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!
Jul 16, 2018, 7:20 pm
#961
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,610
I used a similar offer through my company and then added on my own flying to become MVPGold, with full gold benefits, so 75k should be possible also. Lots of companies in seattle give the same offer at various times - starbucks, amazon etc.
Jul 16, 2018, 10:14 pm
#962
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Southwest A-List; Alaska MVPG; Hilton Diamond; Avis PreferredPlus; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Posts: 919
I just status-matched to MVP (it was approved, and shows up in my profile.) I have four existing trips... should I do anything to ensure that the status refreshes on those trips?
Jul 16, 2018, 10:18 pm
#963
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
Jul 16, 2018, 10:23 pm
#964
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
James
Jul 18, 2018, 4:24 pm
#965
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Southwest A-List; Alaska MVPG; Hilton Diamond; Avis PreferredPlus; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Posts: 919
Thanks, all. It did take a couple of days to propagate, but I looked this morning and was able to reassign some of my upcoming seats into elite seats. I fly on Saturday, so we’ll see if the luggage perk goes through without problem.
Two additional questions:
1) Am I correct that the 50% bonus miles that I will earn are not also Elite Qualifying Miles?
2) I’m used to Southwest where I book every trip as single person one-way tickets. Is there any reason to do that on Alaska, or am I better served to book both of us on a single round-trip itinerary?
Two additional questions:
1) Am I correct that the 50% bonus miles that I will earn are not also Elite Qualifying Miles?
2) I’m used to Southwest where I book every trip as single person one-way tickets. Is there any reason to do that on Alaska, or am I better served to book both of us on a single round-trip itinerary?
Jul 18, 2018, 4:29 pm
#966
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
Thanks, all. It did take a couple of days to propagate, but I looked this morning and was able to reassign some of my upcoming seats into elite seats. I fly on Saturday, so we’ll see if the luggage perk goes through without problem.
Two additional questions:
1) Am I correct that the 50% bonus miles that I will earn are not also Elite Qualifying Miles?
2) I’m used to Southwest where I book every trip as single person one-way tickets. Is there any reason to do that on Alaska, or am I better served to book both of us on a single round-trip itinerary?
Two additional questions:
1) Am I correct that the 50% bonus miles that I will earn are not also Elite Qualifying Miles?
2) I’m used to Southwest where I book every trip as single person one-way tickets. Is there any reason to do that on Alaska, or am I better served to book both of us on a single round-trip itinerary?
2) Just booked a r/t as two one ways, just like I always do on all routes that do not have a one way penalty like longhaul overwater trips. I just find it more flexible. Of course if you want to change both, you end up with two change fees, but IF there was need in the past for me, it was just one of flights where the flexibility was better IMHO.
Jul 18, 2018, 4:46 pm
#967
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Thanks, all. It did take a couple of days to propagate, but I looked this morning and was able to reassign some of my upcoming seats into elite seats. I fly on Saturday, so we’ll see if the luggage perk goes through without problem.
Two additional questions:
1) Am I correct that the 50% bonus miles that I will earn are not also Elite Qualifying Miles?
2) I’m used to Southwest where I book every trip as single person one-way tickets. Is there any reason to do that on Alaska, or am I better served to book both of us on a single round-trip itinerary?
Two additional questions:
1) Am I correct that the 50% bonus miles that I will earn are not also Elite Qualifying Miles?
2) I’m used to Southwest where I book every trip as single person one-way tickets. Is there any reason to do that on Alaska, or am I better served to book both of us on a single round-trip itinerary?
2) If you are on separate PNR's there is a possibility you could be upgraded to First and your non-status companion will never be upgraded. As a companion on your PNR it appears of late that each party will be on the upgrade list and both being upgraded is a possibility. Of course as an MVP you cannot upgrade a companion with an eligible fare like you can with MVPG+ but complimentary upgrades are still possible. The odds of getting upgraded as a single MVP on a PNR would be higher than both getting upgraded together. What do you value more?
James
Jul 18, 2018, 4:48 pm
#968
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Upside of booking your companion(s) with you is they will have the same elite baggage allowance, & can be seated in non-Premium elite seats, and will be handled together automatically in the event of IRROPs. You can use the link reservations on the website but this just places a note on the reservation more or less and doesn't actually merge the two together.
You can always split the reservation after booking, but your time of First Class upgrade request would be at that point. I've also had an agent say the computer wouldn't let her leave my non-elite companion in an Elite seat after splitting.
The other advantage to purchasing a trip as a single RT, other than what EmailKid mentioned is if something happened to the other flight(s) such a travel waiver or IRROPs, it would be easier to cancel the whole thing vs two separate one-ways if only one leg was affected.
(*there have been multiple exceptions to this reported in other threads, but it appears to be route/load dependent and is totally at Alaska's discretion)
Jul 18, 2018, 5:00 pm
#969
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Southwest A-List; Alaska MVPG; Hilton Diamond; Avis PreferredPlus; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Posts: 919
I realize other couples are different, but the possibility of one of us being upgraded and not the other would be a drawback, not a benefit... 
(I was able to put both of us in elite (non-premium) seats on our upcoming SAN-BOS trip. It’s a 737-900, and we scored exit rows on both legs. We’re still a month out, long before OLCI. Is that a bug?)
I think I’ll probably book single itineraries.
(I was able to put both of us in elite (non-premium) seats on our upcoming SAN-BOS trip. It’s a 737-900, and we scored exit rows on both legs. We’re still a month out, long before OLCI. Is that a bug?)
I think I’ll probably book single itineraries.
Jul 18, 2018, 5:19 pm
#970
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
I realize other couples are different, but the possibility of one of us being upgraded and not the other would be a drawback, not a benefit...
(I was able to put both of us in elite (non-premium) seats on our upcoming SAN-BOS trip. It’s a 737-900, and we scored exit rows on both legs. We’re still a month out, long before OLCI. Is that a bug?)
I think I’ll probably book single itineraries.
(I was able to put both of us in elite (non-premium) seats on our upcoming SAN-BOS trip. It’s a 737-900, and we scored exit rows on both legs. We’re still a month out, long before OLCI. Is that a bug?)
I think I’ll probably book single itineraries.
SAN-BOS-SAN 5162 EQM & RDM + MVP 50% BONUS 2581 RDM.
EQM 5162, RDM 5162 + 2581 = 7743
James
Jul 18, 2018, 5:38 pm
#971
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Southwest A-List; Alaska MVPG; Hilton Diamond; Avis PreferredPlus; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Posts: 919
Just in case you aren't aware, Row 16 does not recline, row 17 does. Half way to Gold. Certainly something worth attaining given your start line was moved up and your SAN-BOS return flight will bring you 25% closer to Gold
SAN-BOS-SAN 5162 EQM & RDM + MVP 50% BONUS 2581 RDM.
EQM 5162, RDM 5162 + 2581 = 7743
James
SAN-BOS-SAN 5162 EQM & RDM + MVP 50% BONUS 2581 RDM.
EQM 5162, RDM 5162 + 2581 = 7743
James
i assumed I had to hit 20k by the end of the year to keep MVP for 2019. Gold seems out of my reach, no?
Right now, I have one-way SAN-DAL, a RT SAN-BOS, and a RT SAN-SEA. We’re hoping to pull off a Hawai’i fRT before the end of the year, but the stars have to align just right.
Jul 18, 2018, 5:48 pm
#972
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Thanks for the reminders on the reclining. I had guessed as much, and put us in row 17. I don’t typically recline, but am happy to have a non-reclining seat in front of me.
i assumed I had to hit 20k by the end of the year to keep MVP for 2019. Gold seems out of my reach, no?
Right now, I have one-way SAN-DAL, a RT SAN-BOS, and a RT SAN-SEA. We’re hoping to pull off a Hawai’i fRT before the end of the year, but the stars have to align just right.
When you look at your account details it shows you how many EQM/Segments are required to attain the next Elite Tier.
James
Jul 18, 2018, 5:50 pm
#973
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Southwest A-List; Alaska MVPG; Hilton Diamond; Avis PreferredPlus; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Posts: 919
How were you matched to MVP? I might have confused you with another poster who was granted MVP Status through a work related promotion which also included the 20K EQM.
When you look at your account details it shows you how many EQM/Segments are required to attain the next Elite Tier.
James
When you look at your account details it shows you how many EQM/Segments are required to attain the next Elite Tier.
James
I was status-matched from Southwest.
Jul 18, 2018, 7:09 pm
#974
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
Apologies if this question has already been asked in the thread.
What's life like as a MVP/MVPG/MVP75K based out of SFO? I'm an SFO --> DC flyer (DCA, BWI and IAD are all options) and have been a UA flyer for a few years but may be looking to switch airlines. UA ex SFO is an upgrade waitlist 70 people deep on many flights, including all of them to the DC area -- is the same true for AS (or may be true for AS once the VX merger is more complete?) If I switched to AS based on current flight numbers, I could status match to MVP and would qualify as MVPG by the end of the year.
In the last 24 months, all of my travel has been TCON domestic, but there's a high likelihood I'll be taking an additional 10 RT TATL/TPAC flights per year in each of the next two years (to a variety of destinations). Will be forced to buy intl Y. If I credit to AS I could get to MVP75K, or if I fly UA I'd be UA 1K and star alliance gold, plus on UA I'd get 6 GPUs so could grab some upgrades. But, if I am significantly more likely to fly in F for a Y-ish fare on AS when traveling domestic, AS would be worth it because my GPU chances would be slim, and even as a 1K on UA my domestic upgrades would be probably 33% of the time or less.
What's life like as a MVP/MVPG/MVP75K based out of SFO? I'm an SFO --> DC flyer (DCA, BWI and IAD are all options) and have been a UA flyer for a few years but may be looking to switch airlines. UA ex SFO is an upgrade waitlist 70 people deep on many flights, including all of them to the DC area -- is the same true for AS (or may be true for AS once the VX merger is more complete?) If I switched to AS based on current flight numbers, I could status match to MVP and would qualify as MVPG by the end of the year.
In the last 24 months, all of my travel has been TCON domestic, but there's a high likelihood I'll be taking an additional 10 RT TATL/TPAC flights per year in each of the next two years (to a variety of destinations). Will be forced to buy intl Y. If I credit to AS I could get to MVP75K, or if I fly UA I'd be UA 1K and star alliance gold, plus on UA I'd get 6 GPUs so could grab some upgrades. But, if I am significantly more likely to fly in F for a Y-ish fare on AS when traveling domestic, AS would be worth it because my GPU chances would be slim, and even as a 1K on UA my domestic upgrades would be probably 33% of the time or less.
Jul 18, 2018, 8:57 pm
#975
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
Thread from LAX for cash upgrade, I know its not exactly SFO but I would say somewhere in between since LAX and SFO are not SEA/PDX, and since LAX/SFO have a lot of competition and better products on other airlines.
cash upgrade JFKLAX, any strategy?
Last edited by safari ari; Jul 18, 2018 at 9:04 pm