Dec 21, 13, 6:09 am
Last edit by: Mwenenzi
What are the current ways to keep accounts alive without flying?
- Donations (link and details)
- Magazines Purchase with cash - earn miles(link and details)
- MagazinesPurchase with ff miles(link and details)
- Mileage Plan Shopping - This is probably the best way to earn a few miles. Just push one online purchase through the affiliate links and earn miles. The easiest is currently 3 points per dollar on iTunes Store, including e-gift card purchases (physical gift cards are not included)
- Rewards Network dining (link and details)
- The Opinion Terminal
Mileage Plan Inactivity Policy (The Earn/Burn a Small Number of Miles Thread)
Sep 27, 07, 12:56 pm
#1
Moderator Communications Coordinator, Signatures
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: deep within the Eskimo lair
Programs: TubWorld, Bar Alliance, Borratxo Legendarium
Posts: 16,961
Mileage Plan Inactivity Policy (The Earn/Burn a Small Number of Miles Thread)
Effective April 1, 2008, accounts with no mileage activity for the previous 2 years will become inactive and the miles will be removed from the account. Any mileage earning or award redemption activity on your account will keep it active. This includes Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air and partner flight credit or mileage earned with any of our other partners including the Alaska Airlines credit and debit cards, and our large selection of hotel, car rental and specialty partners.
http://www.alaskaair.com/as/mileagep...icy-Change.asp
http://www.alaskaair.com/as/mileagep...icy-Change.asp
Sep 27, 07, 2:38 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: AS MVPG; Amex Platinum, Bonvoy Gold,DL, BAEC,
Posts: 243
Totally understandable. They have to keep all those miles from forgotten accounts on their books as a liability, so this gives them a easy way to have a nice boost. But with all the ways that you can get miles - buying from partners such as FTD or just using an AS debit card - this is really much ado about nothing. If you have a secondary account for spouse/child/dog, you can keep it if you really want to just by buying flowers once every two years.
Sep 27, 07, 3:07 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: Alaska Airlines MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 475
Effective April 1, 2008, accounts with no mileage activity for the previous 2 years will become inactive and the miles will be removed from the account. Any mileage earning or award redemption activity on your account will keep it active. This includes Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air and partner flight credit or mileage earned with any of our other partners including the Alaska Airlines credit and debit cards, and our large selection of hotel, car rental and specialty partners.
http://www.alaskaair.com/as/mileagep...icy-Change.asp
http://www.alaskaair.com/as/mileagep...icy-Change.asp
Sep 27, 07, 3:13 pm
#5
Moderator Communications Coordinator, Signatures
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: deep within the Eskimo lair
Programs: TubWorld, Bar Alliance, Borratxo Legendarium
Posts: 16,961
you actually have to earn/spend miles. The most this will ever have to cost anyone is $25 if they wait til the last minute and need to just buy 1000 miles directly from AS. Otherwise, a $7 lunch at an idine restaurant will do the trick.
Sep 27, 07, 7:23 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+), now an Elite Peon
Posts: 23,137
Yeah, you can't be too mad at them for this (you know, liabilities and all). I would be mad, however, if activity had to be a paid, qualifying flight (like it must be with Amtrak Guest Rewards). But since iDine/FTD/credit card/etc. activity counts, there really is no excuse for anyone who actually cares about their miles to let them expire.
Sep 27, 07, 9:59 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,067
Sep 27, 07, 11:03 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Pismo Beach, CA
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite, UA Premier 1K, LH Silver
Posts: 1,542
This is not a problem. I occasionally fly SWA for route or price. I had a free trip which expired, I think, after 12 months, despite activity. Now that sucks! I so wanted to fly from the west coast to the east for free--with 4 stops and peanuts! 
(Actually I do like SWA. They do what they do well!)
(Actually I do like SWA. They do what they do well!)
Sep 27, 07, 11:21 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 37,815
Must be the bean counters wanting something to give support to a higher share price by reducing quasi-faux liabilities. Otherwise, maintaining MP accounts, as everything is paperless, and memory is cheap, is a practically-no-cost item for AS.
Sep 27, 07, 11:49 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 37,815
That is why I referred to them as "quasi-faux liabilities." They are real, but they are fake. Ma and Pa Kettle who never quite get enough to get that saver award from EAT to SEA (times a million) aren't real $, they are just accounting $.
Sep 28, 07, 5:27 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: AS MVPG; Amex Platinum, Bonvoy Gold,DL, BAEC,
Posts: 243
Do we have an expert on partnering arrangements in the forum? I will be the first to admit that I am hardly an expert, but how would Alaska compensate someone like BA or CX for AS award redemptions on their airlines? I would imagine that they don't do it out of the generosity of their heart and I'd imagine that there is more travel going from AS accounts to others than visa-versa - esp. with how generous AS is on award travel. Is there an actual monetary liability to AS if the miles are redeemed on another airline?
Sep 28, 07, 7:28 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2006
Location: TUS/PDX
Programs: WN CP/A-List, AS MVPG75K
Posts: 5,798
This is not a problem. I occasionally fly SWA for route or price. I had a free trip which expired, I think, after 12 months, despite activity. Now that sucks! I so wanted to fly from the west coast to the east for free--with 4 stops and peanuts!
(Actually I do like SWA. They do what they do well!)
(Actually I do like SWA. They do what they do well!)
Seriously though, you can reissue that award for $50. Still cheaper than a transcon ticket.
Sep 30, 07, 12:28 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: AS MVPG, Hilton Diamond, MR Plat, PC Plat
Posts: 246
