New Hawaii Routes Yield Free First Class Award Space
New routes used to be a gold mine for free award space, especially if you were flexible. Not so anymore, especially at the big carriers such as Delta and United, thanks to ever more precise yield management.
So we were very surprised to find plentiful First Class award space, a rarity on any route to Hawaii, on Alaska’s new routes to the Aloha State: San Jose and Oakland to Kauai and Kona. Alaska charges 75,000 miles for a free First Class award ticket, and partners with American and Delta mileage programs.
Getting Alaska Miles
Transfer 60,000 points from Starwood and with the 25% bonus for every 20,000 miles transferred you’ll have the 75,000 miles.
Why You May Not Need Alaska Miles
Free award seat availability through Alaska’s own mileage program is often similar to that on American and Delta.
In other words, the miles you’ve been buying cheap through Delta, which we’ve been recommending lately (see our March 15 alert on a 75% bonus), can be redeemed through Delta’s award chart—for travel on these Alaska flights to Hawaii.
Free First Class Award Space on Alaska Airlines
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Making Connections
These new flights depart in the morning, so you may have to overnight in San Jose or Oakland when making a connection from some departure cities.