Going back almost a decade I would have argued that mileage running (getting on the plane for the sole purpose of earning miles) could make sense. However, as we've seen a countless number of award chart devaluations, elite benefit cuts, mileage earning rate cuts, etc., it has become considerably more difficult to justify. Earlier I…
Continue reading: There’s A Mileage Run Renaissance Thanks To Alaska Mileage Plan!
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I status massed UA 1K to Alaska in 2014 and only got MVP God, NOT 75K. I specifically asked for 75K but Alaska only gave me the match to Gold...
If a cheap BA First ticket could be found West Coast - Europe you could get 50,000 elite qualifying miles (enough for MVP Gold) in one trip.
This is a very interesting development. Let's hope AS/VX doesn't mess it up. The loyalty program has got to be one of their greatest strengths.
Ah, I think I misread the earning rates. Looks like the NEW additional 200% bonus does NOT count towards elite status.
@ Ralf -- Hmmm, as far as I know Alaska only started status matching to 75K in late 2014. Maybe that's why?
@Lucky - Alaska is very specific on the partner airlines that earn elite bonuses and Emirates is not one of them. Only very few airlines get the Elite bonus.
Ben,
Do you really think it's necessary to dramatically hype these change? Especially using terms like "overly generous" and "mileage run renaissance." I can see Alaska adjusting downward after the consummation glow has waned, saying "well, everyone knew it was unsustainable...even the bloggers."
I know your goal here is to attract eyeballs, but some restraint seems advisable.
One should be careful that Alaska has rules for partner accrual. For example, BA marketed and AA operated (which is a common AARP outcome) doesn't count per the rules. It also has to be within a range of flight numbers. At least this was my experience this year. But would love to know if others had other experiences...
I agree, I am sure there must be some new gems out there and that truly is exciting news.
One thing I would like you to clarify, The MVP Gold 75K gives 125% bonus. How are you calculating the 180% bonus for being MVP 75K. I am sure you are right, but could you clarify.
Benjamin: you've really become very, very ill. Look at what you're writing. My family is deeply concerned for you. Please reach out to mental health professionals.
@lucky
would you have any advice for someone who has no status in either one world or alaska flying PE in Cathay?
I keep going back and forth deciding whether or not to credit to AA or Alaska, OR if I should dump both and do better with BA since then it would open the door to family earning (traveling with my husband.)
it seems from this post i could leverage my etihad gold status to get a status match with alaska and make the argument moot. thoughts?
@Bobbie Dooley If you don't appreciate how hard lucky works to provide people with so many great articles every day, please leave. If Ben did make a mistake with his calculations in this article, let it be. Everyone makes mistakes so do everyone a favor and stop spreading negative vibes. Have a good day.
@Gred I do not know where Lucky got the calculations from but I can confirm the following. MVP members and General Members earn the SAME earnings on most partners. The only partners that earn elite bonuses are the following:
Alaska Airlines
Virgin America
American Airlines
British Airways
Delta
Hainan Airlines
Icelandair
@ Ryan -- That is not correct. The page you are looking at is a list of partners which offer various other elite benefits, not the bonus miles for status.
I had already purchased my ticket even before this change. It is now even better. Will take BA to CAI and VX to NYC. You have confirmed what a great deal it is. Also, I am really looking forward to the trip.
I got confused by the 180% bonus as well so I have to read the post twice. I believe it comes from the 125% MVP Gold 75k bonus, plus the 50,000 bonus miles earned upon qualification.
Lucky took the 50,000 bonus miles and divide it with the 90k elite miles to qualify for MVP Gold 75k to get 55% (125 + 55 = 180%). That said, you only get the 50k bonus once when you qualify..
This is so awesome! I'm super excited too.
This was clearly written and easy enough to comprehend. While I have been MVPG for 8 years now, I appreciate the breaking this down.
It's clearly stated in the 5th paragraph where the 180% calculation comes from.
@Bongo AS still clearly states that miles are earned on LAN flights. LAN and TAM continue to work as separate companies, under a common executive management -- AS and VX at the moment.
@Lucky I look forward to some First and Business deals to credit to AS. Please keep us posted -- even if it's boring ole BA J!
Please rave about this some more so you ruin it for those of us who already have it figured out...
One problem with flying AA/BA/DL etc but crediting to their non-alliance partner AS would be that I'd get no elite benefits for your travel: No AS benefits as I am not flying them; no partner benefits because I am not crediting within their alliance.
Now, the standard come back to this would be that if you fly premium cabin, then it doesn't matter all that much. I suppose. At least there will be lounge access.
However, I can still imagine the irony of being an elite of AA as well as AS, plus of course OW emerald, but not getting any of these benefits when flying economy with respect to seat selection , op ups, help with irregular ops, etc.
Still, I find the concept intriguing and might try it when I see a great long-haul J fare from ORD to Asia, South Africa, ANZ and like. 🙂
@Lucky / all
I asked this question a couple of weeks ago, in one of your Mileage Plan articles, about the list of carriers that receive the 125% MVP 75K bonus. Or is the case all partner airlines receive the 125% MVP 75K bonus?
As a MVP 75K travelling business on EK would you receive:
100% + 25% + 100% + 125% MVP 75K bonus = 350% total
-or-
100% + 25% + 100% = 225% total
I think your article suggests it does but there seems to be some confusion amongst those commenting so it would be great to clarify.
Would you mind writing a follow up blog on elite qualifying miles and redeemable miles? I don't fly a lot, but follow your blog and a few others daily. From your hints, I go to fun places with my wife and family, but don't fly enough to get status. With such a great program like you are describing above, I might be open to a few mileage runs, but the terms above are not clear.
On the Cairo to LAX Emirates business class flight for $1727.36 The flight is 19640 miles
You would earn
19640 flight miles (100%) Counts as EQM
4920 miles class of service bonus (25%) Counts as EQM too!
19640 *NEW* Announce Dec 19 BONUS (100%)
As well if you are MVP 75K
24560 miles
===============
68,760 miles @ $1727.36 = 2.51 CPM
The one time MVP 75 bonus for hitting 90K is 50,000 miles. The 24,560 is about a quarter of that. So if we divide evenly and you manage to hit that exactly at 90 I see how you could argue that it could be worth the fraction of the 50K miles for the one time hit at 90K, or in other words it could be worth 16,340 miles. So using that flight and calculating
68,760 miles + 16,340 fraction of 50K one time bonus = 85,100 @ $1727.36 = 2.02 CPM
I now see how you get the 180% MVPG number.
As someone who recently status matched to MVP gold 75k (EXP plat on AA).
I can confirm the 50k bonus is not applicable to those that have status matched in the current year.
Regards
John