Elite Status (MVP/MVPG) After Four/Eight Transcon Segments (Targeted CA/East Coast)
Mar 1, 2019, 2:43 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AS MVP 100K, F9 dirt Hilton damond, Choice Gold, Former DL Plat, UA 1K
Posts: 366
Would this routing count? MCO-SFO-LAX (or another city pair that has valid city p[airs but continues on to another city, if I am being clear)
Mar 1, 2019, 3:24 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
I don't see anything within the terms that would exclude the additional leg, but obviously only the MCO-SFO segment would count toward the total "round trips". AS may be able to clarify or confirm, but would guess adding the LAX segment doesn't negate the transcon segment.
Mar 1, 2019, 4:46 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 3
I don't see anything within the terms that would exclude the additional leg, but obviously only the MCO-SFO segment would count toward the total "round trips". AS may be able to clarify or confirm, but would guess adding the LAX segment doesn't negate the transcon segment.
I have 3 transcon RTs to eligible cities already booked for work which were reimbursed, so basically I need 1 qualifying RT to earn MVPG. I can do LAX-BOS-LAX in one day for $271, with $200 being credited back to be with my Amex Plat card, so out of pocket for me is $71. My MVP expires 12/2019. Upping to MVPG by May for the rest of the year is totally worth it for me, right? I can't see the downside, but I'm also pretty new to M&P.
Mar 1, 2019, 9:50 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EWR/PHL/JFK
Programs: A3*G, AS MVPG, UA, AA
Posts: 610
The RTs are not required; it's just how they are advertising it. Ultimately you need 8 t-con segments; that's all.
To me the biggest G benefit is the companion upgrade + change fee waivers. e.g. I'm out $180 on some tickets I bought as a lowly MVP because the change fee is $125/person on those tickets so it makes no sense to try to "save" the ticket value on them.
To me the biggest G benefit is the companion upgrade + change fee waivers. e.g. I'm out $180 on some tickets I bought as a lowly MVP because the change fee is $125/person on those tickets so it makes no sense to try to "save" the ticket value on them.
Mar 2, 2019, 9:23 am
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,300
I have an LAX-SFO-BWI and BWI-LAX booked. I called to see if it would count as a RT and they said the SFO-BWI and BWI-LAX would count as a RT, if that helps.
I have 3 transcon RTs to eligible cities already booked for work which were reimbursed, so basically I need 1 qualifying RT to earn MVPG. I can do LAX-BOS-LAX in one day for $271, with $200 being credited back to be with my Amex Plat card, so out of pocket for me is $71. My MVP expires 12/2019. Upping to MVPG by May for the rest of the year is totally worth it for me, right? I can't see the downside, but I'm also pretty new to M&P.
I have 3 transcon RTs to eligible cities already booked for work which were reimbursed, so basically I need 1 qualifying RT to earn MVPG. I can do LAX-BOS-LAX in one day for $271, with $200 being credited back to be with my Amex Plat card, so out of pocket for me is $71. My MVP expires 12/2019. Upping to MVPG by May for the rest of the year is totally worth it for me, right? I can't see the downside, but I'm also pretty new to M&P.
No one here would argue with that, this is a fast track option made even more appealing by the GGUs you'll receive (MVPG status) earlier than earning the status the traditional way as confirmed by AS Twitter.
Mar 2, 2019, 10:30 am
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
I have an LAX-SFO-BWI and BWI-LAX booked. I called to see if it would count as a RT and they said the SFO-BWI and BWI-LAX would count as a RT, if that helps.
I have 3 transcon RTs to eligible cities already booked for work which were reimbursed, so basically I need 1 qualifying RT to earn MVPG. I can do LAX-BOS-LAX in one day for $271, with $200 being credited back to be with my Amex Plat card, so out of pocket for me is $71. My MVP expires 12/2019. Upping to MVPG by May for the rest of the year is totally worth it for me, right? I can't see the downside, but I'm also pretty new to M&P.
I have 3 transcon RTs to eligible cities already booked for work which were reimbursed, so basically I need 1 qualifying RT to earn MVPG. I can do LAX-BOS-LAX in one day for $271, with $200 being credited back to be with my Amex Plat card, so out of pocket for me is $71. My MVP expires 12/2019. Upping to MVPG by May for the rest of the year is totally worth it for me, right? I can't see the downside, but I'm also pretty new to M&P.
Good luck ^
Mar 2, 2019, 1:45 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Mar 4, 2019, 9:21 am
#24
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 7K, MARRIOTT PLAT PREMIER WITH AMBASSADOR
Posts: 164
I registered for this one for my wife, she flys with me about a third of my flights so last year she made mvp but not gold. Since she only flys with me she always gets my mvp 75k benefits except for the free cancellation fee. Lol my wife has a bad habit of having me cancel her tickets last minute so the free cancellations would be great. However I’m wondering if it’s worth it for me to spend $2k on us flying to the east coast for no reason so I can save maybe $800 on the flights she will probably cancel this year - any opinions on that does anyone have a price metric of the benefits outside of the free cancellations that can make it worth while for me to do that?
Mar 4, 2019, 9:26 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 7K, MARRIOTT PLAT PREMIER WITH AMBASSADOR
Posts: 164
Quick back of the napkin calculation to evaluate this in terms of $/mi (like a mileage run): Suppose you did for 4 weekends in a row the SFO->EWR Friday night redeye, coming back to SFO on Saturday afternoon. According to Google Flights for the next four weekends this itinerary costs $435, $405, $452, and $503, for a total of $1795. At the end of it you're awarded MVPG status, which is the equivalent of 40000 EQM (the amount you have to fly on AS metal to get Gold). So that comes out to $0.0448/mi, which isn't bad but also not amazing.
EDIT:
Looked at more routes on different dates, and came up with the following:
April 5-6: SFO <-> PHL, $311
April 26-27: SFO <-> RDU, $211
May 3-4: SFO <-> RDU, $211
May 10-11: SFO <-> JFK, $231
Thats a total of only $964, for a whopping $0.0241/mi!
EDIT:
Looked at more routes on different dates, and came up with the following:
April 5-6: SFO <-> PHL, $311
April 26-27: SFO <-> RDU, $211
May 3-4: SFO <-> RDU, $211
May 10-11: SFO <-> JFK, $231
Thats a total of only $964, for a whopping $0.0241/mi!
Mar 4, 2019, 9:30 am
#26
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
They must have realized the error and added it. A friend (no status) and I have upcoming r/t LAX/FLL within the timing for this promo and looking at the list of cities, we realized he'd be one segment short because FLL as an origin wasn't included. It appears it was an error so this is good news!
Mar 4, 2019, 1:44 pm
#27
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: SFO
Programs: Free agent; tend to fly DL and UA most
Posts: 41
Ah good point, you're right! Those are indeed saver fares. Google Flights doesn't do a great job of surfacing whether a given fare is basic economy or not. I had to click through to AS's website to see that they were X fares. 
Mar 4, 2019, 6:41 pm
#28
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DCA, lived MCI, SEA/PDX,BUF (born/raised)
Programs: Marriott (Silver/Gold), IHG, Carlson, Best Western, Choice( Gold), AS (MVP), WN, UA
Posts: 8,732
the benefit of this promo us you are going to travel thus routes.
4 XC trips woukd get you close to MVP status on 2020 on their own.
if you do it right yiu can get MVP with 3.5 XC flightsand go,d with7. The ideal route is if you do something roughly like east-SEA-PDX-LAX-east.
Mar 4, 2019, 7:07 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I honestly don't see the value in this promo.
You have to fly 1/2 the miles in 1/4 of a year.
The status is good only til the end of this year (not til the end of next year)
You are restricted to earning the miles on specific routes only
This is worse than a "status match" type offer, where generally you have to fly 1/4 of the miles in 1/4 of the year, and can fly any routes that you want.
Honestly this just looks like something that marketing has thrown together that looks like a much better deal than it actually is.
In a few limited cases (if you are switching to AS, are not eligible for a status match, and fly a lot of transcon anyway) it would get you to your status a little faster, but for most people it doesn't look like a very good deal. I would certainly not alter my travel plans to get this. This is a MUCH harder way to get status than the "normal" way. 4 transcon RTs in 3 months is on pace for 75k.
You have to fly 1/2 the miles in 1/4 of a year.
The status is good only til the end of this year (not til the end of next year)
You are restricted to earning the miles on specific routes only
This is worse than a "status match" type offer, where generally you have to fly 1/4 of the miles in 1/4 of the year, and can fly any routes that you want.
Honestly this just looks like something that marketing has thrown together that looks like a much better deal than it actually is.
In a few limited cases (if you are switching to AS, are not eligible for a status match, and fly a lot of transcon anyway) it would get you to your status a little faster, but for most people it doesn't look like a very good deal. I would certainly not alter my travel plans to get this. This is a MUCH harder way to get status than the "normal" way. 4 transcon RTs in 3 months is on pace for 75k.
Mar 5, 2019, 10:02 am
#30
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,158
There's actually not a huge downside to X fares if you're not elite, especially if you have the credit card.
Last edited by milypan; Mar 6, 2019 at 11:29 am