Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (Full Version)

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lgw -> Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/29/2008 6:00:01 PM)

I'm wondering if anyone has experience using a $50 companion ticket issued by Alaska Airlines?  If you have their credit card, you apparently receive (each year), one $50 companion ticket to be used with a regular flight.

Anyone used one?  My specific question is that I have heard when you check the cost of the flight just for 1 passenger as normal, there is one price.  When you plug in the discount code for the companion ticket (as the 2nd passenger), the regular fare increases substantially.

Experiences?  Comments?

Thx,
lgw



bick404 -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/29/2008 7:04:38 PM)

I use mine every year, never had that problem. You can look up your fare then add the companion ticket for your companion.
It's a great deal for us, the only way we can afford to get from Alaska to the Riveria Maya.



sand_sun -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/29/2008 8:19:37 PM)

I use my companion ticket every year. It makes getting to Cancun from Montana affordable.



Alaskan Tanner -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/29/2008 8:32:53 PM)

We use it every third year to go to Akumal..........air miles the other two years. As I remember it, the "companion" fare actually just deducts up to $250 from your second ticket. From Alaska that is less than a 1/3 reduction, but anything helps. The first fare has never increased when we used the companion fare.



HhowieE -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/29/2008 9:46:39 PM)

HHhhmmm.........never noticed any upcharge, ever.
Have been an Alaskan fan for a few years, the $50 tix was a gimme I think.
Use the card alla time for points, use the companion fare and Bob's yer Uncle.
Hey............if'n I send you an invite to use the card I get 5000 airmiles.
We could make a trade......wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
I sure could use the miles........................buddy!
I happen to know where you could use your half of the trade.

Salud,
Ron



greekbeachgirl -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/29/2008 10:49:43 PM)

we used the $50.00 ticket for our last vacation to bring my son and daughter to ABR..and are planning on using it for ourselves next trip....



lgw -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/29/2008 11:17:45 PM)

Great news to hear...sounds like some happy customers.  At $75 for the card, it seems like a no-brainer!?!?  I had only heard thru the grapevine that the fare increased so glad to hear it's all good...

Sorry Howie, as much as I'd like to cut a deal with ya, we've already got a "sponser" - thats why I'm checkin' out the goods!!

Safe travels!
lgw



debbi -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/30/2008 12:10:29 PM)

I have a question for those who have used the companion ticket....do you have to purchase a ticket to use it, or can you use miles for one ticket and then use it for the 2nd?

Thanks....Debbi [;)]



hoodoo99 -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/30/2008 12:18:00 PM)

I booked our family of 4 using 2 companion fares and it just adds the $50 plus the taxes for the companion.  We applied for 2 alaska credit cards so we could each book one of the kids for the $50 ticket.  I think it's a great deal!  We're arriving in November for 11 days.

It is much better than air miles programs where seats are hard to find, since they don't limit you as long as there are enough seats.  It might be that if you booked a super discounted fare that you wouldn't be eligible for the companion fare, but I didn't run into any problems and picked one of the cheapest fares I could find on Alaska's web site.  I check through other discount travel sites, and the prices on Alaska's site were the same price as those.

Cheers!



debbi -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/30/2008 1:01:25 PM)

Has anyone booked miles and used the companion ticket for the 2nd one?



lgw -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/30/2008 2:47:34 PM)

Deb,  In digging around on the Alaska website, I have found out that you cannot use award points for 1 ticket and the $50 companion ticket for the 2nd.  Right now (in Canada), they have a promo for 20,000 points when you sign up so we thought to get 2 cards (me and husand) so each of us get the promo points and use the $50x2 companion discounts for the kids...NO GO!!!

When using the companion ticket, the 1st fare has to be a regular paying fare.

Hoodoo, I like your idea of the 2 cards...that's what we were thinking so we could get 2 companion tickets for the kids.  Even at $75 per card/yr, its still a good deal!!

lgw



debbi -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/30/2008 2:55:26 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: lgw

Deb,  In digging around on the Alaska website, I have found out that you cannot use award points for 1 ticket and the $50 companion ticket for the 2nd.  Right now (in Canada), they have a promo for 20,000 points when you sign up so we thought to get 2 cards (me and husand) so each of us get the promo points and use the $50x2 companion discounts for the kids...NO GO!!!

When using the companion ticket, the 1st fare has to be a regular paying fare.

Hoodoo, I like your idea of the 2 cards...that's what we were thinking so we could get 2 companion tickets for the kids.  Even at $75 per card/yr, its still a good deal!!

lgw


I was kind of thinking you couldn't use miles and companion together, but yes the 20,000 miles bonus sign up has been going for quite awhile, we also have the Alaska Airlines debit card, you earn 1 mile for every $2.00 spent, I use it for groceries, gas etc...., you wouldn't believe how fast the miles add up even on that.  Thanks for the info :o)



ST -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/30/2008 6:20:28 PM)

I used one a couple of years ago.  We bought 1 ticket and used miles to upgrade to first then used the companion ticket.  The cost for the first ticket didn't go up.  However now, we have to use miles to upgrade both to first.  You can't use the cheap flights (budget) it has to be regular fare.  I figure you need to use it for an expensive trip, not a short one.  I am looking for flights now and it will depend on the basic costs to see if I take AA or Alaska.



lgw -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/31/2008 9:03:54 AM)

quote:

You can't use the cheap flights (budget) it has to be regular fare.


ST, So you don't think you can use it on "hot deals' or "bargain" fares?  I know I can easily give them a call but it's way more fun to sit at the laptop!!

Thanks,
lgw



ST -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/31/2008 4:05:42 PM)

No, I don't think you can use them on budget fares.  I think the 2 fares costs us under 700.00 with all taxes, etc.  It might have been less, but for the long flights like this that was really good - I thought.  Even now the fares (the last time I checked) were around 800.00 or 900.00 for 2.  I am watching close.  I am looking for fares in late January - early Feb.  So if you have to buy one ticket for 450.00 and the other is 50 plus taxes etc so say 100.00 you still are saving 350.00.  that buys lots of beer and margaritis!



lgw -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (5/31/2008 7:54:17 PM)

quote:

So if you have to buy one ticket for 450.00 and the other is 50 plus taxes etc so say 100.00 you still are saving 350.00. that buys lots of beer and margaritis!


I agree 100%!!!

thx,
lgw



nettie -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (6/1/2008 2:11:06 AM)

I booked my ticket from Victoria, BC to cancun for this coming Feb and the "budget or maybe even hot deals" was the price I got. Hubby gets to use my companion ticket and we will be able to afford 10 days in paradise. $880 USD total for both of us. Yippee.



lgw -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (6/1/2008 11:12:46 AM)

quote:

$880 USD total for both of us.


Nettie - thats a GREAT price from BC to Cancun...well done!!  Especially in Feb.  Good to know that you were allowed to book the value fare...

lgw



nettie -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (6/1/2008 11:40:17 AM)

yeah LGW,  I am so glad I did not drag my feet! Its not even a bad flight really. One stopover in Seattle that is only a couple hours.  I am going to Vegas this week on another $50 companion ticket. Booked it a few months ago for cheap cheap. The card is worth it. Remember that it takes aabout 6 weeks to get alll the points/$50 ticket on your acct so don't delay. And FOR sure get the 20,000 free sign up points for Alaska canadian Mastercard. That gave me a free my vegas trip  last year.



lgw -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (6/1/2008 11:57:26 AM)

Nettie,

yep, the card seems worth it...a question - the card gives you a companion fare each anniversary year.  does it expire after 1 yr or can you "save" them up and use 2 at once (1 for each paying fare)?

my guess is that it's good for only 1 yr and expires...

thx, lgw



ST -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (6/1/2008 3:15:25 PM)

don't mean to butt in, but you are right.  the ticket expires each year, so it pays to use it especially now with all the extra charges that are being added on.



lgw -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (6/1/2008 3:24:26 PM)

No problem buttin' in ST - thx for the answer!

lgw



debbi -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (6/1/2008 5:30:35 PM)

One more question.  You know how you can use miles to purchase a ticket for someone else?  Can you use the companion ticket to purchase a 2nd ticket if you were buying tickets for two people?  I do know that if you qualify for a companion pass on Alaska you can only transfer it to someone else two or three times a year...I think.

Debbi [;)]



lgw -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (6/1/2008 6:00:33 PM)

quote:

I do know that if you qualify for a companion pass on Alaska you can only transfer it to someone else two or three times a year...I think.


Don't I only get 1 per year and then it expires?

lgw



ST -> RE: Alaska Airlines "Companion Ticket" (6/1/2008 7:01:05 PM)

here again,  you have to buy one ticket then you can use the companion on anyone else you choose.  I do not belive you can give the companion to anyone else to use unless you purchase one of the tickets.  I tried giving my companion to my daughter and a friend, but in order to use it I had to buy the tickets then get paid back by them.  Not bad since I used the credit card and got miles for it. 

I am waiting to see how strick they get with the companion ticket with what is happening with gas prices, etc.



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