Gold 75K Via AS Business Credit Card Spending? (Signs Point to Yes)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 4
Gold 75K Via AS Business Credit Card Spending? (Signs Point to Yes)
Is it possible to get Gold 75k via spending a certain amount using the Alaska credit card?
I always believed the answer was No. However, my uncle, who owns a business, just realized that he's had Gold 75k for years (and still has it) despite rarely traveling on Alaska or its partners. (He didn't match status either since he didn't have an equivalent status anywhere.) He puts on about $50,000 dollars every month on the credit card from buying inventory giving him a balance of a couple million unused points. He has no idea how he got this status or for how long he's had it.
My only thought at this point is that considering how much he spends, this was an unadvertised perk (from BoA? Alaska?) from such high spend over the years.
I always believed the answer was No. However, my uncle, who owns a business, just realized that he's had Gold 75k for years (and still has it) despite rarely traveling on Alaska or its partners. (He didn't match status either since he didn't have an equivalent status anywhere.) He puts on about $50,000 dollars every month on the credit card from buying inventory giving him a balance of a couple million unused points. He has no idea how he got this status or for how long he's had it.
My only thought at this point is that considering how much he spends, this was an unadvertised perk (from BoA? Alaska?) from such high spend over the years.
#2
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: AS 100K, HH Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 189
Is it possible to get Gold 75k via spending a certain amount using the Alaska credit card?
I always believed the answer was No. However, my uncle, who owns a business, just realized that he's had Gold 75k for years (and still has it) despite rarely traveling on Alaska or its partners. (He didn't match status either since he didn't have an equivalent status anywhere.) He puts on about $50,000 dollars every month on the credit card from buying inventory giving him a balance of a couple million unused points. He has no idea how he got this status or for how long he's had it.
My only thought at this point is that considering how much he spends, this was an unadvertised perk (from BoA? Alaska?) from such high spend over the years.
I always believed the answer was No. However, my uncle, who owns a business, just realized that he's had Gold 75k for years (and still has it) despite rarely traveling on Alaska or its partners. (He didn't match status either since he didn't have an equivalent status anywhere.) He puts on about $50,000 dollars every month on the credit card from buying inventory giving him a balance of a couple million unused points. He has no idea how he got this status or for how long he's had it.
My only thought at this point is that considering how much he spends, this was an unadvertised perk (from BoA? Alaska?) from such high spend over the years.
#3
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: US West Coast
Programs: Alaska 100K, Hyatt Gl, Marriott Ti/LTP
Posts: 353
Maybe it's an unadvertised perk of the business card specifically? My dad runs his business through an AS BoA card as well. I don't know exactly what his spend is, since I don't have access to the biz finances, but it's probably also somewhere in the low-to-mid 5 figures per month. He only has MVP, but it is with zero EQM.
#4
Join Date: May 2019
Location: RTW
Programs: Delta PM, AA PlatPro
Posts: 406
Lion2k3 - your uncle’s assumption is actually correct based on my own personal experience.
I never would have created a thread on this myself, but, I wanted to corroborate the story he told you.
—
I realize this is my first post here, but, I’ve read FT daily (or worse!) for the last 3-4 years.
Own a business in Portland that spends that or more on CCs, and travel around for fun and business constantly.
I resisted registering an account to avoid the chance I would spend EVEN more time here (!!!!) ... but here I am
I never would have created a thread on this myself, but, I wanted to corroborate the story he told you.
—
I realize this is my first post here, but, I’ve read FT daily (or worse!) for the last 3-4 years.
Own a business in Portland that spends that or more on CCs, and travel around for fun and business constantly.
I resisted registering an account to avoid the chance I would spend EVEN more time here (!!!!) ... but here I am
#5
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: 42,942
Welcome to Flyertalk and the Alaska Airlines forum @WestCoastPDX ^
#6
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 539
Lion2k3 - your uncles assumption is actually correct based on my own personal experience.
I never would have created a thread on this myself, but, I wanted to corroborate the story he told you.
I realize this is my first post here, but, Ive read FT daily (or worse!) for the last 3-4 years.
Own a business in Portland that spends that or more on CCs, and travel around for fun and business constantly.
I resisted registering an account to avoid the chance I would spend EVEN more time here (!!!!) ... but here I am
I never would have created a thread on this myself, but, I wanted to corroborate the story he told you.
I realize this is my first post here, but, Ive read FT daily (or worse!) for the last 3-4 years.
Own a business in Portland that spends that or more on CCs, and travel around for fun and business constantly.
I resisted registering an account to avoid the chance I would spend EVEN more time here (!!!!) ... but here I am
Are you able to provide more details on the parameters to get 75K status via this route? (How much spend, timeframe, etc.). Thanks.
#7
Join Date: May 2019
Location: RTW
Programs: Delta PM, AA PlatPro
Posts: 406
@Beckoa thanks!
@halamadrid
To add some more substance/details:
I feel a little weird still talking about it. Alaska has been good to me, and I feel like giving away a little secret.. so, it’s with some hesitation I mention this.
For the last 5-6 years, I’ve been Gold with Alaska the normal way. BIS all the way.
I got to 75K in 2017 - barely, but all BIS either on AS or some paid J Intl on partners.
Status was nice, the bonus miles were nice, and I got more upgrades out of PDX. So, all good in 2018
Last year (2018) I status matched to DL and flew them mostly. (Why I feel a little bad talking about this for some reason) - just more for international trips and service to smaller cities in the US
Expected to drop down to MVP for 2019, as that is what I qualified for with BIS flying.
I was quite surprised in January to get an email from Alaska that I was 75k again for the coming year.
The email did not say my spend was the reason... but I strongly strongly assumed it was based on my spend.
--
My company spends a couple hundred thousand a month on various credit cards, and probably $500-$600k on the Alaska card annually?
Spend on that card has actually declined a bit, again as I've focused more on Chase UR/Amex MR and the bonuses there (see, I'm a good FTer!)
So, my assumption was it was based on spend. Now, I do arrange a lot of travel for my team out of my account. Using miles and cash.
It's possible they count that 'airfare spend influence??' but, I'm way less certain they care.
I read that co-branded cards are one of the easiest and most profitable ways the airlines make money...without the pesky issue of having to fly a plane around to generate income.
So, it generally makes sense that they would reward someone who spends an oversized amount with them each month.
That said, it does feel a little strange, hence why I never brought it up this year.
AS has been good to me.
When there is a route they fly non-stop, I general just book it and never look at other options - same for my team, I generally just pick AS and book up.
So, I’m a decently customer all around, but, I believe I’ve got 75k this year specifically because of fairly significant amounts of spend on CC.
@halamadrid
To add some more substance/details:
I feel a little weird still talking about it. Alaska has been good to me, and I feel like giving away a little secret.. so, it’s with some hesitation I mention this.
For the last 5-6 years, I’ve been Gold with Alaska the normal way. BIS all the way.
I got to 75K in 2017 - barely, but all BIS either on AS or some paid J Intl on partners.
Status was nice, the bonus miles were nice, and I got more upgrades out of PDX. So, all good in 2018
Last year (2018) I status matched to DL and flew them mostly. (Why I feel a little bad talking about this for some reason) - just more for international trips and service to smaller cities in the US
Expected to drop down to MVP for 2019, as that is what I qualified for with BIS flying.
I was quite surprised in January to get an email from Alaska that I was 75k again for the coming year.
The email did not say my spend was the reason... but I strongly strongly assumed it was based on my spend.
--
My company spends a couple hundred thousand a month on various credit cards, and probably $500-$600k on the Alaska card annually?
Spend on that card has actually declined a bit, again as I've focused more on Chase UR/Amex MR and the bonuses there (see, I'm a good FTer!)
So, my assumption was it was based on spend. Now, I do arrange a lot of travel for my team out of my account. Using miles and cash.
It's possible they count that 'airfare spend influence??' but, I'm way less certain they care.
I read that co-branded cards are one of the easiest and most profitable ways the airlines make money...without the pesky issue of having to fly a plane around to generate income.
So, it generally makes sense that they would reward someone who spends an oversized amount with them each month.
That said, it does feel a little strange, hence why I never brought it up this year.
AS has been good to me.
When there is a route they fly non-stop, I general just book it and never look at other options - same for my team, I generally just pick AS and book up.
So, I’m a decently customer all around, but, I believe I’ve got 75k this year specifically because of fairly significant amounts of spend on CC.
#8
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,021
If this is true this is total BS. Once the spend element starts coming in its just a matter of time until the entire program goes that way.
Last edited by dayone; May 24, 2019 at 11:49 am Reason: Masked vulgarity.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,506
Exactly. In fact, most programs' top tiers started as a double secret unpublished sort of status. I'm neither surprised nor disappointed to learn that AS may do the same.
#11
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,157
This is more a recognition that if they’re literally making more profit off someone than they do off the typical 75K, maybe just extend them complimentary status. The status itself is actually less costly to AS than usual because the OP has lower BIS miles. It’s clearly an edge case; I wouldn’t read too much into it.
Last edited by milypan; May 24, 2019 at 10:39 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,157
Exactly. The spend threshold for waiving DL Diamond MQD requirements is already viewed as practically unattainable, and it's "only" $250k annually.
Last edited by milypan; May 24, 2019 at 11:29 am Reason: Updated DL threshold
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Other than business expenses, I just don't see it being too likely. You bought the porsche on the card but you fly basic economy and are good with back row, middle seat?
#15
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,021
Well this has to be triple secret as it seems some who have it don't really know about it or how it works.