Alaska changes frequent flyer terms

Sets new mileage costs, fees

Alaska Airlines said it will change the terms of its Mileage Plan frequent flyer program effective November 1. The airline’s domestic “Coach Saver” award tickets, which have cost 20,000 miles for the past 13 years, will thereafter cost members 25,000 miles, on a par with other major domestic airlines. In addition, the program’s Saver and Peak award levels for coach and first class trips on Alaska and Horizon will also increase, except for intra-state travel. On the plus side, Alaska is expanding its offer of a 15,000-mile award ticket for intra-state travel. Previously available only for intra-state trips within Alaska, it will now be offered for intra-state travel within California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon or Washington; such trips outside Alaska currently cost a minimum of 20,000 miles. Besides its traditional Saver (now to be known as Super Saver) and Peak award levels (now called Full Flex awards), Alaska will introduce a new mid-level award called Choice, which will offer “coach travel at mileage redemption levels below unrestricted awards, but with much greater availability than Super Saver levels,” a spokesman said. If Mileage Plan members want to redeem their miles for trips on partner airlines after November 1, they will have to pay a $25 fee, the airline said. “There continues to be no award fee or fuel surcharge for award travel on Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air,” the spokesman said.