For months now, Delta, UAL and Alaska have all had $88.00 round-trip fares between Seattle and Portland.

My strategy had been to use my commuter flights to complete requalification on UAL and Alaska and then fly Alaska (posting the points to NWA) to requalify on NWA.

Well as soon as I finish requalifying on UAL and AS, Alaska more than doubles its fare up to $208. WOWSER! Now, qualification is important, but getting the lowest possible fare in the process, is equally important.

What to do? What to do? I think I'll go back to accumulating undeeded points on UAL until Free Enterprise kicks back in, and take a quick cheap (upgraded of course) on NWA to another destination. I only need about 800 additional miles.

I think playing the fare game is almost as much fun as accumulating miles.

How about foiled by collusion?! Hope your strategy works. Glad to hear you enjoy the "fare" game as much as the fare wars!

It's surprising they would increase with the competition on that route. It will be interesting to see if DL/UA raise, or AS loses pax & decides to rescind that price.