Alaska Airlines is again offering various one-time elite rewards to customers who qualified for MVP Gold or MVP Gold 75K last year. You can choose from two Gold Guest Upgrades, two Board Room day passes, and two GoGo all-day Internet passes. All you need to do is visit the promotion page and log in to your Mileage Plan account — and do it before March 31.
I strongly recommend you choose the upgrades. GoGo sells all-day passes in advance (before you get on the plane) for only $16, and I usually do just fine with a 1-hour pass for $5 to check email. Alaska sells one-day passes to the Board Room for only $45, but my wife and I already have access thanks to two different credit cards.
Meanwhile, an upgrade is easily worth about $50-100 when used properly. I’m thinking of non-stop flights across the country between Seattle and Washington, DC, or to visit my brother in Florida. Megan and I like to visit Hawaii whenever possible. Or perhaps I’ll end up with more than I need and can give them away to readers.
I like to think that when I do stupid things they become learning experiences. Hopefully learning experiences you can draw from so you never have to get over that initial hump. Last year they offered this same promotion, but I waited too long to claim it. There went my chance at two bonus Gold Guest Upgrades. This year, I claimed my reward as soon as the email landed in my inbox, and because my wife never reads her email, I went and reminded her, as well.
Yes, my wife has 500 unread emails. She says this is because she might read them later. (Sure. Whatever.) On the other hand, I have 500 read emails. And once I read them, those emails get filed away and buried under new emails. That’s why I encourage you to email me again if I forget to respond.
So don’t be like my wife or me. Just claim your elite reward right now.
