Alaska Airlines recently asked me to write an introductory post to the Mileage Plan program. Although regular readers of Travel Codex probably know these details already — I write frequently about the virtues of Mileage Plan — some of you might be interested to see a slightly different take. This post was written expressly for those not familiar with airline miles or award travel.
Among the topics I cover are:
- How to read an award chart, and what it means to find award availability.
- Which partner airlines are accessible using Alaska’s frequent flyer miles.
- What fees and taxes might apply to your reservation.
- When to look for award space to improve your chances of success.
There are, of course, many things I could have said but didn’t. I think the key when writing for a larger audience is to keep the post focused so that it’s easier to follow. Sometimes on Travel Codex I have a tendency to lose the forest for the trees. But I have more freedom to do what I like on my blog. 😉
One question that came up in the comments on my guest article for Alaska Airlines had to do with the best uses of the annual companion fare. I provided a response but also told the editor that I think expanding on it would make for a good future article.
And then I realized that a lot of my readers are Alaska Airlines fans, too! So I’ll tap your heads for ideas. What facts and tips about Alaska do you think are worth sharing with other customers, and what unanswered questions do you still have about the carrier and its frequent flyer program?
