Upcoming Fee and Policy Changes to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Program - Effective 5 June 2018

in

My favourite frequent flyer program right now has got to be Alaska Airlines's Mileage Plan (even though I have not actually flown a single mile on Alaska Airlines before). The reason is very simple - the miles are simply worth a lot more and crediting the same revenue Business Class flights give me a whole lot more value. You might remember that these miles are also incredibly useful for traveling on Japan Airlines in Business Class and what a lot of people do not realise is that you are actually able to cancel your award tickets up to 60 days prior to departure but this is going to change on 5 June 2018.

Click HERE to read about all the upcoming changes to the Mileage Plan program!

Photo Credit: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Photo Credit: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

The most important policy update that is happening on 05 June 2018 is the change and cancellation charge - this used to be complimentary if your trip is more than 60 days before departure but starting from the aforementioned date, the change and cancellation fee will now be US$125. With that being said, if you are an MVP Gold or an MVP Gold 75K Mileage Plan member, these fees will not apply to you - you will not be required to pay a change or cancellation fee. 

Photo Credit: Alaska Airlines

Photo Credit: Alaska Airlines

Additionally, the 24-hour free cancellation policy will now only apply to tickets booked for travel starting 24 hours or more from the time of purchase. There will also be some updates to the same-day confirmed changes - starting from 5 June 2018, there will no longer be a 6-hour window requirement and you can request a same-day change at any time during check-in.

Featured
First Singapore Airlines A350-900 Medium Haul Aircraft Lands in Adelaide
First Singapore Airlines A350-900 Medium Haul Aircraft Lands in Adelaide

The first Airbus A350-900 medium haul aircraft from Singapore Airlines has just landed in Adelaide this morning at 8:15AM after its inaugural flight from Singapore. The aircraft entered into service as SQ279 and it will depart Adelaide for Singapore today at 10:45AM as SQ278. The A350-900 medium haul aircraft features the new regional Business Class and Economy Class cabin products that were recently launched on the airline's Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner fleet (check out the delivery flight of the first aircraft HERE!). This is also the first aircraft in the Singapore Airlines fleet to feature a Thales AVANT In-flight Entertainment System.

Trip Report: Qantas Business Class QF37 A330-300 - MEL to SIN (Melbourne to Singapore)
Trip Report: Qantas Business Class QF37 A330-300 - MEL to SIN (Melbourne to Singapore)

Having checked out the American Express Lounge and the Qantas International Business Lounge on my flight out to Auckland, I decided to head over to the relatively-new Plaza Premium Lounge here in the Melbourne Airport before my flight. While I did not expect to be won over by this lounge, it is now my favourite airport lounge in this airport - the space is beautiful, the food is decent and the quality of coffee is surprisingly good. Even though my previous flight on Qantas’ A380 in Business Class was rather unimpressive, I was really looking forward to this MEL-SIN flight on their flagship Business Class product.

SilkAir to Operate Daily Flights to Cairns from Singapore from 02 June 2019
SilkAir to Operate Daily Flights to Cairns from Singapore from 02 June 2019

The regional wing of Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, will be increasing flight frequency to Cairns, Australia from 02 June 2019. Two additional flights with the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft will be operated on Tuesdays and Sundays each week - this aircraft is fitted with 12 Business Class and 144 Economy Class seats.

Fly on Emirates Business Class from just S$2,879 - Book by 26 December 2018, Travel by 31 July 2019
Fly on Emirates Business Class from just S$2,879 - Book by 26 December 2018, Travel by 31 July 2019

To celebrate the end of yet another great year, Emirates is offering great fares in Business Class to a range of destinations. From now until 26 December 2018, book all-inclusive Business Class fares from Singapore for travel between 19 December 2018 to 31 July 2019 from just S$2,879.

Trip Report: Singapore Airlines Business Class SQ833 A380-800 - PVG to SIN (Shanghai to Singapore)
Trip Report: Singapore Airlines Business Class SQ833 A380-800 - PVG to SIN (Shanghai to Singapore)

My flight from Shanghai to Singapore was on a relatively new plane (9V-SKU) and as you would imagine, the Business Class cabin features the new cabin products. The Business Class seats have 55" of seat pitch and 30" of seat width - this is fairly similar to what the previous Business Class product on the A380-800 offers but strangely enough, I know a handful of people who actually prefer the previous product for sleeping. Read more about my Business Class experience now!

Lounge Review: No.77 China Eastern Plaza Premium Lounge - Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Lounge Review: No.77 China Eastern Plaza Premium Lounge - Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

Located in Terminal 2 of the Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), the No.77 China Eastern Plaza Premium Lounge is the world's first co-branded lounge and it offers 180-degree views of the airport runway. As a Business Class passenger traveling on Singapore Airlines, I had access to the Air China Business Class Lounge but having been to the Air China First Class Lounge in PEK, I was slightly discouraged to check out the Air China lounge so I decided to take my American Express Platinum Card to the No.77 China Eastern Plaza Premium Lounge instead.

It's Not Alaska Airlines, It's Royal Air Maroc - New Oneworld Member from Mid-2020
It's Not Alaska Airlines, It's Royal Air Maroc - New Oneworld Member from Mid-2020

Contrary to speculations in the industry, the latest airline to join oneworld is not Alaska Airlines but Royal Air Maroc instead. The airline is expected to be implemented into oneworld in the middle of 2020 and it will start flying alongside some of the biggest and best brands in the airline business.

Trip Report: Qantas Business Class QF36 A380-800 - SIN to MEL (Singapore to Melbourne)
Trip Report: Qantas Business Class QF36 A380-800 - SIN to MEL (Singapore to Melbourne)

By switching to Qantas, I was able to travel in a 2-2-2 cabin (which is not great but probably better than Emirates’ 2-3-2 layout) and more importantly, I managed to cut my layover in Melbourne Airport down to 6 hours from 13 hours. The A380 Business Class product on Qantas is probably one of the most lacklustre cabin products that I have ever taken.

Air New Zealand Offers Free Wi-Fi on All Enabled Flights This Summer
Air New Zealand Offers Free Wi-Fi on All Enabled Flights This Summer

Air New Zealand is rolling out Wi-Fi connectivity across its international network and the service is now available on four of its Boeing 777-300 aircraft and five of its Boeing 777-200 aircraft - these aircraft predominantly operate the airline’s trans-Tasman, US and London routes. In celebration of summer and the upcoming Christmas season, the airline will be offering complimentary Wi-Fi from 01 December 2019 to 28 February 2019.

Sofitel Brings Signature MyBed Product to Hainan Airlines' Business Class
Sofitel Brings Signature MyBed Product to Hainan Airlines' Business Class

Sofitel has partnered Hainan Airlines to bring the collection of signature Sofitel MyBed products to the carrier's Business Class. Passengers traveling in the premium cabin can now experience the luxurious Sofitel MyBed in the sky. The Hainan Airlines partnership will take its ‘Hai Dream’ on-board sleep experience to greater heights with Sofitel’s signature bedding that includes a waist cushion, full-size pillows, duvet, bed sheet, feather topper and blanket. Made with patented technology of the highest thread count, the duvet cover, pillowcase and bed sheet collection features the airline’s latest Dream Feather design.