Alaska Airlines to "simplify" award charts from December 2022

[Mattg]

This update has been posted on the Alaska Airlines website on the award charts page:

Update on partner awards​

Good news for 2022!  Cathay Pacific awards will be available to book on alaskaair.com in October and LATAM awards will be available before the end of 2022.

Starting late December, the way you view award charts online is changing. We’ll have a simplified award chart to show you where award levels start based on which regions you’re traveling from and to. With this change, similar to awards on Alaska, partner award levels may vary depending on multiple factors including route, distance, or demand. You’ll continue to be able to enjoy great value for your miles. As always, the best way to view pricing and availability for the routes you’re interested in flying is to search for your specific travel dates and destinations.

Mileage Plan airline miles award charts | Alaska Airlines

Use our award charts to see how many miles you need for travel to your destination, both for flights on Alaska Airlines and our worldwide partner airlines.

www.alaskaair.com

Good to see CX and LA awards coming online. It will also be good if they finally start to allow redemptions across the whole Oneworld alliance, not just on selected partners and routes. But you can be sure any changes to partner award levels won't be downwards...

At least Alaskan will still have award charts, though! (Unlike DL & UA...)

 

[glasszon]

I can't image the sweet spots such as 30k to fly AU-HKG on CX J would remain, probably best to lock in a few bookings if you are going to utilise the sweet spots in the current chart.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

I think we all knew this wouldn't last forever and I'm glad I was able to get my balance down while still getting some of the old 55K OZ-US sweet spots in J, but the line that really gives me pause is this dreaded word:

"partner award levels may vary depending on multiple factors including route, distance, or demand."

Looks like dynamic pricing like many other US carriers is on the horizon. I suspect now that AS is part of a global alliance, they just don't feel they need to offer the same value proposition to attract people to the programme like before.

 

[Kremmen]

There is really nothing good about this. Look at the award prices for newly added carriers, such as SQ and MH, vs the older ones, such as CX and QF. A region-based table is unlikely to make any prices come down, which means we're likely to see an astronomical increase in the ones that matter most to us.

I recently flew FJ to/from the USA with stopovers for 55k miles each way in J. I wonder if the new rates will be more or less than double?

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

There is really nothing good about this. Look at the award prices for newly added carriers, such as SQ and MH, vs the older ones, such as CX and QF. A region-based table is unlikely to make any prices come down, which means we're likely to see an astronomical increase in the ones that matter most to us.

I recently flew FJ to/from the USA with stopovers for 55k miles each way in J. I wonder if the new rates will be more or less than double?

I'd expect so. AS has offered those Oz-North America trips for effectively 1/2 what QF charges on their own or FJ's metal, and with a fraction of the surcharges.

At one point last year I was able to snag FJ in J from SYD-NAN-LAX and then further on Alaska in "First" for 40k thanks to one of their promotions for a trip in June 2022. Just astounding value given the costs of flights this year. Even at 55k it's been a steal. Another steal I remember when I was based in Singapore was 25k in their top-shelf J product on the 787 from SIN-NRT, a 23-hour layover, and then NRT-KUL. I've about 20k left and am tempted to get something in Qantas J held domestically just for the pleasure of it, because I think it's safe to say the party is soon over.

 

[Kremmen]

I've about 20k left and am tempted to get something in Qantas J held domestically just for the pleasure of it, because I think it's safe to say the party is soon over.

That's the only one I'd have any hope of staying as it is. AA charges 20k and BA charges 22k, so a rise isn't justified there.

 

[Ecco]

Sorry to hear that they are probably going to change to dynamic pricing. I’ve had a good run out of them in the past 5 years with trips to Hong Kong, and the US In J and Asia as well. When there’s been availability. At the moment it’s horrible trying to get out of Nz. Virtually zero award space in J. I do like their platform, it’s one of the best to search award space with.

I do agree with Matt though, some of their awards are too expensive ie with Malaysian and SQ. All the BA awards are a waste of time too. Also their partner routes are inflexible especially when coming from NZ. Maybe it’s just not economic to run those sweet spots on CX and Fiji airways. I no longer consider Hong Kong an option now anyway. Not with the regime and rules they are under now, AS are going to find it harder to sell those miles if they move to dynamic pricing.

I’ve got 56k AS miles. Trying to figure out what to do there. I’m looking for a leg to get back from Europe around end of June. Not a lot of award space options on AS on those sweet spots. Virtually zero. I guess it had to happen as you guys are saying. There’s no such thing as a free lunch…

 

[Luciana Lanza]

I’ve managed to get 2 return J on Cathay for September school hols but am not wanting to go given we have just returned from Europe 6 weeks over school holidays which has been exhausting. Note to self and anyone else wanting to listen….NEVER TRAVEL TO SOUTHERN EUROPE IN SUMMER (Too hot to do anything other than sit in A/c environment….better done at home!)
I’ve checked the alaska site repeatedly for subsitutes but there is absolutely no J to and from Australia on Cathay at anytime. Has anyone found differently?

 

[Clayton]

I’ve managed to get 2 return J on Cathay for September school hols but am not wanting to go given we have just returned from Europe 6 weeks over school holidays which has been exhausting. Note to self and anyone else wanting to listen….NEVER TRAVEL TO SOUTHERN EUROPE IN SUMMER (Too hot to do anything other than sit in A/c environment….better done at home!)
I’ve checked the alaska site repeatedly for subsitutes but there is absolutely no J to and from Australia on Cathay at anytime. Has anyone found differently?

Haven't found anything either, seems the Bots and resellers of award tickets are highly efficient. I wonder how/whether the points companies will do anything to stamp out this scourge and return awards to those that will use them personally?

 

[Luciana Lanza]

Indeed!

 

[Ecco]

Haven't found anything either, seems the Bots and resellers of award tickets are highly efficient. I wonder how/whether the points companies will do anything to stamp out this scourge and return awards to those that will use them personally?

Just wondering how do those Bots and resellers work. They would still have to buy points in order to make the bookings.