Cracking the partner airline code to save big $$$
Same flight, same seat — half the points.
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Hey friends! Mary Ellen here. Dreaming of a tropical Caribbean getaway? Or maybe a trip to Florida for a dose of warm sunshine? What if I told you the best place to book your flight could be through Alaska Airlines? You might say, "Mary Ellen, you're crazy," and that would be true — BUT, when it comes to booking a great points deal, I'm actually onto something!
I've never once flown on an Alaska Airlines plane, but I've booked at least 10 flights through its Atmos rewards program to warm, sunny locales. When I flew business class to St. Kitts last spring break, I booked through Alaska for a killer deal on American Airlines. How does that work? Read on and I'll share all the details!
Points and miles tip of the week
Getting the best deal with points and miles often means taking advantage of airline alliances and partner airlines. Sure, you can book directly with an airline using points, but you may get a much better deal booking through one of its partners.
One example I'm seeing right now: On American Airlines, you can book a flight from D.C. to Jacksonville, Fla., for 8,000 miles, plus taxes and fees. But that exact same flight booked on Alaska Airlines' website is 4,500 points, and you can even find business class seats for only 9,000 — yes, practically the same price as if you booked directly with American. This doesn't always work, but for shorter domestic flights under 700 miles, it's a sweet spot for sure!
A few important things to know:
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Flight options vary.Partner airlines don't have access to every flight. You'll often only see "saver" award space, and these can require advance planning (11–12 months out) or last-minute searching.
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Watch out for hidden costs. Sometimes you'll find a better deal using points, but the taxes and fees will be much higher, so you'll need to decide whether you prefer to save your rewards or save cash out of pocket.
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No backsies.Never transfer points from your bank to a partner airline until you've confirmed that the award space is actually available. Once you move those points, there's no way to transfer them back to the bank!
TLDR:You can often get the best points and miles deals by booking through your preferred carrier's partner airlines. For short domestic trips, search Alaska Airlines for American Airlines flights. For international voyages, the savings could be even more massive — snagging a premium Delta One seat via Virgin Atlantic feels incredible!
Listen to the Wonderland on Points podcast
In this episode: Did someone say St. Kitts? Want inspiration for your own Caribbean escape? Check out Episode 105 of Wonderland On Points.
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