Will they do another Fast Track to Elite promo like they did in 2023?
Jan 5, 2024, 6:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 123
Will they do another Fast Track to Elite promo like they did in 2023?
Just curious if anyone in the know has heard anything about Alaska doing another promo like they did in Q1 last year? Flying 20K to maintain my 75K gold from 2022 was a great deal.
Jan 5, 2024, 9:09 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,725
Fingers crossed for a repeat or something similar this year but haven't heard anything yet....
Jan 5, 2024, 9:29 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 876
I sure as hell hope not. Things like FastTrack are what are causing devaluations in the programs. "When everyone has status, nobody has status". If you want the status, your butt should be sitting in the seat, and you should be flying as much as is required. No more shortcuts and giveaways.
Jan 5, 2024, 12:29 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Reno/Tahoe
Programs: Alaska 75k/One World Emerald
Posts: 413
I missed 75k this year due to switching home airports and called to inquire about options. The rep told me I could buy eqm in 10k increments for $1,500. When I balked, she told me they were going to have some sort of program in the new year for members to retain status but that she didn't have any details yet.
Jan 5, 2024, 1:02 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 123
I sure as hell hope not. Things like FastTrack are what are causing devaluations in the programs. "When everyone has status, nobody has status". If you want the status, your butt should be sitting in the seat, and you should be flying as much as is required. No more shortcuts and giveaways.
I see what you're saying and you raise valid points but as a MVP Gold or 75K Gold for the last decade plus, I see it as a nice way to say thank you for your loyalty. I still had to fly 20K in 8 weeks or whatever it was and that was on top of the almost 60 in 2022. YMMV. All good! Happy New Year.
Jan 5, 2024, 1:05 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 123
I missed 75k this year due to switching home airports and called to inquire about options. The rep told me I could buy eqm in 10k increments for $1,500. When I balked, she told me they were going to have some sort of program in the new year for members to retain status but that she didn't have any details yet.
Thats great news for us! Fingers crossed it's nothing too crazy. 20K BIS miles was doable. Not sure I want to do 40K in a short period. LOL
Jan 5, 2024, 1:08 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: On a plane or a beach
Programs: Yes
Posts: 3,156
Perhaps AS could limit repeat usage of fast track offers.
It’s somewhat of a chagrin to organic elites when non-requalifying elites can maintain their status multiple times.
That being said, AS is a publicly traded business so I expect them to decide in the direction of whatever is expected to bring in short term gains.
🤙🏻🍹
It’s somewhat of a chagrin to organic elites when non-requalifying elites can maintain their status multiple times.
That being said, AS is a publicly traded business so I expect them to decide in the direction of whatever is expected to bring in short term gains.
🤙🏻🍹
Jan 5, 2024, 1:19 pm
#11
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: 16,859
I would, however, support a restriction to not allow individuals to partake in fast tracks for consecutive years. It should be the occasional “we know life sometimes gets in the way to achieving one’s goals” option, similar to the parental leave offer.
Jan 5, 2024, 2:36 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,725
I missed 75k this year due to switching home airports and called to inquire about options. The rep told me I could buy eqm in 10k increments for $1,500. When I balked, she told me they were going to have some sort of program in the new year for members to retain status but that she didn't have any details yet.
Jan 5, 2024, 2:43 pm
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,575
It's such a small fraction of the total pool by any metric...flown seat-miles, upgrades received, whatever. *We* talk about them on Flyertalk, and therefore think they have a bigger statistical impact than they do.
The real culprit: the fundamental economics of all FFPs changed (for the worse, for actual travelers) when the programs pivoted all of their primary focus and incentives to the credit cards. That's what has put billions of award miles into circulation, spreading available award seats far and wide to people who don't actually buy many revenue tickets.
Jan 5, 2024, 2:51 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2002
Programs: The opinions expressed here are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the airlines I worked for.
Posts: 1,894
If they announce a promo it will likely be after this weekend when New Year's travel has concluded. Agree that offering this 3 years in a row conditions people to expect it. Also agree that it boosts ticket purchases flown in Q1 which is the low season.