Fantastic Alaska Airline miles deal on again

[SandyS]

So just to clarify, if my American friend uses their credit card to pay for the miles on my Alaskan Airlines account, that will be ok? There's no T& C's to say this isn't allowed and subsequently wouldn't let me use the miles purchased? couldn't see anything.

 

[pmdg7444]

Yes, I'm afraid. All looks OK at the time of purchase, but get declined e-mail a day or so later.

I'm afraid this particular parrot is ..... dead ....

Don't give up hope everyone. If there's a will, there's a way!

 

[Limewood]

So just to clarify, if my American friend uses their credit card to pay for the miles on my Alaskan Airlines account, that will be ok? There's no T& C's to say this isn't allowed and subsequently wouldn't let me use the miles purchased? couldn't see anything.

Like to know the the answer to the above.

We have a number friends and a relo in USA & Canada who could buy miles but prefer to do it direct.

Update:
Got the dreaded email from AS this morning, no sale I'm afraid.

Since spoke to AS supervisor, yes folks unless you have USA or Canadian CC can't buy bonus miles.

So it looks like one will have to find that long lost friend or cousin.

 

[mlob]

So just to clarify, if my American friend uses their credit card to pay for the miles on my Alaskan Airlines account, that will be ok? There's no T& C's to say this isn't allowed and subsequently wouldn't let me use the miles purchased? couldn't see anything.

Im about to do the same. I'm hoping it works. My only concern is that they give an option for buying someone else miles on their site but you both have to be mileage plan members. I'm a little nervous.

 

[Limewood]

There is a limit as to how many AS miles can be transferred between accounts in a year think its 100K, AS charge to transfer too, not an option for most.

Looked at using our Paypal but its OZ too.

Wonder if I send the USD to my friends over there, they could buy miles with their CC and plant them in my AS account?.

or possibly get a USA direct debit card?

 

[SandyS]

Does the address on your Alaskan Airlines account need to be the same as the billing address on the credit card that's buying the miles for that account?

 

[ermen]

This is highly annoying.
Now can't double dip on the points i.e. buy points from AS and get credit card points too!

 

[Limewood]

Does the address on your Alaskan Airlines account need to be the same as the billing address on the credit card that's buying the miles for that account?

Don't know but would like to.

Also, if I had a USA VISA debit card how could it be topped up from OZ?, is it possible?.

 

[legroom]

Don't know but would like to.

Also, if I had a USA VISA debit card how could it be topped up from OZ?, is it possible?.

My BoA Debit Visa is linked to a cheque account.

It's a matter of wiring money into the cheque AC.

Takes 3-4 days sometimes

 

[Limewood]

My account is in OZ.

 

[vitagen]

Used my 28 deg card yesterday and it went through with money pending (avl credit decreased). No email from Alaskan yet. Fingers crossed.

 

[Limewood]

Used my 28 deg card yesterday and it went through with money pending (avl credit decreased). No email from Alaskan yet. Fingers crossed.

my Cc went through yesterday advised at 9.30am this morning by AS no go. This is all are finding.

 

[SandyS]

I don't understand why they've changed it to US citizens only. Don't they just want to sell their product? I for one, was going to visit friends in Seattle, so was going to end up buying AS seats for internal US travel. And it was such a lovely change dealing with the AS customer service people who are so helpful and pleasant.

 

[Limewood]

One can just imagine if an airline changed this in OZ without notification, would be drawn over the coals.

What I find annoying is they changed it mid stream like the current offer expires on 15th March, at least could have waited until next bonus.

Another possibility comes to mind, if we can still buy AS miles "without" the bonus? think about it.

40K AS miles is USD$1100 + small fees.

CX - SYD/HKG/SYD 60K AS miles @ approx AUD$2 grand in J.

or

CX - SYD/HKG/NYC/HKG/SYD 120K AS miles @ approx AUD$4 grand in J.

 

[SandyS]

Changing it mid stream, no notice given to existing Members and nothing on their website is a bit 'off' in my books. Plus my 28degrees cc still has the funds on hold because of my attempted purchase.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I don't think it has anything to do with the bonus period, it's simply you cant buy miles full stop with a foreign card.

They need to have a notice of this on the points.com transaction page, why keep stuffing people around

 

[anat0l]

They need to have a notice of this on the points.com transaction page, why keep stuffing people around

Because they are not affecting a large target demographic and the people they are annoying are the ones they want to prevent from purchasing anyway?

More seriously, noted point. It was unusual of them to kind of do the rug pull just out of nowhere. To be honest, I'd be surprised if it were a fraud thing (doubt it, after all, we have no trouble mostly when dealing with the other major North American carriers). I also harbour my doubts that this measure is to protect inventory for their "home" members (or those that bona fide fly AS); it's a dubious method if it were true.

 

[RooFlyer]

I don't understand why they've changed it to US citizens only. Don't they just want to sell their product? I for one, was going to visit friends in Seattle, so was going to end up buying AS seats for internal US travel. And it was such a lovely change dealing with the AS customer service people who are so helpful and pleasant.

No, its not "US citizens only". Please at least read the thread

They are limiting it to US, Canadian and (probably) Mexican issued credit (and I think debit) cards. This is quite common in North America - they can't be bothered (don't want to bear the additional cost) with the additional security / IT required for accepting cards from countries outside Nth America.

Doesn't mean I agree with it - I too am planning to use AS this year, as One World down the west coast is pretty hopeless.

Tomorrow (Monday my time) I'll know if I have succeeded in getting a Canadian debit card (I'm visiting Canada), with local addresses. And then I'll see if it works!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

but it is points.com who is responsible for the credit card transaction, not AS. And points.com do most of the big programs and never been an issue and still isn't AFAIK with AA miles purchases

 

[RooFlyer]

but it is points.com who is responsible for the credit card transaction, not AS. And points.com do most of the big programs and never been an issue and still isn't AFAIK with AA miles purchases

But surely points.com clients can specify whose cards are accepted for transactions on their goods and services? When I called AS, they specifically said that AS had brought the curtain down.