A few month in the past, Alaska Airways printed a new associate award chart for Mileage Plan associate redemptions. As a part of the brand new award chart, Alaska solely lists beginning award charges for flights originating within the U.S. or Canada. For locations exterior the U.S. or Canada, Mileage Plan advises its members to “seek for your required vacation spot and dates to view pricing.”
This provides Alaska Mileage Plan the power to cost no matter value it chooses, which is the essence of dynamic pricing.
Many anticipated the “simplified” award charts to be the beginning of a serious Alaska Mileage Plan devaluation. So it is not all that shocking that Alaska has seemingly devalued British Airways awards, as first reported by .
A value improve for some British Airways-operated awards
Beforehand, Alaska charged the next costs on nonstop British Airways departures from the USA:
- Economic system class: 32,500 miles.
- Premium financial system: 42,500 miles.
- Enterprise class: 57,500 miles.
Whereas these award costs at present appear unchanged on East coast departures from airports like New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK), Washington’s Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD) and Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA), Alaska Mileage Plan is charging extra for a minimum of some non-East coast departures. Listed below are the brand new award costs we’re seeing:
- Economic system class: 35,000 miles.
- Premium financial system: 45,000 miles.
- Enterprise class: 65,000 miles.
In our checks, Alaska costs the elevated award costs on a minimum of some nonstop flights west of and together with Nashville Worldwide Airport (BNA). Which means you may doubtless have to redeem extra Alaska miles to fly on British Airways on nonstop departures from airports like Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD), Louis Armstrong New Orleans Worldwide Airport (MSY), Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX).
Keep in mind, Alaska has full management over its award charges. So that you would possibly discover completely different costs whenever you search.
Associated: 5 methods the TPG workers would redeem 70,000 Alaska miles
Extra miles for some connecting flights
As well as, Alaska is now charging extra miles for some connecting flights. If you happen to add a layover to your award, you could have to redeem a minimum of 5,000 extra miles. Here is an instance from Chicago to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO).
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On this case, Alaska Mileage Plan costs a whopping 92,500 miles one-way for a business-class award. On a later departure, you’d have to redeem 65,000 miles for a one-way business-class award. This instance highlights the intense volatility of associate Mileage Plan awards.
The worth of taxes and costs additionally appear to have modified on some British Airways-operated awards. For instance, taxes and costs on some London departures are round $250 for close-in award tickets. However this summer season, we’re seeing taxes and costs improve to nearly $900 one-way. Alaska may very well be adjusting its taxes and costs on a seasonal foundation.
Here is an instance of this:
Once more, resulting from dynamic pricing, you would possibly discover completely different costs whenever you search.
Associated: Methods to e-book free stopovers with Alaska Airways Mileage Plan
Different associate flights are additionally costlier
You may additionally discover different associate flights now value extra Alaska miles than earlier than. Here is an instance from Los Angeles to Delhi Indira Gandhi Worldwide Airport (DEL).
On this case, you possibly can see how every itinerary has a unique value. This instance highlights that Alaska Airways nonetheless appears to make use of completely different award charts for every associate regardless of now not sharing these award charts with its members.
reported Alaska awards from the U.S. to India on Japan Airways have elevated by 5,000 miles and 10,000 miles in enterprise and first-class, respectively. Moreover, you would possibly discover larger award charges on sure connecting routes operated by Cathay Pacific.
Associated: Your full information to incomes and redeeming with Alaska Airways Mileage Plan
Backside line
You could have to redeem extra Alaska miles on flights operated by Mileage Plan companions to locations like Europe and Asia. Sadly, this has a destructive backside line on the worth of Alaska miles, which have traditionally been a number of the most precious airline miles. We advocate checking award charges on different Oneworld companions (like Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and American Airways AAdvantage) earlier than redeeming Alaska miles.