Many frequent flyer programs discount their award flights on a regular basis. Most of them give these promotions fancy names like Miles&More’s Mileage Bargains or KrisFlyer’s Spontaneous Escapes. Now, Alaska Airlines‘ Mileage Plan has joined the party with their Global Getaways.
After increasing prices for award flights recently, these promotions give members the opportunity to redeem miles with decent value. Especially departing from the United States, there is a fair amount of good deals. The biggest eye-catchers are economy tickets to Fiji for 20,000 miles or premium economy to French Polynesia for 30,000 miles. Taxes and surcharges seldomly exceed US$50 (~€47).
Until April 30, 2024, you can currently score discounted award tickets for flights between September 1 and November 30, 2024. Both roundtrips and one-ways are currently available for fewer miles than usual. While the terms&conditions state that the discounts only apply to US departures, availability in the opposite directions is just as good.
Except the US$13 (~€12) booking fee per flight, these tickets are fully refundable.
Premium Economy to Tahiti for 30,000 Miles + $19
Luckily for Mileage Plan members, Air Tahiti Nui is one of the program’s affiliate partners. Their Boeing 787 fleet carries a decent premium economy cabin with seats in a 2-3-2 seating pattern and a generous 97cm seat pitch. Their premium economy redemptions show the best value-for-money miles among this month’s global getaways:
- Los Angeles → Papeete for 30,000 miles + US$19 (~€18) (nonstop)
- San Francisco → Papeete for 30,000 miles + US$19 (~€18)
- San Francisco → Papeete for 30,000 miles + US$24 (~€22)
- Papeete → Los Angeles for 30,000 miles + US$67 (~€63) (nonstop)
Transpacific Economy Class Starting at 20,000 Miles + $19
In economy class, you are not limited to Air Tahiti Nui. You can also fly with Oneworld partner Fiji Airways to Nadi or reach plenty of Asian destinations with Oneworld member Qatar Airways. The latter come with the price-tag of just 30,000 miles, despite covering enormous distances.
- With Air Tahiti Nui to French Polynesia:
- New York → Papeete for 20,000 miles + US$19 (~€18)
- Los Angeles → Papeete for 20,000 miles + US$19 (~€18) nonstop
- Las Vegas → Papeete for 20,000 miles + US$24 (~€22)
- With Fiji Airways to Fiji:
- Los Angeles → Nadi for 20,000 miles + US$19 (~€18) (nonstop)
- San Francisco → Nadi for 20,000 miles + US$19 (~€18) (nonstop)
- New York → Nadi for 20,000 miles + US$19 (~€18)
- Toronto → Nadi for 20,000 miles + US$85 (~€79)
- Nadi → Los Angeles for 20,000 miles + US$102 (~€95) (nonstop)
- With Qatar Airways nach Asia:
- San Francisco → Bali for 30,000 miles + US$56 (~€52)
- Miami → Bali for 30,000 miles + US$56 (~€52)
- Seattle → Maldives for 30,000 miles + US$58 (~€54)
- Salt Lake City → Maldives for 30,000 miles + US$58 (~€54)
Earn Miles with Alaska Airlines
Despite the latest devaluation, Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan remains one of the most interesting loyalty program’s across Oneworld Alliance. Flights with other Alliance members or affiliate partners often get rewarded with massive amounts of award miles. Here are two examples:
- 23,600 award miles for a Frankfurt – Toronto roundtrips in Condor’s business class (currently available for just €1,500)
- 29,700 award miles for a Paris – Los Angeles roundtrip in British Airways’ business class
Our mileage calculator will show you more options to collect award miles with the program:
While earning miles the old-fashioned way is an attractive option, buying or transferring miles to Mileage Plan is not particularly appealing. Even during promotions, it’s hard to get a better value than 1.6 cpm. The most attractive exchange rate for European citizens is currently offered by Marriott Bonvoy, granting you 25,000 Mileage Plan Miles in for 60,000 Marriott points.
Thanks to our source, OMAAT!
Translation by Felix
Cover Picture: © sarayuth3390