Alaska dynamic pricing for American awards now live; expect cheaper short-haul awards
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan has undergone a series of changes over the last couple of months, including dropping a valuable non-alliance partner, reducing some earning rates, expanding dynamic award pricing and charging sky-high rates for its newest redemption partners. Most of these changes have been negative, but there's one change that might be better than expected.
The Seattle-based airline appears to have rolled out distance-based pricing for American Airlines-operated award flights in the continental U.S., Alaska and Canada. Historically, these flights have cost a flat rate of 12,500 miles in the main cabin and 25,000 in business class. However, we're now seeing short-haul routes cost fewer miles.
Travelers will save up to 40% when compared to the old award price on the shortest flights with this new award-pricing formula — let’s take a closer look.
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Alaska pricing American awards based on distance
On March 1, Alaska removed published caps for American Airlines award flights in the continental U.S., Alaska and Canada. According to the award chart, these awards should now start at 12,500 miles one-way in the main cabin and 25,000 in business class and then "vary depending on demand."
There haven't actually been any pricing changes yet, but based on this verbiage, it seemed that awards would only get more expensive. Fortunately, that's not the case.
Based on our searches, it appears that nonstop American-operated flights under 500 miles in distance (i.e., Boston to New York) now start at 7,500 miles in economy, flights between 501 and 650 miles in distance (i.e., Miami to Atlanta) at 10,000 miles and all other flights still at 12,500 miles.
Related: Alaska Mileage Plan is making major changes
As of now, it appears that all business- and first-class awards still cost 25,000 miles one-way, regardless of the distance.
In other words, flights have only gone down in price, though based on Alaska's ambiguous award chart, that can change down the line.
The new rates are live on Alaska's booking engine for travel starting May 9. Interestingly, Alaska hasn't officially updated its award chart yet, but TPG has reached out to the airline for comment and will update this post when we have more information.
Related: Your complete guide to earning and redeeming with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Bottom line
Alaska Airlines has quietly introduced distance-based pricing for American Airlines award flights within the continental U.S., Alaska and Canada.
Right now, shorter flights have gotten substantially less expensive, while no flights have gone up in price. Of course, with no published price ceilings, this could change at any point.
This move more closely aligns Alaska's award rates with American AAdvantage's own award chart, which charges 7,500 miles for saver-level economy flights under 500 miles and 12,500 miles for all other flights within the continental U.S. and Canada. The distance-based pricing model is also similar to the one Alaska has for its own flights, though those rates are much more variable.
Overall, this is a welcome improvement for the time being, and couldn’t have come at a better time given the program's recent devaluations.
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Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
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- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
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3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees