zymm

United did something similar with their P fares a couple years back. If you wrote to support both before and after the trip they would give you credit based on time of purchase, otherwise it was based on time of travel. I wouldn't be surprised if AS is also willing to grease the squeakiest wheels among us

metallo

I have both AA EP and AS 75K status and had already made the decision to drop my AS status after this year (I would have already lost it without the status extension). I plan to continue with AA only (with the exception of AA codeshares on AS)... looks like AS is only providing more incentive now for others to do the same.

BayAreaTrvler

It was great of AS to send all of us elite flyers an email letting us know about this. Oh....wait.

Tracer_SEA

I'm usually right there with you on holding airlines to obligations... but really?? After a pandemic that gutted their business and forced significant job reductions, and after they extended status and gave out rollover EQMs ON TOP of the EQM bonus that's been out there for months... and with I fares at historically low levels

I think we will all survive earning 248% instead of 263% on I fares.

The struggle is real, people.

Kacee

With international flying increasingly dead, it will be much harder to qualify for both. Haven't decided which one I'll ditch, but getting 50% extra EQM on discount front cabin fares on AA is certainly a draw.

RAD_PDX

I think you missed the point... I could stomach the reduction in the COS bonus alone. It's the changing of tickets that were previously purchased with the understanding of earning a 75% COS bonus as well as the lack of communication that are the issues for me.

AndyKehn

It's not about the devaluation or OW alignment however you want to call it. It's the fact there is absolutely no notice coming from Alaska about the fare class change. It seems they don't intend to honor the existing service class bonus for ticket bought before the change. These airlines continue to receive billions of subsidy from the government and they deserve 0 sympathy from us. Just because they did the absolute minimum (extending status, rollover, lowering elite requirements) to stay competitive with AA/UA/DL, doesnt mean they get to use covid as an excuse to race to the bottom. Stop being an airline apologist and corporatist and stand up for your rights as consumer.

Flying for Fun

I hate to burst your bubble but effective April 1st AAdvantage earnings on AS F, P & I fares (which will become J, D & I fares) will only earn 150% EQM, just as Mileage Plan members flying AA and crediting to AS do, so that obliterates your "slight" advantage of crediting AS flights to AA. AS will provide a 100% Class of service bonus (which is EQM & RDM) on J fares. Credit that to AA and receive a 75% Cabin Bonus. EQD for J, 35%, D & I, 30% The revenue "wall" for AA Status is a non-starter for many and historically cheap AS First Cabin fares won't help much in scaling the blockade between EQM and the finish line. EQM is easy to earn. How much you have to pay for them vastly differs. For ExPlat, you can't spend your way over the top with AA credit card EQD waivers even if the wall has been shortened to 80% of its usual height in 2021.

Earning AAdvantage Miles on Alaska Airlines:


On April 1st, a one-way SEA-LAX flight (954 miles) in I class for $119 will earn 2,147 EQM on AS. On April 1st, the same flight will earn 1,431 EQM & $286.20 EQD on AA.


AS Fares, SEA-LAX April 1st

To be fair though, there is still a "slight" AAdvantage for members crediting AS flights to AA as they will earn 50% faster towards Million Miler Status. Mileage Plan members only earn EQM for the actual BIS miles flown on AS metal towards Million Miler Status. With the tens of thousands of revenue miles I have flown on AS partner flights, my AS Million Miler balance has advanced by exactly zero.

James

NoLaGent

FYI, Kacee was responding to your statement about booking and flying AS vs. AA domestic F/International J.

For an AA elite in that specific scenario, he is absolutely correct.

Kacee

Nope. You misread.

It's not a question of which carrier to credit, but which carrier to fly.

Flying for Fun

[Flying for Fun: I guess there won't be any incentive to book AS F over AA domestic F/International J as they will earn at the same rate.]

What I originally said was that as an AS Elite, there wouldn't be any additional incentive to book and fly AS over AA as the effective earning rates for EQM/RDM in Mileage Plan would be the same on/after April 1st.

[Kacee: There will be a slight incentive to fly and credit to AA, since AA gives 200% EQM for these classes. For those of us with status on both carriers, this is a relevant consideration.]

Kacee's reply stated that those who have status in both AA & AS, crediting an AS flight to AA earns 200% EQM and was a relavent consideration for the "slight" advantage. I am simply pointing out that effective April 1st, AA earnings on AS flights and AS earnings on AA flights are harmonized. Whether AAdvantage or Mileage Plan, members should credit to their primamry carrier's frequent flyer program. If you are top tier in both then crediting an AS flight to AA affords no additional EQM advantage.

James

jrl767

that’s basically how I put it in my email to AS Customer Service ... the change with little to no notice is bad enough; applying it retroactively to tix purchased before the effective date (to say nothing of before the announcement date) is an order of magnitude worse

Kacee

Try reading again. Maybe your third try will be a charm.

NoLaGent

Heh. Except you left out the part of your quote he was actually replying to. Kacee is still correct.

NoLaGent

I'm trying to make it as clear as possible for him, but there seems to be a Canadian to English translation issue.

Regardless, your point is an extremely valid one for those holding AA and AS elite status and flying on these fares on both airlines.