I'm here to talk about the frequent flyer program of Alaska Airlines and what a bait and switch it is.
I've been an Alaska FF member for 23 years (they actually kept track of that). When I joined it was to the promise of taking my bucket list trip (Australia), first-class (no blackout dates). So, my wife and I have been saving frequent flyer points for TWENTY THREE YEARS (think about that for a moment).
Last year we decided to take the plunge. We got cruise tickets and I went online to get my long-coveted first-class tickets, only to find there weren't any.
I talked to Alaska and they said I had waited too long (6 months prior to trip). So we postponed our trip for a year. I watched for the very first opening to purchase tickets (331 days in advance). When the window opened, I immediately swooped in. No FC tickets. I called them.
Oh, I'd gotten in too soon for FC tickets. So I complained. They told me that they only had to honor the FF cost for the ticket if the originating partner offered them those tickets. Which means they may (and often will) never have the ticket you want. By the time the complaint went through, there were no coach seats, either (BTW).
As I'm a wannabe lawyer, I did some research into applicable case law. The courts have repeatedly found that all of the airlines can make any change to their programs that they want at any time without grandfathering. So if a trip might cost 20,000 points one day, they could change it to ten times that amount the very next day and you have zero recourse. They can even terminate you and all your points for NO REASON...
Despite advertising their policies, they can do anything they want. This applies to ALL loyalty programs. I've had similar things happen to me in the hotel business. It's a scam.
I suggest if you are going to be a member of these "loyalty programs" then you do two things: 1) Never pay for the privilege (eg don't pay to have their "credit card" or pay higher prices because you get mileage points.), 2) Never assume you are going to get what they promise... because in all likelihood you won't.
Please, this is first-hand advice from someone who has been loyal to one company/program for over twenty years. Heed it! read more