Again in 2019, Alaska Airways and EL AL launched a partnership. We had been promised all alongside that we’d finally get reciprocal mileage redemptions, and that characteristic is lastly stay.
What are Mileage Plan redemption charges on EL AL?
Alaska Airways hasn’t printed an award chart for journey on EL AL, although has quietly made these redemptions bookable on alaskaair.com. The EL AL accomplice web page on Alaska’s web site merely signifies that awards can be found to Europe and the Center East.
Mileage Plan pricing on EL AL appears to range primarily based on if you’re trying to e book. For journey between america and Israel method sooner or later, one-way pricing is 50,000 miles in financial system, 80,000 miles in premium financial system, and 100,000 miles in enterprise class.
In the meantime for journey within the close to future, one-way pricing is 40,000 miles in financial system, 65,000 miles in premium financial system, and 80,000 miles in enterprise class.
There don’t appear to be any service imposed surcharges on these redemptions, which is nice information. Additionally remember the fact that when redeeming Alaska Mileage Plan miles you’re in principle allowed a free stopover, although I’m not seeing a lot availability past Israel in the intervening time, so the sensible implications of which might be a giant query mark.
My tackle EL AL redemptions by Mileage Plan
My preliminary response is that it’s nice to lastly see Alaska redemptions on EL AL go stay, as we’ve been ready years for this. Alaska Mileage Plan is little question at a crossroads in terms of worth — primarily based on what we’ve traditionally been used to, 100K Alaska miles for a one-way enterprise class flight of 10-12 hours is difficult to get enthusiastic about.
On the identical time, there are restricted methods to redeem on EL AL, so one thing is healthier than nothing. EL AL’s Matmid frequent flyer program is presently present process a significant overhaul, and the one different sensible method to e book EL AL awards is thru Qantas Frequent Flyer.
I believe probably the most attention-grabbing factor right here is how Alaska hasn’t printed an award chart for EL AL. We all know that huge adjustments are coming to Alaska Mileage Plan’s award charts later this month, so I’m curious how this new redemption choice ties into that.
So yeah, that is higher than nothing, however primarily based on my valuation of 1.7 cents per Mileage Plan mile, paying the equal of ~$1,700 for a one-way EL AL enterprise class award isn’t too thrilling. Then once more, I’ll most likely have to regulate that valuation within the close to future, primarily based on the path that redemption alternatives are headed.
Backside line
Whereas it took a number of years, it’s lastly attainable to redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles for journey on EL AL. It’s little question excellent news that there’s one other respectable choice for redeeming on EL AL, although I’m guessing the redemption charges received’t get most individuals very excited.
What do you make of the worth of redeeming Alaska miles on EL AL?
