Negative Alaska Companion Pass Changes
One of the best perks of the Atmos Rewards Ascent and Atmos Rewards Visa Signature Business Cards is their companion pass. For $99, plus taxes and fees, holders of the companion pass can bring a second traveler with them on their Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines itinerary. But, according to this Reddit post by Big-Faithlessness334, multi-city booking is no longer possible. Let's check out what negative Alaska companion pass changes have happened, and what impacts it might have for Alaska flyers.
Alaska Makes Changes To Its Companion Fare
The companion fare is available as a part of the welcome bonus for the Alaska credit cards, and can be earned each anniversary year if you spend $6,000 on the card. Here are some other key details of companion fares:
- Companion fares are valid on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines on North American itineraries, including Hawaii. They are not redeemable on Alaska's new transcontinental flights or Hawaiian's Pacific destinations.
- You can only book economy fares, but they are upgradeable if you have Alaska status or upgrade certificates.
- All economy fares are eligible, but award flights are not.
- The holder of the companion fare do not need to be flying on the itinerary, meaning they can book for others.
- Wallet funds no longer work on companion fares
- Valid on roundtrip and one-way fares.
The rules are pretty generous, and it's nice that all economy fares are eligible to be used with the companion fares.
Companion Pass Changes That Affect Flyers
While many of you may not normally book a multi-city itinerary, there are some real world implications of the changes to the companion fare. The biggest one I can see is for Hawaiian vacations. Many travel to Hawaii and visit multiple islands on their trip. Using the companion fare for an itinerary that travels from the mainland to Honolulu, hops to Maui on Hawaiian Airlines, and then travels home from Maui, would have been possible in the past. Now, you must return home from the same Hawaiian island that you arrived at.
The same applies to those who prefer open-jaw itineraries. Maybe you flew from New York to Los Angeles on Alaska Airlines, stopped over for a few days, and then continued on to a Hawaiian island. That was possible under the old companion fare rules, but no longer.
Alaska Companion Pass Changes: ToP Thoughts
It's a shame that the companion pass has declined a bit since the unveiling of Atmos Rewards. It's great that they are useable on Hawaiian flights now. But, losing the ability to book multi-city and open jaw itineraries stings a bit. Plus, Alaska's route map is expanding to new international destinations. Companion fares won't get you everywhere in Alaska's network like they used to. Let us know if these negative Alaska companion pass changes are a deal breaker for you over in the ToP Facebook Group.
