Good morning everyone, happy Fourth of July! I have this really weird habit where I book a new trip while currently on a trip. For example, I am currently in Orange County hanging out with my family this weekend, but I just made plans to visit Portland at the end of July with my brother. I spent a few minutes searching on Google Flights and found the perfect flight: San Francisco (SFO) to Portland (PDX) on Alaska Airlines. When I use the OnTheFly app (basically ITA Matrix in an app), I see that American Airlines has a codeshare flight for the SFO-PDX Alaska Airlines flight. (I took a bunch of screenshots on my iPhone while I was in the car, so please excuse the lame images.)
I logged into my Citi Thank You Points account and searched for the SFO-PDX flights from above. By narrowing down my search to specifically when I wanted to fly, I see the 2 exact flight options.
I have the Citi Prestige Credit Card which allows me to book American Airlines (and AA codeshare flights) for 1.6 cents per point (CPP). If I wanted to book the original Alaska Airlines flight, I would only get 1.33 CPP in value (and cost an extra 2,234 Citi Thank You Points).
Just to make sure I covered all my bases, I checked for Alaska Airlines award space using the Alaska Airlines app. Unfortunately, the SFO-PDX flight I wanted would cost 20,000 Alaska Airlines miles, making it a standard award seat (not a saver award seat), therefore not bookable with American Airlines miles or British Airways Avios.
This leads to my most recent dilemma. I was recently approved for the Bank of America Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card (along with 5 other credit cards from my recent App-O-Rama), and I need to spend $1,000 in 3 months to meet the minimum spending requirement and receive 30,000 Alaska Airlines miles. I could pay for the $176.10 Alaska Airlines flight using my new Alaska Airlines credit card, but I love redeeming Citi Thank You Points at 1.60 CPP (that is my ideal redemption for Citi Thank You Points). Since I have no elite status with American Airlines or Alaska Airlines, the amount of miles I will earn for a paid flight is going to be the same as a flight booked with Citi Thank You Points. If you were in my situation, what would you do?
Thank you for your feedback and have a great Fourth of July. Stay safe and travel safe everyone!
I’m for using the TY points. I regret not having the Prestige to get the 1.6 redemption rate, and otherwise do not value their partners at all BC I only have the premier. Mostly do to my lack of experience at codeshare redemptions.
Wish they would make AA a time regular partner or bring everybodys girlfriend British Airways into the fold.
Those flights are at a different time of day.
Oh wow, that’s embarrassing. Let me fix that soon. Great catch Joe!
Haha, no worries. I’ve totally done that exact same thing “…why are these prices different?? …oh” :)
Haha, glad I’m not the only one. Have a great Fourth of July!
Grant what is going on at iconsumer? Will we be cheated out of our rebates earned or is the site just messed up?
I’ve never used iConsuner, so I’m not sure what is going on. I’m a big fan on Ebates for online shopping :)
It took slightly longer then 3 months for my payout…
Dang, that’s not good, unless they are paying out quarterly now.