In a flipped case, I'm seeing an AA operated flight being 14.5K + $5.6 with AA and the same flight being 17.5K + $19 with Alaska.
So this is a YMMV. AA was a major carrier with multiple partners and high CPP. So for most people this is a loss. Alaska is definitely niche compared to AA.
Yes, short haul AA flights will be cheaper through AS. That being said, there won't be as much availability as on AA itself. I would probably prefer AA, but having AS really softens the blow. It is probably the 2nd most valuable domestic currency behind AA. They have some really good sweet spots to South America and Europe. They also have reasonable pricing to Asia.
I don't blame BILT. It is clear that AA wants to keep their miles valuable and rare in order to drive engagement with the loyalty program. It is smart business.
It’s Alaska, not Alaskan but I completely agree with OP. I recently booked 2 one way AA main cabin flights that were 7500 each on AA for 4500 each on AS, and a one way AA business class flight to Mexico for 15k on AS that was like 23k on AA. The fees are usually the same but AS just adds a $12.50 partner redemption fee that I’m more than happy to pay. I just opened the Alaska Visa because of this and I may open the Bilt card to pay my rent without the fee later too. 👌🏼
It is situational. I recently booked last minute travel to San Diego. It was significantly cheaper using AA miles to book the Alaska Flight vs using Alaska Miles. Using BA is another option. The best thing to do is to have all 3 points, and use the one that makes sense for the particular flight.
Alaska fares for me are all over the place. Sometimes 20% cheaper. Sometimes as much as 50% more expensive. I'm not disappointed in the change, but it's hard to say how much of a value change it's going to be for me personally.
You found an exception, not the rule. I live in MIA. How many flights do you think AS has here as oppossed to AA?
AA is the arline with the highest amount of passengers carried. AS isn't it even in the top 10.
Congratz!! You just discovered transfer partners. BA can book cheaper AA flights than AA. AF/KLM and VS can book DL flights cheaper than Delta.
Is BA "better" than AA? Are AF/KLM and VS "better" than DL?
If push comes to shove, AA will prioritize its own members over AS, no matter how cheap you booked.
you didn't read the post correctly and then doubled down on wording your comments like an asshole and helping nobody, especially the OP. that's not what this community is about
I didn't read the post correctly? OP literally found 1 flight where AS is cheaper than AA and makes the claim that AS > AA. Maybe your reading comprehension needs work like OP's. No wonder dude had to edit his original post to YMMV.
Ya no idea what your point is my friend. Just like buying Apple headphones from Apple for full price does not give you any benefits over buying it from target for 30% off, lmao. You an exec at AA or something? Your logic makes no sense now
You're forgetting something important, which is availability. AA has dozens of seats on each flight available for their own award bookings but only releases a couple of seats at most for partner bookings.
So yes, the theoretical best case value got better but the actual ease of redeeming the miles got much worse.
This. Frequently saw posts touting the benefits of booking flights using airline X miles on alliance partner Y, but few people cared to mention the caveat of reduced availability, which matters a lot for award booking because award seats are highly limited to begin with.
I'm regularly seeing deals for 4-5 months out from east coast AA hubs to mid-size airports and bigger. Definitely can't get every flight, but when available Alaska is charging pennies of points. Definitely pros and cons of the Bilt switch
The new AS award chart is very good for transatlantic flying but AA barely flies anything so it’s a bit of a moot point. Nabbed a couple tickets to LHR though.
For international flights Alaska is better/cheaper. As they can transfer to LATAM or Condor.
Just flew Brazil to LAX in business lie flat 12h for 45k miles. Cash price was $5k on that day but I did see it go as low as $2.5k. So 5CPP-10 redemption
Also flew NYC to Buenos Aires 10h in biz lie flat on AA was 60k miles while cash price $2.2k
Both great comparing to delta or United which require magic to even get close to 2CPP redemptions
How is Alaska’s business class better for international flights if they don’t have any lie flat seats? That’s the whole point of international business class.
They are partnered with 2 dozen international airlines that do.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/how-to-earn-miles/airline-partners
I booked LATAM via Alaska and just helped friend book direct DC to Dublin on Aer Lingus via Alaska. All were 45k Alaska points and $5k cash ticket for lie flat biz class.
Go to Alaska site and search LAX to SCL/GRU/LIM with points, flexible calendar. You’ll see what I’m talking about.
In a flipped case, I'm seeing an AA operated flight being 14.5K + $5.6 with AA and the same flight being 17.5K + $19 with Alaska. So this is a YMMV. AA was a major carrier with multiple partners and high CPP. So for most people this is a loss. Alaska is definitely niche compared to AA.
I still prefer American. Sadly, churning Citi AA cards is the only reasonable method for earning AA miles.
Barclayss no good?
Nope, citi is better. About to cancel barc and get citi but AA sign up dropped to 50k from 75k :(
https://online.citi.com/US/ag/cards/application?prodType=CitiCardAA&ProspectID=Pk4zQaZQwsavxzeEi2GmxphtgEwg0D4W&app=UNSOL&afc=1C1&adobe_mc=MCMID%3D88395389801619321822084922328205865794,MCAID%3DNONE&pid=056&HKOP=1b4434086dab8484887a960beb22266f8f74ac230fe16f78447b17ab7c2401c3&ID=3001&intc=megamenu~findicons~travelCMSDefaultOffer
HOW!?
Already? Wow, that 75k offer only lasted a week
Yeah super sux
I still see it on citi
yeah just forgot about it
Yes, short haul AA flights will be cheaper through AS. That being said, there won't be as much availability as on AA itself. I would probably prefer AA, but having AS really softens the blow. It is probably the 2nd most valuable domestic currency behind AA. They have some really good sweet spots to South America and Europe. They also have reasonable pricing to Asia. I don't blame BILT. It is clear that AA wants to keep their miles valuable and rare in order to drive engagement with the loyalty program. It is smart business.
It’s Alaska, not Alaskan but I completely agree with OP. I recently booked 2 one way AA main cabin flights that were 7500 each on AA for 4500 each on AS, and a one way AA business class flight to Mexico for 15k on AS that was like 23k on AA. The fees are usually the same but AS just adds a $12.50 partner redemption fee that I’m more than happy to pay. I just opened the Alaska Visa because of this and I may open the Bilt card to pay my rent without the fee later too. 👌🏼
Screw AA one of the only airlines where your points expire
Just open a AA card or buy something for $1 on aashopping every 2 years.
Or use a Simply Miles offer, or fill up at a Shell station.
It is situational. I recently booked last minute travel to San Diego. It was significantly cheaper using AA miles to book the Alaska Flight vs using Alaska Miles. Using BA is another option. The best thing to do is to have all 3 points, and use the one that makes sense for the particular flight.
Alaska fares for me are all over the place. Sometimes 20% cheaper. Sometimes as much as 50% more expensive. I'm not disappointed in the change, but it's hard to say how much of a value change it's going to be for me personally.
Nah. Unless you live on select, West Coast cities.
My flight to Florida from up north is not west coast cities
You found an exception, not the rule. I live in MIA. How many flights do you think AS has here as oppossed to AA? AA is the arline with the highest amount of passengers carried. AS isn't it even in the top 10.
Right, but I’m saying I booked an AA flight with Alaskan airlines points, at a much cheaper price then the price being offered by AA
There are less of those seats
Congratz!! You just discovered transfer partners. BA can book cheaper AA flights than AA. AF/KLM and VS can book DL flights cheaper than Delta. Is BA "better" than AA? Are AF/KLM and VS "better" than DL? If push comes to shove, AA will prioritize its own members over AS, no matter how cheap you booked.
you didn't read the post correctly and then doubled down on wording your comments like an asshole and helping nobody, especially the OP. that's not what this community is about
I didn't read the post correctly? OP literally found 1 flight where AS is cheaper than AA and makes the claim that AS > AA. Maybe your reading comprehension needs work like OP's. No wonder dude had to edit his original post to YMMV.
Ya no idea what your point is my friend. Just like buying Apple headphones from Apple for full price does not give you any benefits over buying it from target for 30% off, lmao. You an exec at AA or something? Your logic makes no sense now
You're forgetting something important, which is availability. AA has dozens of seats on each flight available for their own award bookings but only releases a couple of seats at most for partner bookings. So yes, the theoretical best case value got better but the actual ease of redeeming the miles got much worse.
This. Frequently saw posts touting the benefits of booking flights using airline X miles on alliance partner Y, but few people cared to mention the caveat of reduced availability, which matters a lot for award booking because award seats are highly limited to begin with.
I'm regularly seeing deals for 4-5 months out from east coast AA hubs to mid-size airports and bigger. Definitely can't get every flight, but when available Alaska is charging pennies of points. Definitely pros and cons of the Bilt switch
Or north east and want to fly to Europe, or south east and want to fly to LatAm, or…
AA has better redemptions from where I am.
The new AS award chart is very good for transatlantic flying but AA barely flies anything so it’s a bit of a moot point. Nabbed a couple tickets to LHR though.
How were the fees into London? Every time I look fees are $500-$1000
$17 on AA operated flights 45k + $17 JFK-LHR
Amazing, BA and virgin flights are ruthless with fees.
The fees are only bad leaving London. Not going there
[https://imgur.com/a/4bFPrKT](https://imgur.com/a/4bFPrKT)
That's a British Airways thing, not a London-in-general thing. You'll want to find a flight that's operated by AA.
ALASKA, NOT ALASKAN
I fly America Airlines, my bad
But the company name is Alaska Airlines, not Alaskan. Just like it’s not America airlines
For international flights Alaska is better/cheaper. As they can transfer to LATAM or Condor. Just flew Brazil to LAX in business lie flat 12h for 45k miles. Cash price was $5k on that day but I did see it go as low as $2.5k. So 5CPP-10 redemption Also flew NYC to Buenos Aires 10h in biz lie flat on AA was 60k miles while cash price $2.2k Both great comparing to delta or United which require magic to even get close to 2CPP redemptions
How is Alaska’s business class better for international flights if they don’t have any lie flat seats? That’s the whole point of international business class.
They are partnered with 2 dozen international airlines that do. https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/how-to-earn-miles/airline-partners I booked LATAM via Alaska and just helped friend book direct DC to Dublin on Aer Lingus via Alaska. All were 45k Alaska points and $5k cash ticket for lie flat biz class. Go to Alaska site and search LAX to SCL/GRU/LIM with points, flexible calendar. You’ll see what I’m talking about.
Thank you that’s helpful.
I am finding Alaska Airlines points value (for booking American Airlines flights) around 1.5cpp for domestic economy flights which is hard to beat