Every airline has its frequent flyer program which is made to inspire loyalty. The idea behind such programs is simple; the more you fly with a particular airline, the more you are rewarded. For each mile flown, the passenger earns miles which can be exchanged for a free ticket if a person accumulates the required number of miles.However not all frequent flyer programs are made equal and some are better than others. In this article we'll take a look at The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - it was ranked as the number one frequent flyer program by US News Travel, earning a score if 4.39 / 5. American Airlines AAdvantage was second with 4.04. So what makes Alaskan Miles so good? We take a look below.
Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan is for those who are based in or travel often to and from various locations in Alaska or the West Coast cities like Portland, Oregon and Seattle. A member of their mileage plan earns points on every Alaskan flight as well as on each of their 15 partner airlines. Other ways of earning miles include making purchases with an Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card or by staying in the hotels of any of their 13 participating hotel partners which include Hilton, Marriott and Starwood. The miles thus collected can be used to get free flights on Alaska Airlines or other participating carriers.
The Good and the Bad
First let's discuss the pro points of their mileage plan. As aforementioned, Alaska Airlines has many partners and you can earn and redeem miles on them. So you're not bound to one airline. The same thing goes for their numerous retail and hotel partnerships, which allow you to accumulate air miles. They also have flexible redemption options for flights.
As for the cons there are a few. Firstly blackout dates apply on reward travel. Also seating and availability on such reward flights is rather limited and last, there are fewer destinations that Alaska Airlines flies to as compared to other airlines.
The points are earned as mentioned above and can be used for cabin upgrades or booking flights.
There are different membership levels; the basic membership plan and the MVP program. The MVP program is further subdivided into 3 classes which include MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K. Of course the higher the level the better the rewards. For Alaska residents, there is also a special level: the Club 49 included in the program.
The Finer Print
Like in all Frequent Flyer programs, the miles can expire if they are not redeemed within a particular time frame - two years. Minors need a legal guardian or a parent to enrol them in the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. Up to 30,000 miles at a time are transferable to other Mileage Plan accounts in increments of 1000 miles for $ 10 per 1000 miles. A maximum of 100,000 miles can be transferred annually. On every flight, the miles you earn are either the actual published miles or 500 miles (whichever is greater).
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