process and have read about "mileage runs", however, do you actually have board the flight? I've been having a discussion with a coworker who claims he was able to upgrade to Elite status by simply purchasing several long-distance flights but not actually boarding the plane. He checked-in to the flights but never actually boarded the plane. In essence he paid for Elite status without having to actually fly anywhere. Is this really possible?
Apr 30, 2018, 10:23 pm
#680
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: SNA/LAX, PHL
Programs: AA Gold, AS MVP, WN A-List, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Exp, Hertz PC
Posts: 449
I wonder what's the breakdown of AS elite by home base.
If I have to guess: 70% SEA, 10% SFO/SJC/OAK, 10% PDX, 5% LAX/SNA, 5% all others?
If I have to guess: 70% SEA, 10% SFO/SJC/OAK, 10% PDX, 5% LAX/SNA, 5% all others?
May 1, 2018, 1:40 am
#681
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
James
May 1, 2018, 3:02 am
#682
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
I have a silly question to ask. I'm looking at a BOS-LAX flight in July on VX metal. What are the chances the flight could be swapped to an AS aircraft? I wouldn't be happy knowing I could have selected a 1 stop in lie flat, but instead I am stuck in a standard AS recliner. Thanks for help!
May 1, 2018, 7:07 am
#683
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
I have a silly question to ask. I'm looking at a BOS-LAX flight in July on VX metal. What are the chances the flight could be swapped to an AS aircraft? I wouldn't be happy knowing I could have selected a 1 stop in lie flat, but instead I am stuck in a standard AS recliner. Thanks for help!
May 1, 2018, 9:50 am
#684
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,028
What do folks use to keep track of any fare drops on purchased itineraries?
I'm still happily amazed that AS allows credits with any fare drop.
I'm still happily amazed that AS allows credits with any fare drop.
May 1, 2018, 10:01 am
#685
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
May 1, 2018, 8:11 pm
#686
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
Is there a thread or Wiki on this
Not that I expect my fare to drop, but that would incentivise me to fly AS more in the future - certainly if they honor my status match request @:-)
Oddly enough, the flight I booked was $147 originally, jumped to $176 where it sat for a couple of weeks or so, only to come back to $147 with "one seat left."
Well, pulled the trigger, and price was $176 again for the next sucker .... er, customer.
May 1, 2018, 8:15 pm
#687
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
There's been some discussion here about whether this will continue after AS, as they recently said they intend to do, axes free changes at sixty or more days from departure, but there's been no official word on the matter yet.
May 1, 2018, 10:07 pm
#688
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 1,932
To follow up on this: I flew my AA-plated AS flight over the weekend. I got a rather cryptic "reservation has been deleted from the app" popup message. So far no miles in account. How long does it typically take for miles to post on MileagePlan?
May 2, 2018, 8:31 am
#689
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
May 2, 2018, 10:05 am
#690
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: BLI
Programs: Alaska MVPG
Posts: 206
What .... wait ....
Is there a thread or Wiki on this
Not that I expect my fare to drop, but that would incentivise me to fly AS more in the future - certainly if they honor my status match request @:-)
Oddly enough, the flight I booked was $147 originally, jumped to $176 where it sat for a couple of weeks or so, only to come back to $147 with "one seat left."
Well, pulled the trigger, and price was $176 again for the next sucker .... er, customer.
Is there a thread or Wiki on this
Not that I expect my fare to drop, but that would incentivise me to fly AS more in the future - certainly if they honor my status match request @:-)
Oddly enough, the flight I booked was $147 originally, jumped to $176 where it sat for a couple of weeks or so, only to come back to $147 with "one seat left."
Well, pulled the trigger, and price was $176 again for the next sucker .... er, customer.
Its pretty great. Over the last 3 months I've probably been credited back $200 from the low fare guarantee. Sad I didn't start doing this earlier.