Frequent Miler on the Air - Alaska Airline's Exciting Mileage Plan Enhancements | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep277 | 10-18-24

Alaska Airline's Exciting Mileage Plan Enhancements | Frequent Miler on the Air Ep277 | 10-18-24

10/18/24 • 87 min

Alaska Airlines is making some big changes in 2025! We'll talk about why we think these changes are exciting...(and will share an exciting announcement of our own!)

(01:20) - Greg was recently curious about if the Hawaiian Miles personal card would be getting elevated offers and one reader says the answer is yes! Check your emails for higher offers!

Listen to our episode about the Hawaiian / Alaska merger here: https://frequentmiler.com/podcast-alaska-hawaiian-airlines-wedding-planning-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep269-8-23-24/

(03:25) - Fly 15 SkyTeam airlines (and credit to SAS or redeem SAS miles) by end of year and get 1 MILLION MILES... you all had ideas for us related to this challenge...

(05:29) - Greg's post "Catching up on 2 weeks of big miles & points news" (Read the post here: https://frequentmiler.com/catching-up-on-2-weeks-of-big-miles-points-news)

(07:04) - For the first time ever, the FM team will do 2nd challenge within 1 year...and we want you to participate!

Read more about our newest challenge here: https://frequentmiler.com/start-your-engines-for-frequent-miler-million-mile-madness/

(19:47) - Alaska / Hawaiian transfers live

(22:28) - Spirit Airlines adds free WiFi and ditches award fees for Free Spirit members.

(23:56) - Virgin Atlantic to go to dynamic award pricing - companion and upgrade vouchers may become more usable

(28:33) - Choice Privileges max award pricing for Preferred Hotels reduced from 118k to 87k. Only 9 out of 310 are currently priced 80K or higher. Meanwhile, 68 properties are priced 30K or lower.

(30:43) - Bilt adds Accor Live Limitless and TAP Air Portugal as transfer partners.

(36:18) - Marriott & Aeroplan launch reciprocal status match opportunity.

(42:42) - Huge mostly positive changes to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan coming 2025...

Read more about the changes to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan here: https://frequentmiler.com/alaska-mileage-plan-updates-earn-status-with-award-flights-credit-cards-shopping-portal-spend-more-other-changes/

(43:03) - Earning Elite Status with Alaska Airlines

(53:59) - Mileage Plan Milestones

(1:04:46) - Other changes

(1:13:11) - Some more negative changes

(1:15:14) - Summary of our assessments

(1:17:46) - Someone wrote in asking if the Alaska changes change our mind about whether it makes sense to earn Alaska miles when paying rent through Bilt

Alaska Airlines is making some big changes in 2025! We'll talk about why we think these changes are exciting...(and will share an exciting announcement of our own!)

(01:20) - Greg was recently curious about if the Hawaiian Miles personal card would be getting elevated offers and one reader says the answer is yes! Check your emails for higher offers!

Listen to our episode about the Hawaiian / Alaska merger here: https://frequentmiler.com/podcast-alaska-hawaiian-airlines-wedding-planning-frequent-miler-on-the-air-ep269-8-23-24/

(03:25) - Fly 15 SkyTeam airlines (and credit to SAS or redeem SAS miles) by end of year and get 1 MILLION MILES... you all had ideas for us related to this challenge...

(05:29) - Greg's post "Catching up on 2 weeks of big miles & points news" (Read the post here: https://frequentmiler.com/catching-up-on-2-weeks-of-big-miles-points-news)

(07:04) - For the first time ever, the FM team will do 2nd challenge within 1 year...and we want you to participate!

Read more about our newest challenge here: https://frequentmiler.com/start-your-engines-for-frequent-miler-million-mile-madness/

(19:47) - Alaska / Hawaiian transfers live

(22:28) - Spirit Airlines adds free WiFi and ditches award fees for Free Spirit members.

(23:56) - Virgin Atlantic to go to dynamic award pricing - companion and upgrade vouchers may become more usable

(28:33) - Choice Privileges max award pricing for Preferred Hotels reduced from 118k to 87k. Only 9 out of 310 are currently priced 80K or higher. Meanwhile, 68 properties are priced 30K or lower.

(30:43) - Bilt adds Accor Live Limitless and TAP Air Portugal as transfer partners.

(36:18) - Marriott & Aeroplan launch reciprocal status match opportunity.

(42:42) - Huge mostly positive changes to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan coming 2025...

(43:03) - Earning Elite Status with Alaska Airlines

(53:59) - Mileage Plan Milestones

(1:04:46) - Other changes

(1:13:11) - Some more negative changes

(1:15:14) - Summary of our assessments

(1:17:46) - Someone wrote in asking if the Alaska changes change our mind about whether it makes sense to earn Alaska miles when paying rent through Bilt

Previous Episode

Hyatt's partnership with AA: Deepened or Devalued? | Coffee Break Ep29 | 10-15-24

Recently news broke that Hyatt and American Airlines plan to change their partnership with each other. Was the partnership "deepened" like we suggested when we wrote this post, or was it "devalued" like our readers thought in the comments? (Or is it somehow both?)

(00:41) - Read our post "Hyatt & American Airlines deepen partnership, add more reciprocal earning opportunities" here.

(02:49) - What is the current Hyatt / AA relationship like? (Until 12/31/24)

(03:39) - New AA benefits for Hyatt elites...

(08:33) - Comparing Old vs New

(13:27) - Stephen's thoughts

(14:21) - Nick's thoughts

(16:57) - Greg't thoughts

Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.

Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads

Next Episode

AA vs Alaska: Which miles are more valuable? | Coffee Break Ep30 | 10-22-24

In a lot of ways, American Airlines and Alaska are similar programs - both in the One World alliance for example, with some reciprocal elite benefits as well. But they're plenty different as well. We'll discuss how these programs differ and why you mind find one better than the other.

(00:26) - Comparing AA to the new Alaska program (starting 1/1/25)

(00:34) - American Airlines and Alaska are Similar programs in a lot of ways...

(01:48) - Why AA miles might be more valuable...

(05:30) - Why Alaska miles may be more valuable...

(08:36) - Free stopover on one-way award

Learn how to book a stopover on Alaska award flights here: https://frequentmiler.com/how-to-book-alaska-mileage-plan-stopover-awards-video/

(10:57) - So which one do we think is best?

Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don’t forget to like and follow us on social media.

Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn Heads