Alaska miles seem worth WAY more than United, for instance. Help me
Aug 20, 2018, 4:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 428
Alaska miles seem worth WAY more than United, for instance. Help me
make sure I understand this please.
First of all I am seeing 30,000 miles if I get their visa, is there a better offer somewhere?
7500 miles to fly one way? Wow, am I reading that right? LA to Vegas? I know how to read so that is what it says, just used to much higher with United.
So the offer of 30,000, can I do better for Alaska miles? Too bad I cant transfer United to Alaska miles.
First of all I am seeing 30,000 miles if I get their visa, is there a better offer somewhere?
7500 miles to fly one way? Wow, am I reading that right? LA to Vegas? I know how to read so that is what it says, just used to much higher with United.
So the offer of 30,000, can I do better for Alaska miles? Too bad I cant transfer United to Alaska miles.
Aug 20, 2018, 4:52 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,046
UA prices short haul trips like LAX-LAS from 10K miles each way. Not exactly a huge difference. DL prices LAX - LAS for as low as 5K miles each way (for Tue/Wed/Sat travel, 5.5K miles for other days of the week). Given that LAX-LAS fares routinely sell for about $50 - $60 each way, I don't think I'd spend more than about 5K miles each way on an award ticket.
Last edited by xliioper; Aug 20, 2018 at 5:01 pm
Aug 20, 2018, 5:13 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,639
make sure I understand this please.
First of all I am seeing 30,000 miles if I get their visa, is there a better offer somewhere?
7500 miles to fly one way? Wow, am I reading that right? LA to Vegas? I know how to read so that is what it says, just used to much higher with United.
So the offer of 30,000, can I do better for Alaska miles? Too bad I cant transfer United to Alaska miles.
First of all I am seeing 30,000 miles if I get their visa, is there a better offer somewhere?
7500 miles to fly one way? Wow, am I reading that right? LA to Vegas? I know how to read so that is what it says, just used to much higher with United.
So the offer of 30,000, can I do better for Alaska miles? Too bad I cant transfer United to Alaska miles.
Aug 20, 2018, 5:50 pm
#5
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: 36,024
After getting booted from United status because of the PQD requirement, I have been extremely pleased with both the availability of AS award flights as well as the "price."
I've seen more than a few situations where on a given route, UA wanted 50K miles and AS was less than half of that.
I've seen more than a few situations where on a given route, UA wanted 50K miles and AS was less than half of that.
Aug 20, 2018, 6:51 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: CO - Onepass Gold Elite--> UA - MileagePlus Gold Premier--> Silver --> AS - MileagePlan MVPGOLD!
Posts: 735
Basically, you're right. The strength of AS lies entirely within its people and its frequent flyer program.
But there are drawbacks; AS uses a very generous loyalty program to try to make up for their shortcomings, which at this point primarily revolve around being a very west-coast airline.
They've lost two partners in the past year or so, Delta and American, so if you find yourself needing to travel between two non-hub cities that Alaska serves, like Chicago and Miami, you're stuck connecting all the way back on the west coast. Because you can no longer earn any AS miles on DL flights, and AA flights are very difficult/complex for beginners to figure out.
BUT. All that said, AS works GREAT for me, and for many many other people.
AND they've got some fantastic partners, with some very attractive award pricing on those partners, especially in premium cabins!
So, at the end of the day, yeah, I agree, AS miles are much more useful and valuable than UA, which is also the program I came to AS from.
Happy flying!
But there are drawbacks; AS uses a very generous loyalty program to try to make up for their shortcomings, which at this point primarily revolve around being a very west-coast airline.
They've lost two partners in the past year or so, Delta and American, so if you find yourself needing to travel between two non-hub cities that Alaska serves, like Chicago and Miami, you're stuck connecting all the way back on the west coast. Because you can no longer earn any AS miles on DL flights, and AA flights are very difficult/complex for beginners to figure out.
BUT. All that said, AS works GREAT for me, and for many many other people.
AND they've got some fantastic partners, with some very attractive award pricing on those partners, especially in premium cabins!
So, at the end of the day, yeah, I agree, AS miles are much more useful and valuable than UA, which is also the program I came to AS from.
Happy flying!
Aug 20, 2018, 10:42 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,386
IMO, redeeming shorthaul domestic coach, Southwest’s program beats everyone, including Alaska. The only way you are going to find 5k AS redemptions in the Lower 48 is in cheap routes where WN is going to be competitive on the cash price and the award price.
Given Southwest’s excellent change/cancel policies, I’d take the Southwest card over the Alaska card if all I was doing is looking for some LAX-LAS flights for $5.60 and points for shorthaul redemption in a heartbeat. I think spending 30k AS miles on shorthaul is a terrible waste compared to long haul, but to each their own. I suppose free money is better than no money, even if spent on things I don’t find value in.
Given Southwest’s excellent change/cancel policies, I’d take the Southwest card over the Alaska card if all I was doing is looking for some LAX-LAS flights for $5.60 and points for shorthaul redemption in a heartbeat. I think spending 30k AS miles on shorthaul is a terrible waste compared to long haul, but to each their own. I suppose free money is better than no money, even if spent on things I don’t find value in.
Aug 21, 2018, 7:14 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
IMO, redeeming shorthaul domestic coach, Southwest’s program beats everyone, including Alaska. The only way you are going to find 5k AS redemptions in the Lower 48 is in cheap routes where WN is going to be competitive on the cash price and the award price.
Given Southwest’s excellent change/cancel policies, I’d take the Southwest card over the Alaska card if all I was doing is looking for some LAX-LAS flights for $5.60 and points for shorthaul redemption in a heartbeat. I think spending 30k AS miles on shorthaul is a terrible waste compared to long haul, but to each their own. I suppose free money is better than no money, even if spent on things I don’t find value in.
Given Southwest’s excellent change/cancel policies, I’d take the Southwest card over the Alaska card if all I was doing is looking for some LAX-LAS flights for $5.60 and points for shorthaul redemption in a heartbeat. I think spending 30k AS miles on shorthaul is a terrible waste compared to long haul, but to each their own. I suppose free money is better than no money, even if spent on things I don’t find value in.
Aug 21, 2018, 8:19 am
#10
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
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Posts: 36,024
The only way you are going to find 5k AS redemptions in the Lower 48 is in cheap routes where WN is going to be competitive on the cash price and the award price.... I think spending 30k AS miles on shorthaul is a terrible waste compared to long haul, but to each their own.
30K miles for a last minute ticket beats the too-often-50K of UA for the same route.
Aug 21, 2018, 8:41 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,386
I mean to say I would be picking up the Chase Southwest Card over the BofA Alaska card if I was fixated on using the signing bonus to fly a bunch of $80-100 flights LAX-LAS, since that seems to be what OP is planning on. It’s a bigger signing bonus. Chase UR is also a Southwest transfer partner, and quite frankly Chase UR is a better program than having all of your eggs in the Alaska basket, since you have multiple partners.
In fact, you can use Chase UR to fly Alaska via BA... at 7.5k for LAS-LAX. AND Southwest. But if OP wants that card and redemption for whatever reason... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
In fact, you can use Chase UR to fly Alaska via BA... at 7.5k for LAS-LAX. AND Southwest. But if OP wants that card and redemption for whatever reason... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Aug 21, 2018 at 11:56 am
Aug 21, 2018, 9:04 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 428
After getting booted from United status because of the PQD requirement, I have been extremely pleased with both the availability of AS award flights as well as the "price."
I've seen more than a few situations where on a given route, UA wanted 50K miles and AS was less than half of that.
I've seen more than a few situations where on a given route, UA wanted 50K miles and AS was less than half of that.
I google it and see what it says, but how does that apply to my using UA miles for UA flights? Status requirement, booted, etc?
Aug 21, 2018, 9:12 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: 42.1% in PDX , 49.9% in PVG & 8% in the air somewhere
Programs: Marriott Ambassador Elite, UA 1K, AS MVP GLD 75K, DL Pt
Posts: 1,086
AS earning is better and burning value too, but again comes down to routes and such, lots to consider, YMMV
Aug 21, 2018, 9:36 am
#14
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,742
I have both UA and AS points. I want both of them and I use both of them. UA points are tremendously valuable for European business class travel for two. I book 11 months out. I find excellent availability on the nonstop Austrian flight from LAX-VIE with connecting service onward. AS only has BA with its heavy fuel surcharges as an option. I recently used AS miles to fly JNB-HKG-LAX on CX in a combination of biz and F. It was an incredible value. I have an upcoming trip where I'll fly Fiji Airways to Fiji and on to Sydney.
AS has a mini hub in San Diego. Redemptions can be excellent value in coach on nonstop flights.
If I didn't live in an AS hub or able to easily drive to LAX to access their partners, I wouldn't find AS very interesting.
AS has a mini hub in San Diego. Redemptions can be excellent value in coach on nonstop flights.
If I didn't live in an AS hub or able to easily drive to LAX to access their partners, I wouldn't find AS very interesting.
Aug 21, 2018, 10:08 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
It’s not relevant. The poster was presumably saying that once it became harder to get status on UA due to PQD requirements, s/he stopped flying them.