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The summer has been slipping away, and now that it is September I have an update as to my search for another carrier to fly and complete status on. Per my previous post I have been looking for another airline and reward program instead of Delta’s SkyMiles program. I’ve been an elite with Delta for a long time, but I’m interested trying another airline that has a more lucrative frequent flyer program. I figured I had until next year to make this change as I planned on finishing with Delta as a diamond at the end of this year. While I’ve been doing some research on other frequent flyer programs, a number of promotions came out this summer, as well as some industry news that ended up affecting my flying for the next 18 months.
Alaska is acquiring Virgin America
Item 1. Alaska Airlines announce it would be acquiring Virgin America.
I have always liked “Virgin” airline products and in the past had even considered flying Virgin America for their highest status level, Elevate Gold, but a couple issues prevented me from doing this. Virgin America’s elite program is revenue based and hadn’t been that competitive or rewarding. They’re also based out of San Francisco and getting to that airport takes some extra effort for Sacramento based flyer.
Things changed when Alaska Airlines announced they would be acquiring Virgin America. This of course meant that Virgin America was going to have a limited number of days going forward. At the same time, Virgin America has been offering a pretty easy status match program for Elevate Gold. Because of these events, I decided to apply for Virgin America’s Elevate match this summer. I’ve already completed the challenge for Elevate Gold and will update the details in a subsequent post.
Why would I be flying an airline and rewards program that will be going away? My logic is that this will be probably the last chance to do so. I’ve always been fascinated by Virgin America as a new era carrier and wanted to buy and observe the product while it’s still around.
Item 2. JetBlue offered a ridiculously generous point match program.
JetBlue was in a competition with Alaska Airlines to purchase Virgin America. Alaska Airlines won, and JetBlue was left at the altar. Trying to even the score JetBlue has offered a few promotions specifically aimed at Virgin America flyers, including this one in June.
JetBlue summer point match promotion
Essentially JetBlue matched the point balance in a person’s Virgin America Elevate account up 75,000 points. You also needed to complete a JetBlue round trip by August 31st. This was such an easy promotion the participation rate ended up being much higher than JetBlue anticipated. JetBlue also made the mistake of not verifying how the Virgin America Elevate point balance was accumulated. Instant transfers from a Starwood Account’s also ended up as being allowed (oops). In any case, because I was already pursuing gold status with Virgin America’s Elevate program, I was more than eligible.
Item 3: Southwest Airlines offers an incredible deal for the companion pass through 2017
Southwest Airlines offered this generous deal for the companion pass through 2017 by flying 5 California round trips with them by October 31st. Again, I couldn’t pass this offer up either. I already was planning on 3 business flights with Southwest this fall, so for 2 additional roundtrips I could have the companion pass. I’ve always wanted to try the Southwest companion pass, but the 100 flight requirement was too much given my schedule. This easy promotion does work for me, and Susan and I will more than make up the cost for the additional flights by using the pass next year.
Southwest’s California companion pass offer
Item 4: Surf Air Trial Run
Surf who? This unusual little airline called and offered a me the chance to experience their product at the “old rate” of $500 for a round trip. I really find this carrier and their service model interesting so again, I couldn’t pass on the offer. The new rate for a round trip as a one-time trial is $1,000, and so I wanted to get in at the less expensive old rate. I’ll update you on my experience with this regional airline at a later date.
Surf Air test flight
So there it is. I was expecting to finish this year mostly flying Delta. My plan was to achieve Diamond Status for a final elite year with Delta, and then all these offers and promotions came up. Truth be told, I’m seriously considering holding back on diamond level, and instead rolling over a large chunk of Delta MQM miles for 2017 for one additional year of platinum level (in 2018). This would give me two more years to use six regional upgrade certificates and a few hundred thousand Delta miles. I would also have time from now through 2017 to experience Virgin America as an Elevate Gold member and the Southwest Companion Pass.
I was sitting with Susan and explaining my flying strategy for the next couple years. She attentively listened and then said “I know you’ve also worked out how that I can maintain my Alaska status by getting 15,000 more flight miles with them.” “I sure have” I bluffed, but in reality I have no idea how to fit all this in. “Clue me in when you have it figured out” she said smiling as she walked away. “One thing’s for sure” I thought to myself; “I’m absolutely not doing another promotion.”
