Thoughts on a Higher Tier (Premium) AS Credit Card
May 29, 2019, 9:34 pm
#32
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
Sure, but then you have to a) have and use two GGUs and b) have U availability. Not having to deal with either would be a nice perk of a high-fee credit card. Personally, I'd prefer two coach companion tickets to one F-eligible one.
Last edited by ashill; May 29, 2019 at 9:40 pm
May 29, 2019, 10:04 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Even as MVPG I find the companion fare to be worthless. I'm not even sure if I'll get to use the "free" one, never mind the $99 ones. I'll definitely cancel the card before ny first anniversary. The old VX card had companion fares too and I let every single one expire unused.
With GGUs (or an eligible fare) you can most certainty sit in F and have your companion at your side and visit multiple cities, even in different countries.I am not in favour of a full MVP Status. Earning EQM on spend would be okay as long as you couldn't earn Elite Status through spend only.
I don't think AS could support a Lounge Benefit. AA has lounges all over to spread out the utilization and it wouldn't be of any benefit (including SFO right now) to a lot of customers outside the West & JFK.
James
May 29, 2019, 10:14 pm
#34
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
I can’t imagine it happening anyway.
Why not? By that logic, AS couldn’t support lounge membership either. Everything about AS is smaller, including number of customers, number of lounge members, and number of lounges. And if the card conveys lounge membership (like the AA card), not just access, it would provide access to AA lounges. Given that AA already does that for their cardholders with AS lounges, I assume it would be fine.
I don’t think AS is all that concerned with customers outside the west anyway.
I don't think AS could support a Lounge Benefit. AA has lounges all over to spread out the utilization and it wouldn't be of any benefit (including SFO right now) to a lot of customers outside the West & JFK.
I don’t think AS is all that concerned with customers outside the west anyway.
May 29, 2019, 10:22 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
If you have any tips and tricks to help me get value from them while traveling solo, I'm all ears. Otherwise they are worthless to me. I've only been on the same PNR with someone else once on AS, and one other time on the same flight as a friend (not booked at the same time though)
May 29, 2019, 11:17 pm
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
The flexibility and perks of credit card based point schemes seems to outweigh many of these airline focused cards, so it's tough to imagine something so good from an airline that would be worth paying a substantial annual fee for.
May 29, 2019, 11:37 pm
#37
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 490
Even as MVPG I find the companion fare to be worthless. I'm not even sure if I'll get to use the "free" one, never mind the $99 ones. I'll definitely cancel the card before ny first anniversary. The old VX card had companion fares too and I let every single one expire unused.
I got my 40k miles and I'm happy with that. I don't even like to buy AS tickets on the card -- I much prefer the CSR for the travel insurance.
Honestly this is not unusual -- the bottom-level airline credit cards are all kind of trashy, unless you have no status and want the free checked bags. The AS one is better than the others, but still not good enough for me to want to use it.
I got my 40k miles and I'm happy with that. I don't even like to buy AS tickets on the card -- I much prefer the CSR for the travel insurance.
Honestly this is not unusual -- the bottom-level airline credit cards are all kind of trashy, unless you have no status and want the free checked bags. The AS one is better than the others, but still not good enough for me to want to use it.
Why cant you use the companion fare? Are you always a solo traveler?
May 29, 2019, 11:41 pm
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 490
May 29, 2019, 11:42 pm
#39
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Pretty much...
Honestly I'll probably use it before it expires (I got the "free" one at signup) so even if I use it on some west coast short hop it's better than letting it go to waste. But paying another $75 AF to get one that costs $99 to use definitely has no value for me.
Given the quality of the AS lounges (compared to the other airline "club" lounges) a club card (giving free club access) might be worthwhile for AS.
Honestly I'll probably use it before it expires (I got the "free" one at signup) so even if I use it on some west coast short hop it's better than letting it go to waste. But paying another $75 AF to get one that costs $99 to use definitely has no value for me.
Given the quality of the AS lounges (compared to the other airline "club" lounges) a club card (giving free club access) might be worthwhile for AS.
May 29, 2019, 11:42 pm
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 490
If you have any tips and tricks to help me get value from them while traveling solo, I'm all ears. Otherwise they are worthless to me. I've only been on the same PNR with someone else once on AS, and one other time on the same flight as a friend (not booked at the same time though)
May 30, 2019, 1:24 am
#42
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Why not? By that logic, AS couldn’t support lounge membership either. Everything about AS is smaller, including number of customers, number of lounge members, and number of lounges. And if the card conveys lounge membership (like the AA card), not just access, it would provide access to AA lounges. Given that AA already does that for their cardholders with AS lounges, I assume it would be fine.
Interesting thoughts!
Indeed it could provide access to AA lounges in Alaska's Markets through their existing lounge access agreement, however, given the option between a new BofA Premium Alaska CC with an Alaska Lounge membership and access to a subset of Admirals Clubs or the AAdvantage World Elite CC with an AC membership and access to all Alaska Lounges, which would you choose? I know what is in my wallet!
An AL membership isn't going to give me access to an AA Flagship lounge if I am flying AA international J.Indeed, everything is smaller with Alaska, except perhaps, proportionately, the number of Elites. Many Elites flying AS don't find value in an Alaska Lounge Membership on it's own. If a BofA Premium Alaska Card bundled an Alaska Lounge Membership with other desireable perks there may well be an influx of new AL memberships that AL couldn't handle with their smaller footprint. I assume it could be problematic.
I don’t think AS is all that concerned with customers outside the west anyway.
James
May 30, 2019, 1:44 am
#43
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
If you have any tips and tricks to help me get value from them while traveling solo, I'm all ears. Otherwise they are worthless to me. I've only been on the same PNR with someone else once on AS, and one other time on the same flight as a friend (not booked at the same time though)
Gives you more room to waffle! You should go back an re-read your own posts to see how much you contradict yourself. James
May 30, 2019, 8:31 am
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,838
Don’t think I would be interested in another premium card. I don’t spend enough on AS to make, say, 5X worthwhile if I could instead get 5X MR or 3X UR. Lounge access? Meh. Obviously, different people have different needs and preferences, but cards like Amex Plat and CSR seem to be a better choice for me as a free agent (with a slight bias towards AS).
May 30, 2019, 8:39 am
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Don’t think I would be interested in another premium card. I don’t spend enough on AS to make, say, 5X worthwhile if I could instead get 5X MR or 3X UR. Lounge access? Meh. Obviously, different people have different needs and preferences, but cards like Amex Plat and CSR seem to be a better choice for me as a free agent (with a slight bias towards AS).
I agree that it's not a great deal (I would not pay for a lounge membership) but there are certainly many people who are happy to and feel that they get good value from the fee, so there is a market for it.