Airlines

New Alaska Airlines Chocolate Elite Benefit

On my current flight from SEA to TPA I was offered a nice chocolate bar.  I had heard of others receiving the gift, but no one else in my row was offered.  Apparently it is a new Alaska Airlines Chocolate Elite Benefit!  I was offered Orange Chocolate or Agave Quinoa … Read more

Weekend in Beijing – Part 1: Getting to China

Weekend in Beijing A few months back I got in on the sub-$500 round trip ticket to Beijing from Washington DC in American Airlines Business Class.  I purchased the tickets; and then purchased my positioning flight to DC from Seattle which ended up costing (slightly) more than the ticket to … Read more

Bank of America Checking Account Offer

Bank of America Checking Account Offer

Today I received a Bank of America checking account offer for 25,000 Alaska Airlines miles if I open a new Bank of America Interest Checking or Bank of America Core Checking account before July 31, 2015.  The offer also mentions you must receive at least two direct deposits, each of $2,000 or more, within 90 days of opening the account.

The offer seems to be targeted to Bank of America customers with an Alaska Airlines Visa card.  However, it seems that all you have to do is go to bankofamerica.com/alaskaoffer to sign up (Note: I do not receive any payment or compensation for you signing up).  You may have to connect an Alaska Airlines Visa card to the account to verify that you are eligible.

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Changes in Alaska Mileage accrual with Partner Airlines

KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines | McDonnell Douglas MD-11 | PH-KCA | "Amy Johnson" | Toronto Pearson Street Festival

In just a few days, there have been some big changes in Alaska mileage accrual with partner airlines.  It’s all bad news unless you are paying for premium classes.  The changes (so far) are on British, Air France, and KLM.  Earning was also drastically reduced on Delta earlier this year.

For all three airlines (BA/AF/KL) you now only earn 25% of actual miles flown for the lowest fares.  The most expensive Economy tickets do still earn you actual miles flown.  You also still earn bonus miles based on your status with Alaska, but those bonuses are based on earned (not actual flown) miles and do not count towards elite status.  A few of the fare classes that formerly earned zero miles now do earn you miles, so that is one positive change I suppose.

The scene is much better in the top tier tickets.  

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Global Entry Application Process

Global Entry Application Process
As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain in the United States.

A benefit of the Citi Prestige card is a $100 credit towards the Global Entry application when you pay the application with your card.  Since the application is $100 and Citi automatically credits your account, I thought I might as well make use of it.  This is my experience with the Global Entry application process.

What is Global Entry and why would I want it?

Global Entry is a program for US citizens (and a handful of other folks) that allows you expedited customs when returning to the USA.  Once approved, you are also enrolled in TSA Pre√ which allows you to move through TSA checkpoints in airports quicker (and you get to keep your shoes and belt on and your liquids in your carry on).  It is good for 5 years.

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Costa Rica on Alaska Airlines: Two new Alaska routes announced

Costa Rica on Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines has flown internationally to Canada and Mexico for some time.  But they are adding a third international destination.  Starting May 21 you can book a flight to Costa Rica on Alaska Airlines.  The flights will begin to San Jose on October 31 and Liberia the following day.

The announced flights (below) are only out of LAX (at least for now).  While Seattle is Alaska’s hub, I can see why it would make more sense to fly out of a southern city.

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Alaska Airlines getting Premium Economy seats?

Alaska Airlines

Is Alaska Airlines getting Premium Economy seats?  Currently it is one of the few airlines that hasn’t started charging for premium economy seats (with extra legroom and other perks).

According to KUOW (Seattle’s NPR station), Alaska Airlines is planning on testing out a preferred seating program on some flights.  During the 1st Quarter Earnings Call (which you can listen to here), Alaska Airlines Chief Revenue Officer Andrew Harrison spoke about the new seats early in the call:

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5,000 Free Alaska Airlines Miles for Self-Tag Online

Free Alaska Airlines Miles

Here is an easy way to get 5,000 free Alaska Airlines miles just by printing out your baggage tag at home.

EDIT: The promotion is over.  If you would like to sign up for an Alaska Airlines Visa card you can get 25,000 miles upon approval.  LINK Full disclosure: if you are approved I also get a bonus of 2,500 miles. You may also be able to find an offer with a $100 credit by starting to purchase a ticket at Alaska’s website and then looking for a credit card sign up link before payment.

If you have status with Alaska or American you can check a bag for free.  So even if you normally carry on a bag, this makes it worth your time to check it!  This deal is good from today (April 20, 2015) through October 20, 2015.  You get 1,000 miles for each flight, up to a total of 5,000 miles during this promo.

You can even request a free tag holder here:  http://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/baggage/self-tag-express.aspx

Note that you DO need to have a Mileage Plan number and it must be attached to your reservation.  Here are the full details of the offer:

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Mileage Run Dubai in First Class on British Airways

Boeing 777-236ER - British Airways (G-VIID)

Last week there was some buzz over a (possible) mistake fare from Dubai (DXB) to Austin, Texas (AUS) on British Airways and partner airlines, all in First Class.

I use the term “mileage run” in the title of this post, but really it is hardly a milage run for two reasons:

  1. It was $1500 and
  2. It was only one way

Mileage runs are usually cheaper (this one, for me at least, worked out to be 7.4 cents per mile).  And having a one way from the middle east is not super helpful.

I learned about the deal while in Disneyland with my nephew and other family members and only had my iPad available to work on the itinerary.  I booked through the devil OTA because by the time I was ready to pull the trigger, BA.com had already caught the mistake fare and removed it (but Expedia was still live).  I wanted to make sure that all my segments were in First Class (some BA flights from LHR to US cities do not have a First Class, only Business).  My ticket has been confirmed and I even was able to choose my seat.  Others in the Flyer Talk forum have not been as lucky, no clue why mine ticketed while others have not yet.

Here is why I decided to book this deal:  

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Gay Travel Discount on Alaska Airlines

Screen Shot 2015-03-20 at 6.21.13 PMWhile browsing Facebook I came across a sponsored post by Alaska Airlines which is rather common.  The focus, gay travel, was new.  Or at least I hadn’t seen it before.

When I clicked through the ad I found that Alaska has an entire web page on their site devoted to discounts to various LGBTQ Pride events.  The discounts are short term (I’m assuming only over the Pride weekend/event) and relatively small (7% or 10%), still a nice acknowledgement and support of the LGBTQ community.

Clearly Alaska has made promoting equality as a company a priority; they score a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.  Alaska is one of only five airlines to score a perfect 100.

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Mileage Run Beijing in Business Class

Mileage Run Beijing

I was alerted to an amazing business class fare from Washington DC to Beijing by OneMileataTime.  In the rule of travel hobbyists, I booked immediately and knew I could sort out details later.  I couldn’t pass by a mileage run in business class.

Screen Shot 2015-03-17 at 7.23.01 PM

I am glad that I booked quickly because the fare was gone in less than an hour.  Read more to find out additional details.

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First Mileage Run: From Seattle to DC

first mileage runMileage run.  This is a term that travel hobbyists use frequently that I did not know the full definition of until last week.  I know can count myself a member of the elite (or crazy…) who partake in the infamous mileage run!  This is the account of my first mileage run.

A mileage run (or MR if you are hip to the lingo) is when you book a flight just for the loyalty points you earn with the airline (or hotel for that matter).  Usually this is done when you find an extremely low fare on an airline you like to earn status with.

Living in Seattle, my airline of choice is Alaska.  I have been MVP for the past few years, but this year I am aiming for MVP Gold.  The benefits of MVP Gold are extensive; most important to me are upgrades to first class and ability to change a flight with no penalty.  You must earn 40,000 “elite qualifying miles” (or EQMs), which usually means actual miles flown.  Miles you earn through using your Alaska Airlines Visa Card, for example, do not count towards elite status.

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