Moving/Sharing My Business/Loyalty to/with Other Airlines
#31
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SEA, NW/DL 1.6Million Miler
Programs: DL 1MM Annual Silver,AS 100K 22-24, AS 75K 15-21
Posts: 4,262
Jiburi
#32
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska Airlines
Posts: 658
You don't even have to be on the same PNR, you can book their ticket completely separate. As long as you're Gold or above and you do the booking on your points with them as the traveler.
#33
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 917
This is a good tip - I book awards tickets for friends when we're speculating on trips which may be cancelled, such as Rose Bowl or PAC12 championship airfare.
You don't even have to be on the same PNR, you can book their ticket completely separate. As long as you're Gold or above and you do the booking on your points with them as the traveler.
You don't even have to be on the same PNR, you can book their ticket completely separate. As long as you're Gold or above and you do the booking on your points with them as the traveler.
They could take away just about any other benefit, and I'd still want to get MVPG+ just for the fee savings. I don't really care about boarding early, I can still have a free bag with the credit card, and even on a transcon I really don't care that much about a first class seat. It's nice to have, and even better to get a big recliner or a lie flat, but in the end I'm going to do the exact same thing regardless of the seat: work, eat, read, watch videos, or sleep. Never really had a problem doing any of those things, even in a coach middle seat. So for now, most of my domestic business is safe with Alaska.
#34
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,157
The JL earnings chart is still pretty terrible though. For example, a deep discount economy ticket on JL earns 30% EQM, while a deep discount economy ticket on NH earns 100% PQM (when crediting to UA). Or, a discount business ticket on JL earns 70% EQM (!), while a discount business ticket on NH earns 200% PQM (on UA).
#35
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, WN A-list, AS MVP 75K, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 379
The JL earnings chart is still pretty terrible though. For example, a deep discount economy ticket on JL earns 30% EQM, while a deep discount economy ticket on NH earns 100% PQM (when crediting to UA). Or, a discount business ticket on JL earns 70% EQM (!), while a discount business ticket on NH earns 200% PQM (on UA).
I appreciate the discussion here, as an SFO/SJC flyer with high status on UA/AS I'm still undecided about what to do in 2019. If you had asked me that in August I'd have laughed at the thought of flying UA heavily again next year. Laughed! AS had won the battle, right up until they didn't.
#36
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
The JL earnings chart is still pretty terrible though. For example, a deep discount economy ticket on JL earns 30% EQM, while a deep discount economy ticket on NH earns 100% PQM (when crediting to UA). Or, a discount business ticket on JL earns 70% EQM (!), while a discount business ticket on NH earns 200% PQM (on UA).
If status is more important than awards, your point is valid. The 200% PQM is really useless if you don't have a PQD waiver.
I did a RTW and around the Pacific Mileage Run to requalify for MVPG75K for about $4K with repositioning flights, 27 flights in total. I earned enough RDM for 2 JL F (booked) and a CX J to CPT.
Let's compare Apples with Apples.
James
#37
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
UA's premium cabin redemption values aren't as good as AS's, and of course you're not earning nearly as many miles on cheap economy tickets. But there's a decent bit of availability across *A, and the values aren't that much worse. A one-way saver award to Europe in J is 57.5k on UA or 70k on partners; those 135k awards are at the anytime level. And while those are certainly a poor value by comparison, they're at least an option if you have enough miles, while AS is solely at the mercy of partner saver inventory.
#38
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, WN A-list, AS MVP 75K, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 379
UA's premium cabin redemption values aren't as good as AS's, and of course you're not earning nearly as many miles on cheap economy tickets. But there's a decent bit of availability across *A, and the values aren't that much worse. A one-way saver award to Europe in J is 57.5k on UA or 70k on partners; those 135k awards are at the anytime level. And while those are certainly a poor value by comparison, they're at least an option if you have enough miles, while AS is solely at the mercy of partner saver inventory.
#39
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
UA's premium cabin redemption values aren't as good as AS's, and of course you're not earning nearly as many miles on cheap economy tickets. But there's a decent bit of availability across *A, and the values aren't that much worse. A one-way saver award to Europe in J is 57.5k on UA or 70k on partners; those 135k awards are at the anytime level. And while those are certainly a poor value by comparison, they're at least an option if you have enough miles, while AS is solely at the mercy of partner saver inventory.
James
#40
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
I agree there are options. Even with a PQD waiver, I don't see value in UA for me. My primary focus is on awards; gaining Elite Status is a byproduct of that. How many UA redeemable miles would an NH J fare earn on a typical TPAC route? Is it fare based? Distance based? Tied to Status? Curious, I don't know.
James
James
AS definitely has better elite bonuses, though: 50/100/125 versus UA's 25/50/75/100.
Really, if you're looking for a US FFP with horrible premium cabin redemption values versus AS, DL is king. Partner J to Europe can be had for 75k, but I think the lowest price on DL metal is up to 83k now.
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,337
The elite status is a nice to have but since my domestic travel is mostly voluntary (and a lot of it could in theory just get spread to WN/DL/AA/UA/NK) it boils down to a dollars and cents decision for me. How much do I value the Big Front Seat and some kale and polenta for a two hour flight?
And since AS has miles sales more often than not, as well as AV for my *A needs, it's not like I'm excluded from acquiring and redeeming in those programs. There it also becomes dollars and cents: "Oh, my NH/BR J one way flight to BKK is a ~$1100 cash ticket that doesn't accrue any mileage or status".
! find that having to buy the 100k+ to really take advantage of AA's mileage sales makes them a "meh" proposition for me. I don't like large balances in programs given how frequently no-notice/limited notice devaluations happen. It's easier to spend efficiently if you're not buying six figures of them at a time.
#42
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SEA, NW/DL 1.6Million Miler
Programs: DL 1MM Annual Silver,AS 100K 22-24, AS 75K 15-21
Posts: 4,262
Jiburi
#43
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hawaii
Programs: AS 100K, HA Gold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 87
Originally Posted by formerstarQB16
The final straw for me was the sudden lack of "U" availability. Without the GGU's and automatic Gold upgrade fares, MVPG provides very little value to me. Especially considering Alaska is typically non-competitive on first class fares compared to Delta. The lack of availability appears to be a choice made by Alaska management. That choice has resulted in them losing my business. I'll take Delta and their lower fares, better first class, far superior lounges, far superior route map, and ability to avoid Sea-Tac.
Very frustrating for this once proud Alaska loyalist.
Very frustrating for this once proud Alaska loyalist.
Have been loyal to Alaska for 20 years, after I fly my already booked tickets in 2019 and use up my wallet, will go to Delta. Loyalty is a two way street, Alaska Bean Counters just cost them a lot of passengers.
Last edited by dayone; Oct 31, 2018 at 5:59 pm Reason: Edit quote formatting.
#44
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Preferably waiting for takeoff
Programs: AA EXP, MVPG, DL Silver, United Silver, Accor Platinum, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 458
The final straw for me was the sudden lack of "U" availability. Without the GGU's and automatic Gold upgrade fares, MVPG provides very little value to me. Especially considering Alaska is typically non-competitive on first class fares compared to Delta. The lack of availability appears to be a choice made by Alaska management. That choice has resulted in them losing my business. I'll take Delta and their lower fares, better first class, far superior lounges, far superior route map, and ability to avoid Sea-Tac.
Very frustrating for this once proud Alaska loyalist.
Very frustrating for this once proud Alaska loyalist.
#45
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: AS G100K, DL PM, IHG Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 843
May be the bean counters in AS management have figured out that they can make more money selling cheapo basic economy fares to the masses who fly 2-3 times year, than trying to retain the loyalty of the much smaller crowd of elite flyers who easily spend $10K to $30K a year per person. Hence they thought why even showering that smaller crowd of elite flyers with benefits like U upgrades, They see the math, not me.
i have mentioned in other threads that I have retained G75K for 2019, but I have already shifted a lot of my flying to DL and made GM this year. Earning sky pesos and their upgrade process sucks, but they have a much better network including international routes, FA who also smiles, great seat back IFE system, and a much better PE cabin. With their expansion in SEA, that really gives us SEA-based flyers an alternative to consider, With the constant devaluation of the MP, I am pretty sure it will come down to the sky peso level within a year or two. When that happens, why do we even bother to maintain status at AS?
i have mentioned in other threads that I have retained G75K for 2019, but I have already shifted a lot of my flying to DL and made GM this year. Earning sky pesos and their upgrade process sucks, but they have a much better network including international routes, FA who also smiles, great seat back IFE system, and a much better PE cabin. With their expansion in SEA, that really gives us SEA-based flyers an alternative to consider, With the constant devaluation of the MP, I am pretty sure it will come down to the sky peso level within a year or two. When that happens, why do we even bother to maintain status at AS?