How to maximize your success
Written: Oct 31 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: great weekly and summer benefits
Cons: have to be a frequent traveler to get the best benefits
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| opinion8d's Full Review: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan |
I love this program. I am a super-frequent traveler (so the airlines should love me) and it really pays off with Alaska (unlike several major US carriers). Several others have written rave reviews and mention much of what I have to say. I thought I could contribute by telling you how I make this program work for me.
What I get: nearly always fly First Class at coach or cheaper (internet) fares (and I fly Alaska weekly) and several free roundtrips to Europe in Business or First Class each summer.
What it takes: lots of travel
How to build miles:
(1) Use the electronic options (internet reservations / electronic ticket / electronic check - in) - EACH of these add a 250-500 mile bonus each leg. It is a lot cheaper for the airlines to have you do the reservation and check-in work. Alaska rewards you handsomely if you do. This should last for a few more years, as they still have less than 10% of their travelers doing this.
(2) Use your Alaska mileage plan number when you travel on American, Northwest, Continental, or the other partner airlines (check the Alaska web site). When you reach elite or super-elite status with Alaska, you get double miles on their partner airlines. I used to get treated like dirt on American even though I had elite status in their AAdvantage program. Now I get double Alaska miles with them, with no deterioration in my treatment (ugh).
(3) Upgrade to first class - they give you a big mileage bonus here. When you travel a lot, they mail you a couple upgrade coupons for every 5000 or 10,000 miles. You upgrade for free, get a nicer meal, get off the plane first, and get more mileage
(3) Use their credit card - I use it for everything gas, groceries, haircuts, ... - I get miles for each dollar (double when you use it to buy your Alaska airline ticket). If you pay off the balance each month (you shouldn't use credit cards if you can't do this, it's too expensive), you only pay the annual fee. Well, worth it.
Now I travel a lot, with one roundtrip a week on the west coast I'm adding around 5000 miles to my account. I used to envy people who had so many miles they can't even use them. Now I am one of those people.
If you don't travel as much, I hope that some of these tips will still be useful.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
opinion8d
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Member: ross
Location: washington state
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 0 members
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