is the only reason to stay with Alaska the mile earning?
Sep 19, 2018, 1:16 pm
#62
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP , Delta Gold Medallion, "Credit Card" status for various hotels
Posts: 672
With so many of the negative changes, I decided that I was going start shopping based on schedule and price instead of paying more for status.
However, I find myself continuing to book Alaska, whenever I’m able to use a companion fare. Since my husband and I have three of them between the two of us, these three yearly round trips will earn us most of the way to MVP. The question for me next year is whether it’s worth it to book an extra 6k miles or so of flying with Alaska to requalify for MVP. I’m honestly not sure yet if that is worth it.
Without those companion fares, I would likely fly Alaska much less.
However, I find myself continuing to book Alaska, whenever I’m able to use a companion fare. Since my husband and I have three of them between the two of us, these three yearly round trips will earn us most of the way to MVP. The question for me next year is whether it’s worth it to book an extra 6k miles or so of flying with Alaska to requalify for MVP. I’m honestly not sure yet if that is worth it.
Without those companion fares, I would likely fly Alaska much less.
Sep 21, 2018, 6:58 pm
#63
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
With so many of the negative changes, I decided that I was going start shopping based on schedule and price instead of paying more for status.
However, I find myself continuing to book Alaska, whenever I’m able to use a companion fare. Since my husband and I have three of them between the two of us, these three yearly round trips will earn us most of the way to MVP. The question for me next year is whether it’s worth it to book an extra 6k miles or so of flying with Alaska to requalify for MVP. I’m honestly not sure yet if that is worth it.
Without those companion fares, I would likely fly Alaska much less.
However, I find myself continuing to book Alaska, whenever I’m able to use a companion fare. Since my husband and I have three of them between the two of us, these three yearly round trips will earn us most of the way to MVP. The question for me next year is whether it’s worth it to book an extra 6k miles or so of flying with Alaska to requalify for MVP. I’m honestly not sure yet if that is worth it.
Without those companion fares, I would likely fly Alaska much less.
But then I realized I had forgotten about Southwest. Which has 10. Alaska is trying to be competitive on the West Coast, but intra-California nobody is even close to Southwest.
If I flew Southwest more I could get the companion pass, and that would be basically unlimited companion fares (without the $99 fee). I dislike Southwest for long-distance flights, with the amount of stopovers though. And the lack of aspirational awards.
The problem is if searching based on schedule and price on an OTA (or ITAmatrix) you don't see Southwest results.
Sep 27, 2018, 7:05 pm
#64
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,684
You get one free change or can cancel and refund, within 24 hours.
The OP states that they had already taken advantage of the free change, which would negate the ability to then cancel and rebook with without penalty.
Then they attempted to make a second change and were charged the change fee for their non-Gold companion.
The OP states that they had already taken advantage of the free change, which would negate the ability to then cancel and rebook with without penalty.
Then they attempted to make a second change and were charged the change fee for their non-Gold companion.
Sep 28, 2018, 8:42 am
#65
Moderator Communications Coordinator, Signatures
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: deep within the Eskimo lair
Programs: TubWorld, Bar Alliance, Borratxo Legendarium
Posts: 16,968
Sep 28, 2018, 5:54 pm
#67
Join Date: Jul 2003
Programs: UA1K 3MM, AS MVP 75K Gold
Posts: 2,706
As a new AS flyer (and multi-year UA 1K) I am still blown away that AS waives change fees for Gold and 75K. By contrast, UA consistently gets around $2k in change fees from me every year. And I just paid $450 to change an AF ticket.
If you're complaining in any way, shape, or form about the scope or application of the AS fee waiver, you need a serious reality check.
If you're complaining in any way, shape, or form about the scope or application of the AS fee waiver, you need a serious reality check.
And, yes, I've had to change flights on AS with a companion and paid $150 but my change was free. Never happened with UA.