• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Alaska Airlines • Award Bookings • cathay pacific • JAL  >  Latest Alaska Devaluation Was Bizarre Overreaction
Alaska AirlinesAward Bookingscathay pacificJAL

Latest Alaska Devaluation Was Bizarre Overreaction

Matthew Klint Posted onFebruary 14, 2018February 14, 2018 8 Comments

Have you ever heard the old adage, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater?” That’s what Alaska Airlines just did in its latest Mileage Plan devaluation.

Alaska Airlines now blocks partner redemptions on Cathay Pacific and JAL within 72 hours of travel. Citing rampant fraud, Alaska reasons it had no other choice…just like it claims it had no choice before its massive devaluation of Emirates awards in 2016.

Award Expert clients often ask me about buying miles on the grey market. If you think this is a small issue, think again. It’s a multi-million dollar industry around the world. And while there is potential value in purchasing miles, it is not something I encourage…especially because loyalty programs have shown a penchant for fiercely cracking down on those who engage in these practices.

But talk about a bizarre overreaction. That makes me think something else is at play here…partner redemption costs.

Cathay Pacific and JAL open up their best award seats at the last-minute. Both are dependable at releasing space in first and business class just days, sometimes hours before departure.

With the elimination of booking within 72-hours, Alaska miles are suddenly worth a lot less…even if the award chart remains unchanged.

If fraud was the issue, Alaska could have easily imposed a less draconian solution:

  1. Redemptions only for the member within 72 hours of travel
  2. Redemption only for the member or those with the same surname within 72 hours of travel
  3. Telephone-only redemption within 72 hours of travel.

There are other solutions: two-factor authentication or other security protocols that Alaska could invest in…if it wanted to.

Instead, I believe Alaska wanted a DPRK solution: oh you’ll be safe from fraud, but lose all your freedom in the process. I also believe that Alaska Airlines wanted to save money: less premium cabin partner redemptions mean less money out of their pockets.

CONCLUSION

I’m turning very cynical toward Alaska and its MileagePlan program. While there are still some gems on the award chart, the program has shown a willingness to blindside members with harsh, no-notice devaluation. That is not how any loyalty program should operate.

Previous Article “Demonic” Child on Lufthansa Flight
Next Article Let’s Give Alaska Airlines Credit for Listening

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Air France Business Class Door

    The Upsides To Losing Elite Status

    October 23, 2022
  • fuel hedging

    Airlines Fuel Hedging During Record Oil Prices

    June 12, 2022
  • Southwest Airlines delays flight cancellations

    Domestic Meltdown: Carriers Struggle Boiling Over

    April 3, 2022

8 Comments

  1. Pete Reply
    February 14, 2018 at 4:58 pm

    With CX it was already telephone-only anyway. Very disappointing.

  2. akanaminpa Reply
    February 14, 2018 at 5:20 pm

    Here’s another Alaska / Bank of America issue that I experienced. During my travels in November I applied for an Alaska Air credit card and was approved. In the month of December my father became gravely ill so I had to cancel much of my travel plans and remain on the West Coast until the beginning of the New Year (I live on the East Coast). During my stay in December Bank of America generated a statement for the annual fee of $75 and mailed it to my home address. When I arrived home (my father passed away on Dec 21), I noticed the statement and paid the amount in full on January 5th, but the payment was due on January 4th and didn’t clear until January 6th. This led to a $1.50 late payment fee which generated another statement which I didn’t see until returning back home in February. At the beginning of February I make what I thought was my required spend for the account but when I just received my “February” statement I see that the account is “late” once again because of the $1.50 “fee” and not I have to speak with a collection person at B of A to be able to pay the balance in full. Now, however, because I used the card in February I have close to $20 in interest charged! Needless to say I closed the account after paying the balance due in full. So much for Bank of America’s relationship management!

  3. emercycrite Reply
    February 14, 2018 at 5:28 pm

    “a DPRK solution”

    LOL!

  4. Eric Reply
    February 14, 2018 at 8:37 pm

    Alaska’s twitter account announced they were removing this restriction for flights other than those are inter-asia. Good on ’em for turning it around so quickly.

  5. pointsfan Reply
    February 14, 2018 at 9:24 pm

    They listened!

    https://mobile.twitter.com/AlaskaAir/status/963936771598946305

  6. Danny Reply
    February 15, 2018 at 12:24 am

    Korean Airlines has a good policy to prevent fraud. You can only use miles for family members.

    @ akanaminpa

    Most banks will waive the late payment fee on a credit card account one time as a courtesy.

  7. LAXJeff Reply
    February 15, 2018 at 9:43 am

    It would appear to me that they were trying to close a loophole that was being fraudulently exploited. Blocking short notice bookings is a nasty devaluation. Hope they learned from this and give notice next time they want to devalue.

  8. docntx Reply
    February 15, 2018 at 9:50 am

    I am troubled by the frequent disappointment about the Alaska FF program. Almost Delta-ish with sudden, poorly explained changes (Emirates) and erratic availability issues on partners, erosion of its partner airlines. Used to think of it as our last hope. Not so sure anymore.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • Southwest Airlines Wheelchair Accident
    Family Sues Southwest Airlines For Negligence After Death Of 25-Year-Old Daughter February 1, 2023
  • Hotel Hairdresser Massage
    Hotel Hairdresser Invites Himself To My Room February 1, 2023
  • Mount Nebo Jordan
    Visiting Mount Nebo In Jordan February 1, 2023
  • A Silly Attack On United Airlines’ Boarding Process January 31, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Casting Couch? Kuwait Airways Forces Prospective Flight Attendants To Undress For “Research Purposes” January 4, 2023
  • Spirit Airlines Captain Runs Out Of Cockpit After Woman Yells “I Hope Y’All Crash And Die!” January 17, 2023
  • Hotel Worker entered room
    Woman Demands $3,000 In Compensation After Hotel Worker Walked Into Her Room At Midnight January 24, 2023
  • SWISS First Class Awards Bookable With United Airlines MileagePlus January 5, 2023

Archives

February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.