I understand that earnings on partner metal are great if booked through the Alaska site and poor if not.
How useful is this higher earning rate in practice? I guess you can only book codeshares this way?
@ mickyb -- Yeah, the ability to book partner tickets through Alaska's site isn't great. As you mentioned, it works for some codeshares, etc., but it's really not widely useful, in my opinion. I also don't love booking through another airline in terms of possible irregular operations and needing to make ticket changes. So this isn't something I've used with any regularity.
Aside from the limited partners bookable, the prices are also significantly higher than what you’d pay if booking with the operating carrier directly. But I’m hoping if they stick to their promise of increased rates when booking directly with partners (already showing on their website) this will be a vast improvement. Albeit still unknown as to when it will happen.
Interesting how much more transactional things have become status wise; almost the opposite of loyalty. I'm curious what other airline/hotel status you're planning to meet this year and what your reasoning is, Ben. I'm debating going for Globalist but in the sense of "loyalty" dying a bit in the process, when I rationally look at my plans next year, I don't think it really makes much sense. Explorist might be it.
Darn I would have thought you would already have Lifetime Platinum with American Airlines since they allowed you to get points before for credit card spend. That was the time to get Lifetime Platinum with American.
I've noticed Atmos has better and cheaper access to NYCLHR business seats on AA metal than aadvantage does. Anyone else notice that? Any reason why that would be?
I, too, use the Atmos card rather than AA, but I still have the problem of booking overseas flights with the Atmos rewards in biz class. Either Alaska wants to put me in AA partner economy for the long haul flight, or to put me in BA Biz with a $1,000 “because we can so F-you” surcharge.
Ben found even better 'math'... lap infants!
https://onemileatatime.com/news/alaska-atmos-rewards-lap-infant-award-policy/