Alaska Mileage Plan, the loyalty programme of recently-enlisted oneworld alliance member Alaska Airlines, has made its first significant programme shift since joining the partnership, with the announcement that earning and redemption for its members on Emirates flights will soon be discontinued.
From 31st July 2021, it will no longer be possible to book award space on Emirates flights using Alaska miles, however you can still book tickets up to the end of the available schedule if you wish, up to 330 days in advance.
“Our partnership with Emirates will end July 31, 2021. Changes made to a booked award on Emirates on or after August 1, 2021, will require cancellation of the award and re-booking on a different Alaska Airlines partner.”
This ends a a nine-year partnership between the two airlines, but for most of our readers the impact isn’t too substantial.
Emirates awards using Alaska miles are poor value
There’s not much lost here – redemptions on Emirates flights using Alaska miles are simply poor value, since the redemption chart was devalued with no warning in March 2016. The move included up to 80% increases in miles needed overnight, and it didn’t go down well with members.
Redeeming Emirates First Class from Singapore to New York, for example, went from 100,000 Alaska miles to 180,000 Alaska miles, without any notice.
Most Singapore-based member