Do Purchased Miles Count as EQM for 75K, 100K? (No)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2024
Location: Seattle area
Programs: AS MVPG, Global Entry
Posts: 1
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I received an “Exclusive VIP offer awaits” email from Alaska yesterday selling bonus miles. What caught my attention was in the fine print.
Rule 3. Miles are non-refundable and do not count toward MVP and MVP Gold status. are non
Does this imply that purchased miles DO count towards 75k and 100k status?
Rule 3. Miles are non-refundable and do not count toward MVP and MVP Gold status. are non
Does this imply that purchased miles DO count towards 75k and 100k status?
#2
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DPS
Programs: AS G100K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,795
I received an “Exclusive VIP offer awaits” email from Alaska yesterday selling bonus miles. What caught my attention was in the fine print.
Rule 3. Miles are non-refundable and do not count toward MVP and MVP Gold status. are non
Does this imply that purchased miles DO count towards 75k and 100k status?
Rule 3. Miles are non-refundable and do not count toward MVP and MVP Gold status. are non
Does this imply that purchased miles DO count towards 75k and 100k status?
75k and 100k are variants of MVP Gold.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ANC
Programs: AS MVP, Club 49, Global Entry, National Emerald Club, Hilton Silver
Posts: 1,468
#4
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAX/SFO
Programs: AS 100k, BA GGL, UA 1k, DL DM, AC SE, B6 Mosaic4, Hyatt/Hilton/Wyndham/IHG Diamond, Marriot Ti
Posts: 1,396
What harm does giving status to those who don’t fly actually do. The benefits basically scale with the amount of flying you do. The upgrades, priority boarding, free bags etc aren’t very valuable for those never stepping on a plane.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: San Jose, CA USA
Posts: 1,829
Also, should the day come when the flyer with purchased status desires to get an upgrade, will all the paid eqm really balance out more economically vs upgrading on the website with cash? So, I agree that eqm shouldn't be "purchased" as a rule, although I and wife have used the credit card spend for the extra 20K eqm last year. That said, we go well over the 100k mark anyway and have enjoyed the rollover that Mr Minicucci authorized. I mean, those were flown miles I could have flown somewhere else. I give Ben high marks for keeping that incentive.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: On a plane or a beach
Programs: Yes
Posts: 3,303
As for the other comment regarding risk of dilution, it exists. If people are able to accrue status without yet having flown, they are incentivized to choose AS over another carrier. When they do take a flight, the dilution has an impact.
AS wants to maximize revenue and they decided that ecosystem spend is an increasingly valuable component*.
And as for the thread.. it is correct that at present purchasing miles does not earn EQM. Given AS' direction, I wouldn't dismiss AS entertaining promotions that would allow EQM accrual via RDM purchase in the future.
🤙🏻🥃
Last edited by anteater; May 8, 2024 at 4:33 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska 100K - MM, defender of shoes on the carpeted bulkhead 4ever, AA LT PLT, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia
Posts: 7,489
You may want to keep an eye on the direction that AS is heading, as EQM/loyalty is shifting from BIS to overall dollars in ecosystem. Days past of BIS being the measure of loyalty are fading.
As for the other comment regarding risk of dilution, it exists. If people are able to accrue status without yet having flown, they are incentivized to choose AS over another carrier. When they do take a flight, the dilution has an impact.
AS wants to maximize revenue and they decided that ecosystem spend is an increasingly valuable metric.
🤙🏻🥃
As for the other comment regarding risk of dilution, it exists. If people are able to accrue status without yet having flown, they are incentivized to choose AS over another carrier. When they do take a flight, the dilution has an impact.
AS wants to maximize revenue and they decided that ecosystem spend is an increasingly valuable metric.
🤙🏻🥃
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA ExPlat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 17,608
#9
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: The Far, Far North
Programs: Alaskans fly everywhere on any aircraft going there!
Posts: 1,294
I don't mind buying miles if I'm looking at international in F...that's a pretty good deal sometimes. Or of course, for a minor top up. But, frankly, using miles for domestic is usually a pricey option. It's all a game and, just like being at the table, the little guy isn't usually going to win big. Happy travels!