What amazes me is that I’ve given essentially the same talk on Alaska Airlines three times this year and each time there’s new information to add or update. Not always for the better, but usually.
This time I added a few pages with updates from recent changes announced for the 2015 program year, which include higher fare bonuses and higher elite bonuses for travel on Alaska Airlines but and a larger range of credits for travel on Delta Air Lines (anywhere from 25-200% instead of the old 100-150%). I also added a few pages on the companion fare since that seems to be the topic that generates the most questions.
[slideshare id=42504360&doc=alaskaairlinespresentationftudc-141209001311-conversion-gate02]
Get a Status Match to Mileage Plan!
As I said during my talk, you can currently apply for a status match to Alaska if you’re dissatisfied with your current loyalty program. This is an outright match that does not require any travel to maintain, though you will have to requalify during 2015 if you want to keep it for the 2016 program year. Status in Alaska’s Mileage Plan runs from January 1 through December 31 each year. If you request a match after November 1 (i.e., now) it will last until December 31 of the following year (i.e., December 31, 2015).
Currently Alaska is offering matches all the way up to MVP Gold 75K. This is very unusual. MVP Gold tends to be the highest matched tier. I was chatting with one of the attendees at the airport on my way home, and he asked when would be the best time to match. I suggested matching now. If he waits until next year, the match to 75K may no longer be offered. But it’s entirely up to you. Only one match is allowed per lifetime. I had a match to MVP Gold last year, and when I tried to use my (still valid) United 1K and American EXP status to match to MVP Gold 75K, my application was rejected.
To request a match you will need to email elite.flyer@alaskaair.com with the following:
- Copy/photo of driver license
- Copy/photo of current airline elite status card
- Copy/photo/download of current airline mileage statement
It’s an automated account. If you email them a question or anything else, you will just receive the same reply asking for these three things. So get them in order in the first place and send them with your request.
