Earlier this 12 months, Alaska Airways launched the first-ever flight subscription service in the US, providing a sure variety of flights for a flat charge. The airline has right now not solely expanded this to extra markets, however for a restricted time you can too obtain elite standing in case you sign-up for certainly one of these plans.
How Alaska Airways’ flight subscription service works
Alaska Airways gives Flight Go, a subscription-based journey plan that permits members to fly as much as 24 roundtrip flights a 12 months, for a set month-to-month price.
There are two Flight Go choices obtainable, and for every you possibly can select whether or not you need six, 12, or 24 roundtrip nonstop flights per 12 months:
- One of the best worth Flight Go begins at $49 monthly, and requires reserving no less than 14 days earlier than journey, and as early as 90 days prematurely
- Essentially the most versatile Flight Go begins at $199 monthly, and permits same-day reserving as much as two hours earlier than departure, and as early as 90 days prematurely
Flight Go subscribers will now have the ability to fly between Salt Lake Metropolis and San Francisco or San Diego, along with 18 different routes all through California and choose cities in Nevada and Arizona. The addition of the Salt Lake Metropolis routes outdoors of the Golden State comes simply in time for the beginning of ski season and the gift-giving holidays.
There are a number of extra issues to notice:
- Flight Go is completely obtainable for choose West Coast locations, and permits journey inside California, in addition to choose routes to Arizona, Nevada, and Utah; this consists of 100 every day flights to 16 airports, with Salt Lake Metropolis having lately been added to the plan
- Flight Go books into financial system
- Flight Go requires a minimal dedication of 12 months
- Flight Go members must pay authorities taxes and airport charges on every flight, plus a “nominal fare” (for many flights that’s $0.01)
- Mileage Plan members can nonetheless earn miles on Flight Go bookings, and benefit from elite perks
Right here’s how Alex Corey, Alaska Airways’ managing director of enterprise growth and merchandise, describes this initiative:
“Flight Go builds on our mission to supply vacationers essentially the most West Coast locations at the very best worth. Our dedication to care means providing handy and reasonably priced choices that match our visitors’ life-style and join them to the place they need to go. After two years of staying near dwelling, visitors are able to journey once more and with 100 every day flights from 16 airports all through California and between California to Reno, Phoenix and Las Vegas, Flight Go will take them there.”
Restricted time: obtain elite standing with Alaska Airways Flight Go
For a restricted time, it’s attainable to obtain Alaska Mileage Plan MVP or MVP Gold standing in case you sign-up for a Flight Go:
- That is legitimate for many who are actively subscribed to a qualifying flight go, or who subscribe by November 30, 2022
- Subscribers enrolled in 12 or 24 journey per 12 months Flight Go can be granted MVP standing via December 2023, whereas subscribers enrolled within the 12 or 24 journey per 12 months Flight Go Professional can be granted MVP Gold standing via December 2023
- Standing ought to put up to eligible accounts no later than December 7, 2022
- This provide is simply legitimate for residents of California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah
- Members should stay energetic Flight Go subscribers to keep up their standing via December 2023
Is Alaska Airways’ Flight Go price it?
That is little question a inventive idea from Alaska Airways, as we haven’t seen one thing fairly like this earlier than from a US airline. Nevertheless, years again we noticed JetBlue provide an “All You Can Jet” go, whereby you could possibly take an infinite variety of JetBlue flights over a sure interval for a set price (which to me is way more attention-grabbing, frankly).
What’s my tackle Alaska Airways’ Flight Go?
- The worth right here is doubtlessly good; for instance, the $49 go would price you $588 yearly, and would get you six roundtrip flights; with taxes and costs, you’ll find yourself paying a bit greater than $100 per roundtrip
- Personally even when I lived in certainly one of these locations, I’d want a compelling cause to enroll — you’re lacking out on lots of flexibility by committing your self to 1 airline, and with the cheaper plan you could have a restricted reserving window, capability controls, and so on., and don’t have the liberty to e book different airways
I’d say this might make sense for many who very steadily fly the identical route, like somebody who commutes each week on the identical flight. Or it might be price it for somebody who steadily books tickets final minute in markets the place tickets are in any other case costly.
For the remainder of us, the pliability you’re giving up usually isn’t going to be price the price financial savings, for my part.
I’ll say that the short-term promotion providing elite standing does make this a bit extra compelling, and I’m certain will trigger many to register.
Backside line
Alaska Airways has expanded its Flight Go providing, which is a subscription service permitting you to buy a sure variety of flights yearly at a set price. That is particular to pick Alaska Airways West Coast locations, and there are two plans that supply completely different ranges of flexibility.
For these enrolled by November 30, 2022, you possibly can even choose up Alaska MVP or Alaska MVP Gold standing, which might be alternative.
This can be a inventive idea and I’m curious to see if it proves to be standard. It might be nice to see one thing like this legitimate extra extensively throughout a provider’s community, reasonably than simply restricted to pick markets (although I notice the economics for Alaska Airways may not make as a lot sense then).
What do you make of the Alaska Airways Flight Go idea?
