About a month in the past, Alaska Airlines printed a new accomplice award chart for Mileage Plan accomplice 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 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 significant Alaska Mileage Plan devaluation. So it isn’t all that stunning 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
Previously, Alaska charged the next costs on nonstop British Airways departures from the United States:
- Economy class: 32,500 miles.
- Premium economic system: 42,500 miles.
- Business class: 57,500 miles.
While these award costs presently appear unchanged on East coast departures from airports like New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Miami International Airport (MIA), Alaska Mileage Plan is charging extra for no less than some non-East coast departures. Here are the brand new award costs we’re seeing:
- Economy class: 35,000 miles.
- Premium economic system: 45,000 miles.
- Business class: 65,000 miles.
In our checks, Alaska expenses the elevated award costs on no less than some nonstop flights west of and together with Nashville International Airport (BNA). That means you will seemingly have to redeem extra Alaska miles to fly on British Airways on nonstop departures from airports like Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Remember, Alaska has full management over its award charges. So you may discover totally different costs once you search.
Related: 5 methods the TPG workers would redeem 70,000 Alaska miles
More miles for some connecting flights
In addition, Alaska is now charging extra miles for some connecting flights. If you add a layover to your award, you could have to redeem no less than 5,000 extra miles. Here’s an instance from Chicago to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO).
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In 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 charges additionally appear to have modified on some British Airways-operated awards. For instance, taxes and charges on some London departures are round $250 for close-in award tickets. But this summer season, we’re seeing taxes and charges enhance to virtually $900 one-way. Alaska may very well be adjusting its taxes and charges on a seasonal foundation.
Here’s an instance of this:
Again, resulting from dynamic pricing, you may discover totally different costs once you search.
Related: How to guide free stopovers with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Other accomplice flights are additionally dearer
You may also discover different accomplice flights now price extra Alaska miles than earlier than. Here’s an instance from Los Angeles to Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL).
In this case, you possibly can see how every itinerary has a distinct worth. This instance highlights that Alaska Airlines nonetheless appears to make use of totally different award charts for every accomplice regardless of now not sharing these award charts with its members.
View from the Wing reported Alaska awards from the U.S. to India on Japan Airlines have elevated by 5,000 miles and 10,000 miles in enterprise and firstclass, respectively. Additionally, you may discover greater award charges on sure connecting routes operated by Cathay Pacific.
Related: Your full information to incomes and redeeming with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Bottom line
You could must redeem extra Alaska miles on flights operated by Mileage Plan companions to locations like Europe and Asia. Unfortunately, this has a damaging backside line on the worth of Alaska miles, which have traditionally been a number of the most respected 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.