Lazy Points of the Week
Story of the week
Alaska Airlines has announced some major changes to its loyalty program, and it’s great news if you want to earn airline elite status without spending a lot of money.
Qualifying for elite status with Alaska is based on Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs). Generally speaking, you earn at least 1 EQM per flight mile travelled on flights booked via Alaska (although it’s a bit complicated). The big news, though, is that you will now earn 1 EQM per mile travelled even on award flights, even with Alaska’s partners. You can also earn 1 EQM for each $3 spend on the Alaska credit card, and 1 EQM for each $3 spend with Alaska’s non-airline partners.
The lowest level of elite status, MVP, requires earning 20,000 EQMs, and the next level, MVP Gold, requires 40,000. In addition to the elite tiers, Alaska is adding milestone rewards, so you can start earning perks like 750 bonus miles, MVP status for a trip, or a free pre-ordered meal at just 10,000 EQMs.
MVP status includes access to upgrades on both Alaska and American Airlines, and in 2025 MVP status will include an upgrade for a traveling companion when flying Alaska. I have received three first class upgrades (one on Alaska and two on AA) on my last four transatlantic flights since getting MVP status thanks to Bilt, although with MVP status now so much easier to earn, it may be less valuable going forward.
How easy to earn? If you earn a lot of Bilt points, you could transfer them to Alaska and book one single award trip that covers enough distance to earn you MVP status in one fell, free swoop (ThePointsGuy suggests flying to Malaysia for 82k points). Or you could take a couple free trips (e.g. Global Getaways: Athens and Taipei for 25k miles each). If you pay rent via Bilt with the Alaska card, you could earn thousands of EQMs from your rent payments, and then use the miles to book award flights and earn more EQMs.
Alaska status is quite useful and valuable, and the opportunity to earn it just by paying rent and earning award flights to far-flung destinations is a very appealing proposition.
Positive developments for lazy travelers
Nothing too exciting this week, but if you don’t mind some spam in your promotions box, you can sign up for promotional emails from United Cruises for a chance to win 1,000,000 United miles.
Other card and points news
Free pet telehealth care for Amex Platinum holders. If you have an Amex Platinum card, you should also have Walmart+, given that the Platinum comes with a statement credit that covers the cost of that service. And that service just got a little more valuable for pet owners, as a Walmart+ membership now includes access to Pawp. Pawp is a 24/7 telehealth vet service, and members have access to unlimited virtual visits with licensed veterinarians for up to six pets. This is a great way to handle minor issues that might not warrant a full vet visit and without incurring those costs.
Fly to Europe with the TAP credit card. TAP is currently offering 58k miles as a sign-up bonus; the amount of miles it takes to fly from almost any US airport serviced by TAP to almost any of the airline’s European destinations. This isn’t the best card in the world, and—as you’ll see below—there are better sign up offers out there. But if the TAP card does make sense for you, now’s a great time to get it.
Sign-up bonus of the week
Until October 23rd, Delta has elevated offers on its premium co-branded Amex cards. This includes a best-ever 80,000 miles on the entry level Gold card after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months. With Delta regularly offering fare sales from across the US to Europe and Asia for under 40k miles round-trip (factoring in the 15% discount on Delta award flights for cardholders), this one card could net you two tickets to a dream destination abroad. It’s also a great card even after the annual fee kicks in (it’s waived for the first year).
Delta’s higher-end Amex cards are great as well, but starting with those cards might limit you ability to maximize your welcome offers due to Amex rules keeping you from earning a bonus on a lower-end card once you’ve had a more premium version.
Previous winners with offers still available:
•5 free nights on the World of Hyatt card (ends 10/31)
•60,000 points + a $300 travel credit on the Chase Sapphire Preferred
•125,000 points on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
•60,000 points and a free night on the Marriott Bonvoy Bold
Lazy tip of the week
Going.com (the travel deal alert subscription that got us $138 tickets to Chile) has this great article about finding the best seat on an airplane.
I would only add that I personally never book the first row of any cabin. I made this mistake recently on an American Airlines flight when I got upgraded pre-flight to a Main Cabin Extra seat. I chose the first row of MCE and immediately regretted it when I was greeted with these big barriers between the seats that made them very cramped and uncomfortable–I wanted to go back to my 14th-row economy seat. I have almost always regretted picking the first row after first class, after a lavatory, etc., so now I avoid them every time.
