Have You Missed Elite Status for 2017?

We’re not big fans of elite programs, but if you are and have fallen short this year, there are options: For an American elite status boost, go here. For Delta, go here.

Interesting New Routes, Aircraft, Seats

United: On Dec. 21, United took delivery of the company’s first B777-300ER with the new Polaris Business Class seat. The first flight is scheduled on a domestic route, SFO to Newark, from Feb. 16 through May 4, with international service between SFO and Hong Kong on March 25, replacing the B747-400. FCF checked award space and nothing for now. More details here.

You Missed Elite Status for 2017?

We’re not big fans of elite programs, but if you are and have fallen short this year, there are options: For an American elite status boost, go here. For Delta, go here.

Interesting New Routes, Aircraft, Seats

United: On Dec. 21, United took delivery of the company’s first B777-300ER with the new Polaris Business Class seat. The first flight is scheduled on a domestic route, SFO to Newark, from Feb. 16 through May 4, with international service between SFO and Hong Kong on March 25, replacing the B747-400. FCF checked award space and nothing for now. More details here.

Singapore: New A350 aircraft starts Jan. 17 from Houston to Manchester, replacing the current B777-300. The aircraft does not have a First Class cabin—Business Class only. Booking mileage award space online with Singapore costs 97,750 miles round-trip (or only 80,000 Starwood points). Availability in Business Class looks good during February, July, and August. See FCF’s Dec. 28 alert for details. Round-trip Business Class fares start at $3,837 and requires no advance notice.

Hainan Airlines: FCF mainly focuses on mainstream airlines, but this is an up-and-comer that you might consider as a backup: Non-stop Las Vegas-Beijing service started in December using a B787 offering flat-bed Business Class seats, fares start at $2,521. Hainan is also a mileage award redemption partner with Alaska, which offers Business Class awards at 100,000 miles round-trip. Availability in Business Class using Alaska miles looks best from March to May and good during February and from June to October.

Up and Down with Elite Programs

Devalued: As of March 1, United will no longer offer elite upgrades to Hawaii from Chicago and Denver! That’s already the case from Houston, Newark, and Washington, DC. How long before West Coast-Hawaii routes will no longer offer the primary elite benefit, an upgrade? Details here.

Change: Starwood Platinum members enrolled in the “Crossover” program can now request a Delta upgrade based on their SPG tier level. For details, go here.

What Do You Gain from the Alaska-Virgin Merger?

On Dec. 14, the merger between Alaska and Virgin America became official and shortly after that Alaska also announced mileage program changes. Some highlights: new domestic flight distance redemption chart, new earnings with partner Japan Airlines, elite upgrades on award travel on Alaska flights, and an end to the partnership with Delta as of April 30. For more go here, and look for an in-depth report on the benefits and shortcomings of Alaska’s new mileage program in our February issue.

What Can You Get from Alaska Right Now?

Consider some of the Alaska-Virgin merger-related benefits:

Effective Jan. 9 you can transfer Virgin America miles into Alaska at a 1:1.3 ratio.

One strategy: Transfer 20K Starpoints into 25K Virgin miles now. Then transfer those 25K Virgin miles into 32.5K Alaska miles on Jan. 9.

Alaska offers incredible awards on airlines like American and Cathay Pacific.

For example, one-way flights to Europe or South America on American are just 50K Business or 62.5K First.

One-way flights to Asia on Cathay Pacific are just 35K Premium Economy, 50K Business, 70K First.

Keep in mind that you’ll effectively get 1.625 Alaska miles for each Starpoint. To see how many Starpoints those routes will cost, just divide Alaska’s award rates by 1.625. More on great Alaska deals here.