Fantastic Alaska Airline miles deal on again

[Mwenenzi]

.... However after further discussion he also said that many people 'internationally' were using the program not how it was intended (as a loyalty program for frequent AS flyers) and AS wanted to stop this.

Who would be doing this? Surely no one on AFF? :shock:
How many people buying AS miles have seen as AS aircraft close up, let alone been an AS passenger?

 

[RooFlyer]

Who would be doing this? Surely no one on AFF? :shock:
<snip>

From 24 seconds on: No no no no: The Best of Jim Trott - YouTube

 

[boomy]

How many people buying AS miles have seen as AS aircraft close up, let alone been an AS passenger?

All these US airlines who sell miles do it to generate fast cash flow, they couldn't care less if you ever flew with them or intend to do it in the future.

 

[Craigie]

How many people buying AS miles have seen as AS aircraft close up, let alone been an AS passenger?

Flew them SEA-LAX last year. Didn't mind them. Typical nth am carrier.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

All these US airlines who sell miles do it to generate fast cash flow, they couldn't care less if you ever flew with them or intend to do it in the future.

Well apparently AS do care

 

[RooFlyer]

Well apparently AS do care

And I'm trying to figure out why.

They must make money on selling the miles. I can't see why non Nth American credit cards would be susceptible to fraud any more than 'local' ones.

Maybe their status FFers were being crowded out of award seats (or thought they were) and were complaining? If so, it would be a landmark case of an airline actually caring much what FFers think, when cash generation is concerned.

The wrenched thing for me is that I am actually going to fly them a bit this year!

 

[scwappy]

It's a shame as it would have been a great program to credit a number of airlines I don't fly regularly. QF, EK etc. oh well their loss as well as mine.

 

[boomy]

And I'm trying to figure out why.

They must make money on selling the miles. I can't see why non Nth American credit cards would be susceptible to fraud any more than 'local' ones.

Maybe their status FFers were being crowded out of award seats (or thought they were) and were complaining? If so, it would be a landmark case of an airline actually caring much what FFers think, when cash generation is concerned.

I think it's safe to say that most of AS Elite FFs are based in the US & Canada so the recent change in policy will not do much to help them.
Considering that one can still buy AS miles if they have the right CC makes me believe there is more to the story then just an airline trying to protect it's FFs.

 

[legroom]

Some of us may have a relative in the USA and could borrow their CC.

I have a Bank of America Debit Visa lying dormant somewhere and it's a matter of topping it with some Aussie cash.

I have no social security number, just walking in and opened a cheque AC with an attached debit card.

Cove et al with their US issued CC would have no problem.

 

[Limewood]

I rang their customer support this morning about the issue, they have very recently (in the last few days or week) changed the ability to purchase points with the bonus. They now limit it to US, Canadian and he thought Mexico credit card holders (where the billing address for the cc is the same as address for the points purchase). Fraud problems were 'apparently' a reason for limiting the availability. Looks like you got in just in time Limewood.

That is very interesting explains what is happening. I purchased my AS miles in Dec. last, when the 35% deal was offered, they appeared in my new AS miles account within 48 hours. I'm wondering now if I use the same Amex card as in last buy if it will work again?.

Just purchased another 40K + bonus will see if transaction completes next day or so.

 

[dalereardon]

Just had a thought re a possible solution.

I use HopShopGo for mail forwarding from the US. They offer and so do similar services a buy for you service when a website requires a US credit card to be used and verifiable address.

Perhaps one of these websites would do the purchasing of the miles for us?

Dale.

 

[mhen]

So far have 3 different credit cards plus paypal (linked to one of those cards) knocked back. All of these cards have been used on points.com in the past to buy miles from different airlines and two of them have been used to buy from Alaska in the past!
While it's Alaska's right to impose terms and conditions on promotions to do so mid stream and in such an underhand way is very unethical in my opinion.

 

[Limewood]

Considering I've had no probs. earlier getting AS miles with CC, purchased more today, it all looks good at this point, while on AS site said will be notified when available same as last purchase which took 24/48 hours to arrive, are others getting to this phase or being knocked back after card entry?.

 

[vitagen]

I just bought a lot to try it and see if it works

 

[mlob]

The purchase seems to go through and even get a confirmation number. Declined email turns up days later.

 

[mhen]

My decline emails all turned up on the day following each purchase attempt about 9.30am.

 

[wonky1]

I think we have just about tried all of the possible options (except for loading up cash on paypal - the problem with this is that paypal may freeze your account and cash and take forever to undo it). Have tried changing the billing address on our Aus cc to our US shipping address which was also resulted in declined pts purchase (and set the ANZ Falcon into a spin!). Attempted to change our paypal billing address to our us shipping address, you cannot however remove the Australia from the bottom of the details. Rang and spoke to paypal customer service about removing this and said they can't (and won't). Also told you cannot open a us paypal account if you live in Australia - quite definite on this too.

Looks like you really need to know someone who has a US cc...

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

A quick google search will show you lots of options for pre-paid Visa cards.....

It seems there are plenty if ways around it and people doing it for iTunes USA and Netflix

 

[RooFlyer]

Considering I've had no probs. earlier getting AS miles with CC, purchased more today, it all looks good at this point, while on AS site said will be notified when available same as last purchase which took 24/48 hours to arrive, are others getting to this phase or being knocked back after card entry?.

Yes, I'm afraid. All looks OK at the time of purchase, but get declined e-mail a day or so later.

I'm afraid this particular parrot is ..... dead ....

 

[mlob]

OK. Other then trying to find a friendly american a pre paid visa might be our only option. Anyone having any luck finding more info about this option. Im just looking at a pre paid site now.