Alaska Mileage Plan has added a brand new restriction on award tickets, as flagged by LoyaltyLobby, although it appears nearly unenforceable. The timing of this coincides with the revamp this system is at present present process.
Alaska limits award ticket frequent flyer advantages
While you go to Alaska Airways’ webpage with award charts and click on on the overall phrases & circumstances part, you’ll see the next new restriction:
When redeeming miles for an award ticket from Alaska Mileage Plan account, buyer can not enter one other airline’s frequent flyer quantity and is thus ineligible for advantages from one other program.
In different phrases, if you happen to redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles, you possibly can’t then swap in your American AAdvantage quantity on a reservation, with an account that has oneworld Emerald or oneworld Sapphire standing. This may very well be helpful if you happen to’re making an attempt to benefit from alliance perks, whether or not it’s oneworld lounge entry, the power to assign a seat without charge, an additional baggage allowance, and so on.
This new coverage very a lot counters the trade norm, as I’ve by no means heard of one other airline not letting you turn out frequent flyer numbers based mostly on the airline by way of which you ticket an award.
For that matter, I don’t see how this rule is in any respect enforceable. Sure, it’s simple sufficient to implement this if you happen to’re truly flying with Alaska, however this rule additionally appears to use when touring on associate airways. I can’t think about an airline like British Airways or Qatar Airways wouldn’t allow you to swap your quantity, simply because Alaska has this coverage, as they in all probability wouldn’t even concentrate on it.
I’m unsure what to make of this coverage
I discover this new coverage from Alaska Airways to be unusual, particularly as I don’t even perceive the financial incentive for the airline to impose this.
It’s my understanding that when you’ve got oneworld elite standing and also you entry a lounge, the airline with which you’ve got standing pays for lounge entry, relatively than the airline with which you’re truly flying (not to mention the airline that ticketed your reservation). So if you happen to ebook an award by way of Alaska Mileage Plan however have a unique service’s frequent flyer quantity on the reservation (the place you’ve got elite standing), Alaska shouldn’t be on the hook for that value.
In equity, this doesn’t appear to be the primary time that Alaska is a bit unusual on the subject of utilizing associate frequent flyer numbers for elite perks.
For instance, say you’re flying with American, and also you’re crediting your flight to American AAdvantage. Let’s additionally say you’ve got oneworld elite standing with a overseas frequent flyer program, providing American Flagship Lounge entry on home itineraries. American will allow you to credit score your flight to AAdvantage, however nonetheless use your overseas frequent flyer quantity on the lounge entrance with a view to achieve lounge entry. That’s consistent with oneworld insurance policies, and the way it must be.
There are numerous reviews of Alaska not permitting that on the subject of Alaska Lounge entry. Alaska Lounges reportedly gained’t present you entry utilizing any oneworld credentials aside from those that you just’re crediting your flight to.
I’m unsure what precisely the logic is for that coverage, however Alaska appears to be alone with having such restrictions. I’m unsure if the airline is confused about oneworld membership, if I’m confused, or what. But it surely’s unusual, and I assume in that sense, this new restriction isn’t that far off both.
Backside line
When redeeming Alaska Mileage Plan miles for an award ticket, you possibly can now not enter one other service’s frequent flyer quantity on the reservation to benefit from elite perks. That applies whether or not touring on Alaska or a associate airline. At the very least that’s what the phrases recommend, although it’s anybody’s guess whether or not this will likely be enforced.
What do you make of this new Alaska Mileage Plan redemption restriction?
