Alaska Airlines companion Cert. to Maui

[Brogers92026 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Brogers92026]

Hi,

I live in San Diego and one of the few non-stop flights to Maui (OGG) is with Alaska Airlines. Someone told me about their VISA card companion certificate. Apparently, if you have their VISA card (I think it is the one that costs around $85 a yeart) that you can buy one ticket and get the second (companion) ticket for $99 or $100.

Has anyone used the Alaska companion fare? Are there any catches? Or rather "WHAT" are the catches?

I'm wondering if either they jack up the price of the regular fare so that the $100 companion fare isn't that great of a deal. Or I'm wondering if you can only book the companion fare for some of the flights and not the more desireable non-stop flights. Interval International has a Platinum companion program and it isn't really much of a deal.

I would appreciate any first-hand information that you can offer.

[kennyw Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kennyw]

I use the companion fare every year. With extra charges the companion fare is usually around $180 or so. The best part is it is the same whether you are flying coach or first class. I have noticed the fares are slightly higher when you use the companion fare but not enough to make a big difference. I say go for it.
Edit... forgot to say we are flying to Kona next month first class thanks to the companion fare.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Hi,

I live in San Diego and one of the few non-stop flights to Maui (OGG) is with Alaska Airlines. Someone told me about their VISA card companion certificate. Apparently, if you have their VISA card (I think it is the one that costs around $85 a yeart) that you can buy one ticket and get the second (companion) ticket for $99 or $100.

Has anyone used the Alaska companion fare? Are there any catches? Or rather "WHAT" are the catches?

I'm wondering if either they jack up the price of the regular fare so that the $100 companion fare isn't that great of a deal. Or I'm wondering if you can only book the companion fare for some of the flights and not the more desireable non-stop flights. Interval International has a Platinum companion program and it isn't really much of a deal.

I would appreciate any first-hand information that you can offer.

It's a great deal. No catches at all.

The way it works for us is that I get a discount code that shows up in my MyAlaskaAir.com account. I just make any reservation I want for two people and apply the code. I see all of the same fares I would see as if I were booking without the code - absolutely no difference at all. But when I make the reservation, the second ticket has a base fare of $99, no matter what the fare is for the other ticket.

If there are "hooks" it would be:

1. the $99 fare applies only to the base fare. Taxes and fees added to the base fare are not discounted.

2. The itinerary for both travelers must be identical. For example, as an Alaska Airlines MVP I can upgrade to first class on a space available basis. When traveling on a companion fare I can't upgrade one accommodation to first class using my FF perks unless I pay extra to upgrade my companion as well.

The $99 companion fare is a great deal, and it's value increases with the value of the base fare. Use it for expensive fares, and you will easily recover the annual cost of the credit card. I have two Alaska Airlines VISA cards so I can generate two $99 tickets per year.

[Brogers92026 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Brogers92026]

Thanks

Thanks for the responses to my post.

Sounds like financially it is a good choice.

Although not specifically mentioned, it also sounds like you have the same full access to all Alaska flights as you would have regularly.

Thanks again.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Thanks for the responses to my post.

Sounds like financially it is a good choice.

Although not specifically mentioned, it also sounds like you have the same full access to all Alaska flights as you would have regularly.

Thanks again.

Yes with the notable exception that the cert cannot be used on any flight that is a codeshare. The cert can only be used only on itineraries where all legs of the flight are operated by Alaska/Horizon.

[bevvy5 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bevvy5]

It's a great deal. We usually fly to Hawaii one way using FF miles and back using the companion certificate.

[kennyw Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kennyw]

It's a great deal. We usually fly to Hawaii one way using FF miles and back using the companion certificate.

Never thought of that.

[akparsa Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close akparsa]

Make sure you find the best available bonus for signup

I think the best current public bonus for getting the card is 25K miles.

I have read that it is possible to call and ask for a 35K bonus which was widely available last year, but I have not tried this myself.

I'm not sure if this was mentioned upthread, but I think the companion cert is good on any fare class.

Anita

[easyrider Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close easyrider]

We have two of these Alaska Airlines Signature cards and use the companion tickets every year. It was a better deal in the past at $50.00. If you add the $99 companion ticket fee to the $85 yearly fee it wouldn't make sence to get it for cheap flights, imo, but it does save a few hundred on longer flights.

I thought you would a get double mile bonus when you use your Alaska Air Signature Card to purchase tickets at Alaska Airlines plus the flight milage to add to your miles program.