On Twelve Different Carriers, Through Four Simple Steps!
The Hot Ticket this month is a buying promotion that is outstanding on its own, but all the more so because anyone can use it, regardless if you are currently a program member or not. It can yield First and Business Class savings of up to 85%. You get it by booking through Alaska Airlines. The carrier’s liberal rules—no purchase-limit on miles—and many partnerships (11 major airlines) means you can fly the following carriers, among others:
- Air France, Air Pacific, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta, Icelandair, KLM, Korean, LAN, and Qantas.
This gives you access to:
- Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, the U.S. including Hawaii, Europe, India, Mexico, the Middle East, New Zealand, Central and South America, and the South Pacific.
The Offer
What turbocharges this offer is the 30% bonus Alaska offers on miles purchased (cost is 2.75¢ per mile) until June 30. You do have to join the carrier’s mileage program (Mileage Plan), which is easily done in 10 minutes or less. Miles are non-refundable and new Mileage Plan members have to wait ten days before they can buy miles.
Here are the four easy steps that will allow you to take the maximum advantage of this promotion. We’ve sketched two scenarios, one for a single trip, and the other for multiple trips.
Scenario 1: Single Trip
This maneuver is a bit tricky. The first thing to do is check availability for your flights and be prepared to be flexible, as availability can change by the time you book. Alaska Airlines will let Mileage Plan members check award availability online for its own flights and some of its award partners, American and Delta for both international and domestic destinations. For other award redemption partners, you must call the Alaska Airlines partner desk at (800) 307-6912.
Step 2: Once you find award space, go to the “Sign up for a Mileage Plan account” link and enroll (10 minutes or less).
Step 3: After 10 days, recheck award availability to make sure your itinerary is still available.
Step 4: If the seats are there, call Alaska’s Mileage Plan desk (800-307-6912) and have a reservationist book the space (the cost is $15 per ticket and an additional $25 per ticket for partner bookings), while you purchase the miles at the same time online. By the time the reservationist has confirmed your flights, you should be ready to hit the purchase button. The miles will show up in your account within minutes.
Following this procedure, prevents you from buying miles but not being able to book the mileage award that you want. This way you know, up front, if space can be confirmed before you buy miles.
Scenario 2: Multiple Trips
Step 1: If you fly often, it pays to stock up on Alaska Mileage Plan miles. They have no expiration date (although the mileage redemption cost may change over time).
Step 2: Go to the “Sign up for a Mileage Plan account” link.
Step 3: Wait 10 days, and then buy all the miles you want.
Step 4: Book your award space, either online or by phone, once you finalize your travel plans.
Sample Savings
Domestic Flights: Up to 77% on a First Class transcon flight (NY-LA) on American Airlines. Right now this ticket costs $5,938 (plus taxes and fees, about $225). If you purchase the miles from Alaska during the promotion—with the bonus, you need 50,000 instead of the 65,000 normally required—the cost is only $1,375 (plus taxes), a savings of $4,563.
International Flights: Save up to 63% on a First Class flight on British Airways. The published First Class fare on BA from Chicago to London is $8,090 (plus taxes and fees, about $850). With this promotion, the price drops to $2,970 (plus taxes), a savings of $5,120. (You only need buy to 108,000 miles instead of the 140,000 normally required.) See chart below for more example savings.
Sample First and Business Class Savings
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