Why Alaska Airways left its widespread award chart in place

Alaska Airways introduced a variety of modifications final month when it unveiled its new Atmos Rewards loyalty program. However one of many largest wins for frequent vacationers was the factor the airline did not change in any respect: its widespread award chart.

Going ahead, redemptions through Atmos Rewards will look very like they did with the provider’s former Alaska Airways Mileage Plan program.

That information was welcome to the scores of loyalists who’ve lengthy prized Alaska’s mounted, predictable redemption costs — a construction that persistently unlocks a number of the greatest award offers of any U.S. airline, each on Alaska and its community of companions.

At this time, utilizing Atmos Rewards factors (previously Alaska miles), you may guide a brief home flight on Oneworld alliance companions like American Airways for as little as 4,500 factors one-way — a deal that personally saved me a whole bunch of {dollars}, 1000’s of factors and various hours sitting in site visitors on Interstate 95 this summer time.

You may also use Atmos Rewards factors to guide a transatlantic flight from the U.S. to Europe for as little as 22,500 factors, together with on days when competitor award pricing can run tens of 1000’s of factors pricier.

Alaska’s program can unlock the swankier seats, too: Earlier this yr, some TPG staffers used Alaska’s program to fly to London for 55,000 factors in American’s new Flagship Enterprise suites.

That strategy, as soon as extra frequent all through the business, makes Atmos Rewards a little bit of an outlier. Many airways have moved to dynamic award pricing, the place the factors or miles you want can fluctuate very like a money fare — and take a chew out of your frequent flyer account stability within the course of.