Had a note, for the following reasons he argues Alaskan Air is the best reward program.. Are the items here true? Can I share my AA and Delta miles!?
I think it is the best of the 3 options if you plan to fly less than 100,000 miles per year.
Heres why:
- You get credit regardless of whether you fly American or Delta. If you were in one of those programs, you would have to split your earnings.
- Elite status on Alaska gives you access to exit row seats on AA and DL, so youll be in a good seat
- The elite status bonus on Alaska for a mid-level flier (about 50K miles per year) is double AA and DL. Bonus miles are a percentage of the miles you fly. For example, if you are a Gold on Delta, you get a 50% mileage bonus. If you are MVP gold on Alaska, you get a 100% mileage bonus. This adds up quickly.
- Delta has the worst frequent flier program in the industry. Those miles are worthless. I have been trying to use 80,000 Delta miles for years and it has been impossible. Their IT and phone agents are also horrible, so it is almost impossible to get a great trip or even find one using their technology. The food in Deltas first class is also a joke extremely unhealthy.
- AA has a great program for 100,000 mile fliers, but I doubt that is you. If you fly less than 100.000 on AA, you dont get free upgrades.
- Alaskas reward program has access to all of the partner airlines for BOTH the Skyteam and Oneworld alliance. They also partner with some really useful airlines like Air Pacific, Emirates, Icelandair, etc., all of which can be used to go on some incredible trips. For example, Im flying in first tomorrow from NYC to South Africa on Cathay Pacific, one of the Alaska partners. Heres a video of what thats like. Its also much cheaper to redeem for Cathay Pacific using Alaska miles than using AA miles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BDJ3jdxFo8.
- Alaska has great phone agents, and they give you 4 system-wide upgrades on Alaska once you get to 50,000 flown miles. You can sell these upgrades for $500. You get no such equivalent unless you fly 100.000 miles on the other airlines.
I think it is the best of the 3 options if you plan to fly less than 100,000 miles per year.
Heres why:
- You get credit regardless of whether you fly American or Delta. If you were in one of those programs, you would have to split your earnings.
- Elite status on Alaska gives you access to exit row seats on AA and DL, so youll be in a good seat
- The elite status bonus on Alaska for a mid-level flier (about 50K miles per year) is double AA and DL. Bonus miles are a percentage of the miles you fly. For example, if you are a Gold on Delta, you get a 50% mileage bonus. If you are MVP gold on Alaska, you get a 100% mileage bonus. This adds up quickly.
- Delta has the worst frequent flier program in the industry. Those miles are worthless. I have been trying to use 80,000 Delta miles for years and it has been impossible. Their IT and phone agents are also horrible, so it is almost impossible to get a great trip or even find one using their technology. The food in Deltas first class is also a joke extremely unhealthy.
- AA has a great program for 100,000 mile fliers, but I doubt that is you. If you fly less than 100.000 on AA, you dont get free upgrades.
- Alaskas reward program has access to all of the partner airlines for BOTH the Skyteam and Oneworld alliance. They also partner with some really useful airlines like Air Pacific, Emirates, Icelandair, etc., all of which can be used to go on some incredible trips. For example, Im flying in first tomorrow from NYC to South Africa on Cathay Pacific, one of the Alaska partners. Heres a video of what thats like. Its also much cheaper to redeem for Cathay Pacific using Alaska miles than using AA miles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BDJ3jdxFo8.
- Alaska has great phone agents, and they give you 4 system-wide upgrades on Alaska once you get to 50,000 flown miles. You can sell these upgrades for $500. You get no such equivalent unless you fly 100.000 miles on the other airlines.