1 Virgin America Point = 1.3 Alaska Miles, 1 SPG = 1.625 Alaska

Virgin America and Alaska Airlines have merged.

Starting January 9, 2017, you can link your Alaska Mileage Plan and Virgin America Elevate accounts. Then you can transfer 1 Virgin America points to 1.3 Alaska miles.

That is almost exactly the fair ratio in my opinion.

You Can Now Redeem Alaska Miles on Japan Airlines (For Cheap!)

Alaska Airlines partnered up with Japan Airlines (JAL) back in May of this year. Just last week Alaska published their prices for redeeming Alaska miles on JAL flights between the continental United States and Asia, Southeast Asia, and intra-Asia.

Here are the prices in Alaska miles to fly Japan Airlines from the continental United States:

In this case Alaska defines "Asia" as Japan, South Korea, and India, and "Southeast Asia" as Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, China, and Tawain.

JAL obviously flies other places but only those redemption rates for US <>

Big Trip Idea: Hawaii, Fiji, Aus, Philippines, Doha in 1st Class

Nothing cries out for a BIG trip idea like a few weeks with nowhere to be.

I'm considering going from Hawaii to Croatia from mid-February to mid-March.

Combine Alaska Awards on Hainan & Two Hilton Card Offers For (Almost Free) Trip to Asia

 

Hainan Airlines partnered with Alaska Airlines earlier this year, and their flights are now bookable on alaskaair.com. Their award chart is dirt cheap.

That's right, 50,000 miles one way in a flat bed for over 13 hours, with connections all over Asia. The only other deal that can compare is using Alaska miles to book Cathay Pacific flights for the same amount of miles and a little less out of pocket expenses (Hainan charges mild fuel surcharges-- about $140 per one way).

5 Underpriced Awards on Obscure Award Charts

With the proliferation of transferable points like Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, and Starwood Preferred Guest Starpoints, Americans have access to cheap awards through tons of foreign programs.

Here are five underpriced awards on foreign award charts and how to get the miles needed to book the awards.
1. Singapore Awards Between Hawaii and the Americas
Singapore Airlines puts Hawaii and Central America--you know, those two places that are thousands of miles apart--into one region.

5 Gorgeous Destinations, 5 Cheap Mileage Prices

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard® 60,000 mile offer has expired. Check out the current best credit card offers here.

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Feeling spontaneous? You should be. You collect miles and points, which means you have the ability to fly all over the world without having to spend tons of hard earned money.

Where to Credit Butt in Seat Miles: Flying American Airlines

Update 6/30/2016: Alaska Airlines is changing the way you accrue redeemable Alaska miles when flying partner American Airlines for travel beginning August 1, 2016 to a

Flying American Airlines Will Earn Less Alaska Miles as of August 1, 2016

Alaska Airlines is changing the way you accrue redeemable Alaska miles when flying partner American Airlines for travel beginning August 1, 2016. The number of Alaska Mileage plan miles you will earn for flying American will be based on a percentage of the distance flown, determined by the fare class.

Reader Story: Part 2– Application Day

I have a friend who, after about five months off from applying for any new cards, decided to give it another go recently. He is writing a series for MileValue on his experience. Below is Part 2: applying for the Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and the British Airways Visa Signature® Card, as well as the Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card and the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business Card

by Bank of America.

Where to Credit Butt in Seat Miles: Flying Delta Air Lines

In light of the news that American Airlines is changing to a revenue-based award earning structure, and the fact that all three major US carriers now abide by a revenue-based award earning structure, I am writing a series of posts about when and where you should diversify the award miles you earn through paying for airfare.