Up to 85% off on First and Business Class through the Alaska Airline’s loyalty program loophole.
Alaska Airlines, the renegade of the airline world, is at it again. It’s having another generous sale on frequent flyer miles. Now, the point is not to use the miles on Alaska’s flight network, which is very limited, but to cash them in for flights on Alaska’s partners American, Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qantas, and eight other carriers—at up to 85% off. (The miles can also be used for itineraries that do not originate in the U.S.)
There are two catches: Sales are only open to Mileage Plan members residing in North America and who have been in the program for at least ten days. As this sale ends on Oct. 6, you won’t be able to take advantage of it now if you are new to the program; but if you have followed previous advice—or the early warning email alert we sent on Sept. 25—then you’re set. Otherwise, become a member now to be ready for the next sale.
The Current Deal
Alaska is offering a bonus of up to 40% on miles purchased. The maximum purchase per transaction is 40,000 miles, but there’s no limit on the number of transactions. However, no more than four transactions are permitted on the same credit card in any 30-day period. (If you need more miles, just use a second credit card.) The promo cost comes out to 2.1¢ per mile, including taxes.
Sample Savings on Alaska Airlines
International Flights: Save up to 85% on First Class on Emirates. The lowest published fare from New York to Dubai is $25,974 round-trip if you book four days in advance and stay at least four days. Otherwise, you can pay up to $30,197. Booking a partner award through Mileage Plan reduces the price to $3,913 (including taxes), savings of $22,061 (85%)
More Reasons to Like this Strategy
Lower Taxes: On some international routes, Alaska charges lower award taxes than the operating airline itself charges. For example, Air France’s Business Class award taxes on the New York-Paris are $573 round-trip, while that ticket booked through Alaska’s mileage program incurs only $156 in taxes, savings of $417 (73%).
Generous Stopover Rule on Partner Awards: Alaska allows a free stopover in the partner’s hub city. For example, flying British Airways in Business Class from LAX to Johannesburg gets you a free stopover in London.
Kick the Tires First: Some airlines, among them Air France and British Airways, require you to sign up for their mileage program to check award space online. Alaska does not, so you can see what’s offered even before joining. For availability on Cathay Pacific or LAN call Alaska at (800) 252-7522.
Flexibility = Options: Alaska’s “Mix and Match” awards allows you to use a different partner in each direction or to book a one-way award. All of its partners, except Delta and Korean, allow one-way bookings at 50% mileage cost. (But if a Delta or Korean flight is combined with Alaska or another partner airline to create a round-trip itinerary, then Delta and Korean also charge the 50% rate.)
Upgrade Food For Thought
When should I buy miles? When published premium fares are high, $1,500+ for domestic tickets, and $3,500+ for Business and $4,500+ for First Class international tickets, generally speaking. Published international First and Business Class fares are often highest when booked on short notice the perfect time to use miles.
Six Steps for Booking Partner Flights
Step One: Here is the Alaska link for checking award partner space online. Click on “Award Calendar” to see a month at a glance, and make sure that the “Award Type” shows “Miles Only.” Then hit “Find Flights”.
Step Two: When the calendar comes up, filter the search results by “Award Type”, Business or First Class (this can’t be done on the “Find Flights” screen). Then see the “Legend” (just beneath) and then look for “Lowest Award,” which is in white. Click on your travel date and hit “Continue” to bring up flight options.
Step Three: Refine your search by requesting non-stop flights or ones on a certain airline. To check a different date, click on the date in the header or use the header to move a week ahead or back.
Step Four: Select flights by clicking on “Add To Cart.” I prefer to check for award space one-way, so I note the date/flight that works for me in each direction and then book my trip by going back to step one and requesting the space round-trip.
Step Five: Once you hit “Add To Cart,” your itinerary comes up as well as the price. From here you can change flights or hit “Proceed to Checkout”, at which point Alaska requests your mileage account number and checks that the miles are there.
Step Six: If the miles needed are in your account proceed with booking the award space. If you do not have miles in the account, get on the phone (or have two web browsers open) and book the space immediately after purchasing the miles online. When the reservationist confirms your flights, hit the mileage-purchase button. The miles should show up in your account within seconds if my last several transactions are any indication.
Sweet Redeem Survey: Using Alaska Miles for Travel on Partner Airlines
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