Alaska Airlines raises the cost of some British Airways awards
A few month in the past, Alaska Airlines revealed a new partner award chart for Mileage Plan partner 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 offers Alaska Mileage Plan the flexibility to cost no matter worth 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 View from the Wing.
A worth enhance for some British Airways-operated awards
Beforehand, Alaska charged the next costs on nonstop British Airways departures from america:
- Financial system class: 32,500 miles.
- Premium economic system: 42,500 miles.
- Enterprise class: 57,500 miles.
Whereas these award costs at the moment 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 at the very least some non-East coast departures. Listed here are the brand new award costs we’re seeing:
- Financial system class: 35,000 miles.
- Premium economic system: 45,000 miles.
- Enterprise class: 65,000 miles.
In our assessments, Alaska expenses the elevated award costs on at the very least some nonstop flights west of and together with Nashville Worldwide Airport (BNA). Meaning you may possible 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).
Bear in mind, Alaska has full management over its award charges. So that you may discover completely different costs once you search.
Associated: 5 ways the TPG staff 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. In case you add a layover to your award, you might have to redeem at the very least 5,000 extra miles. This is an instance from Chicago to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO).
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On this case, Alaska Mileage Plan expenses 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 acute volatility of accomplice 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 enhance to nearly $900 one-way. Alaska might be adjusting its taxes and costs on a seasonal foundation.
This is an instance of this:
Once more, because of dynamic pricing, you may discover completely different costs once you search.
Associated: How to book free stopovers with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Different accomplice flights are additionally dearer
You may also discover different accomplice flights now price extra Alaska miles than earlier than. This 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 distinct worth. This instance highlights that Alaska Airways nonetheless appears to make use of completely different award charts for every accomplice regardless of not sharing these award charts with its members.
View from the Wing 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 top quality, respectively. Moreover, you may discover increased award charges on sure connecting routes operated by Cathay Pacific.
Associated: Your complete guide to earning and redeeming with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Backside line
You’ll have to redeem more Alaska miles on flights operated by Mileage Plan partners to locations like Europe and Asia. Sadly, this has a unfavourable backside line on the worth of Alaska miles, which have traditionally been a number of the most valuable airline miles. We suggest checking award charges on different Oneworld companions (like Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and American Airlines AAdvantage) earlier than redeeming Alaska miles.
