Discussion: The merits of people moving miles to Alaska from SPG to book awards
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,030
Discussion: The merits of people moving miles to Alaska from SPG to book awards
So is it just me? I guess I get tired of reading all these people on here who have no connection to AS at all who simply dump a bunch of miles from some other source and then book international premium travel. Yes, I know it's all legal blah, blah, blah. I guess I feel like this kind of use of the program makes thing harder for those of us who actually fly AS (sometimes a lot) to get awards and could lead to tightening up the program in the future.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,837
So is it just me? I guess I get tired of reading all these people on here who have no connection to AS at all who simply dump a bunch of miles from some other source and then book international premium travel. Yes, I know it's all legal blah, blah, blah. I guess I feel like this kind of use of the program makes thing harder for those of us who actually fly AS (sometimes a lot) to get awards and could lead to tightening up the program in the future.
Also, in this case, AAG gets paid by Starwood through the transfer. If it wasn't beneficial, they wouldn't do it.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
So is it just me? I guess I get tired of reading all these people on here who have no connection to AS at all who simply dump a bunch of miles from some other source and then book international premium travel. Yes, I know it's all legal blah, blah, blah. I guess I feel like this kind of use of the program makes thing harder for those of us who actually fly AS (sometimes a lot) to get awards and could lead to tightening up the program in the future.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,030
I don't believe I have more claim to anything. What I don't want is for the AS Mileage Plan to become a worldwide bank of miles/points because of its generous rules. It would just be a matter of time until those generous rules disappear.
#6
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,847
If you wish for that, then you are also wishing that you won't have any partners willing to give AS any money which will in turn make it all the more difficult for AS to continue to have a FF program at all. Mileage Plan makes money from the partner payments. What you are hoping for would be the end of Mileage Plan as a viable program.
Last edited by sfozrhfco; Feb 22, 2018 at 4:36 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,387
So is it just me? I guess I get tired of reading all these people on here who have no connection to AS at all who simply dump a bunch of miles from some other source and then book international premium travel. Yes, I know it's all legal blah, blah, blah. I guess I feel like this kind of use of the program makes thing harder for those of us who actually fly AS (sometimes a lot) to get awards and could lead to tightening up the program in the future.
I think it's kind of dangerous to put all your faith in one airline loyalty program myself. AS has burned their customers with no-notice rule changes on multiple occasions. I'll probably walk to a combination of WN/whatever I am willing to pay for if they water down MP with a Basic Economy clone of UA/AA's punitive products. In the end excessive "loyalty" or emotional evaluation of airline programs is likely to lead to being a chump. The airline is being run like a business and is looking out for shareholders; I am the only one I can trust to look out for me.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I think that, what it comes down to is, these partnerships exist for a reason (and that reason is almost certainly that they are good for the companies who form the partnerships).
I have no idea how much SPG pays AS for the miles, or how much AS pays the partners for the award tickets, but if it was a bad deal for AS I'm sure that they wouldn't do it.
I have no idea how much SPG pays AS for the miles, or how much AS pays the partners for the award tickets, but if it was a bad deal for AS I'm sure that they wouldn't do it.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
So is it just me? I guess I get tired of reading all these people on here who have no connection to AS at all who simply dump a bunch of miles from some other source and then book international premium travel. Yes, I know it's all legal blah, blah, blah. I guess I feel like this kind of use of the program makes thing harder for those of us who actually fly AS (sometimes a lot) to get awards and could lead to tightening up the program in the future.
In fact, there may be a rash of "dumping in" to various airline programs from SPG this year, simply because it may the last year anyone can do that. Anyone who was collecting SPG for airilne miles, rather than hotel points, will probably want to "dump" rather than wait for them to turn into Marriott points.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: Alaska mvp G, AA Exec Plat, Marriott/SPG platinum, United Silver, Delta Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 165
Actually the best way to get the most miles in Alaska is to go through Marriott. If you go through SPG it is not quite as lucrative. Using the Marriott flights and nights is the way to go. 90,000 SPG will give you 120,000 miles in Alaska and a seven night stay in cat 1-5 Marriott
#13
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
Yep. I'd thought about saving some for future redemptions, but I've wound up spending most of my AS miles for trips this year. My AA trips were booked before the relevant charts got devalued (though some did actually improve this year), and those CX charts can't last for long.
#15
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP , Delta Gold Medallion, "Credit Card" status for various hotels
Posts: 672
So is it just me? I guess I get tired of reading all these people on here who have no connection to AS at all who simply dump a bunch of miles from some other source and then book international premium travel. Yes, I know it's all legal blah, blah, blah. I guess I feel like this kind of use of the program makes thing harder for those of us who actually fly AS (sometimes a lot) to get awards and could lead to tightening up the program in the future.