How I Flew for Free: Transcontinental Flight for a Wedding With Alaska Airlines Miles

Rosemarie ClancyJan 11, 2019
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

This fan of Alaska Airlines used miles to get from New Jersey to San Diego for a family wedding.

The cardholder

Name: Tanner Caterina-Knorr Age: 29 Occupation: Business owner Home: Hoboken, New Jersey Credit card: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card

The trip

Route: Round trip from Newark Liberty International Airport to San Diego International Airport Dates of travel: June 15 - 17, 2018 Airline: Alaska Airlines Class of service: Premium class

Q: Did you visit a lounge at the airport?

A: No.

Q: Did you travel alone or with someone?

A: Yes, we went to San Diego for my cousin’s wedding, so it was definitely a fun time with family.

The card and loyalty program

Q: What card/loyalty program did you use to get a free trip?

A: I used the Alaska Mileage Plan with points earned from my Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card.

» Learn More: Find the best airline credit card for you

Q: How long were you a member at that time?

A: Four years.

Q: How long were you planning/saving for this trip?

A: Six months.

Q: What's your favorite perk of this card/program?

A: The points add up quickly with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card because I earn miles on all purchases. I also use Alaska Airlines for many of my flights and there are bonus miles for flights booked with Alaska. I also like the annual companion fare. Once a year with the Alaska credit card, you have the ability to book a companion fare for $99 when you buy another ticket for the same flight.

Redemption and booking

Q: Did you take advantage of promotions while earning points for this trip?

A: No.

Q: How did you book?

A: On Alaska Airline’s website.

Q: How many miles did this cost?

A: 40,000 miles.

» Learn more:

Q: Did you book in conjunction with a promotion or deal?

A: No.

Q: Any upgrades?

A: We upgraded to premium class for the leg room, free drinks and entertainment.

What’s up next?

We are saving for an international trip next time — potentially Japan!

Photo via Tanner Caterina-Knorr.

How to Maximize Your Rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2021, including those best for:

Planning a trip? Check out these articles for more inspiration and advice: How I flew for free: Miles to the rescue for a family emergency How I flew for free: Round trip NYC to India using Chase Ultimate Rewards How I flew business class to Bangkok with my family for free