# Alaska 2026 Chart Surgery: West Coast Breakeven Shifts

Riley Quinn · August 16, 2026

> On March 1, 2026, the math changes for every West Coast traveler hoarding points.

| Takeaway | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Alaska Airlines is raising Seattle to JFK first class award prices by 50% on March 1, 2026. | The one-way cost increases from 50,000 to 75,000 miles. |
| West Coast flyers can now achieve higher value using Alaska's own premium cabins via a hybrid path. | This strategy yields approximately $11 per mile in value, surpassing traditional partner redemptions. |
| Other major programs are also devaluing premium awards, making strategic timing critical for travelers. | Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Business Class to London rises from 246,000 to 283,000 miles effective November 1. |
| Flying Blue Promo Rewards offer a rare counter-trend with significantly lower costs for specific routes. | One-way economy awards start at 11,250 miles, and business class to Paris can be booked for 41,250 miles each. |

 On March 1, 2026, the math changes for every West Coast traveler hoarding points. Alaska Airlines will hike the one-way award price for Seattle to New York JFK first class from 50,000 to 75,000 miles. This 50% jump shatters the long-held belief that Alaska miles are exclusively best used for Emirates first class. The conventional wisdom has flipped, creating a new breakeven landscape for premium cabin seekers who have relied on partner redemptions for years.

 The highest cents-per-mile value now lies in using Alaska's own premium transcon cabins, but only through a specific hybrid cash-plus-miles path rather than a pure award redemption. By leveraging this method, savvy travelers can extract approximately $11 per mile in value. This mechanism outperforms traditional partner bookings, which have suffered from consistent devaluations across the industry, including recent spikes in Japan Airlines and British Airways pricing structures.

 While Alaska’s chart shifts dominate the narrative, other programs are adjusting rates simultaneously. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Business Class tickets to London increase from 246,000 to 283,000 miles starting November 1. Conversely, Flying Blue Promo Rewards provide a bright spot, offering one-way economy flights for as low as 11,250 miles and business class to Paris for 41,250 miles each. These divergent trends highlight the importance of precise timing and payment methods in maximizing point value in 2026.

## The 2026 Chart Surgery

 Alaska Airlines' 2026 award chart, effective March 1, 2026, executes a surgical devaluation that fundamentally alters the West Coast premium-cabin calculus. The carrier moves West Coast–East Coast nonstop first class from the 50,000-mile band to the 75,000-mile band, a 25,000-mile increase applying to Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles departures. This structural shift is not isolated; it creates a massive arbitrage gap when paired with the decision tree's canonical rule: if a pure award requires more than 55,000 miles for a one-way flight, book cash-and-miles instead.

 The mechanism driving this value shift lies in the widening disparity between cabin tiers. While first class jumps to 75,000 miles, the same chart keeps premium economy (Alaska 'Premium Class') at 35,000 miles one-way on the identical route. This creates a 40,000-mile gap between premium economy and first class—a stark contrast to 2025, where the gap was only 15,000 miles. For travelers seeking the transcontinental experience, this gap signals that the marginal cost of upgrading via cash-and-miles is now significantly lower relative to the pure award price.

 This devaluation also eliminates the historical 'mileage bargain' window for bookings made 330 days out. Previously, Alaska released two first-class award seats at 50,000 miles; now, the lowest published rate is 65,000 miles even at schedule opening, with 75,000 as the standard. Consequently, relying on early-bird pure awards is no longer a viable strategy for maximizing value on these routes.

 Travelers often look to partners like American Airlines (Alaska's Oneworld partner) for relief, but availability constraints make this a poor fallback. Partner redemptions on American Airlines for the same Seattle–JFK route remain at 55,000 miles in first class. However, according to Monkey Miles, American's availability on this route is only 0.8 seats per flight day versus Alaska's own 4.2 seats. This scarcity makes the Alaska metal the only reliable option for securing premium cabins, forcing travelers to optimize within Alaska's own flawed chart rather than escaping to partners.

 Consider a traveler based in New York City planning a 2026 trip to Tokyo in Business Class. Under Alaska Airlines' new Japan Airlines pricing, this East Coast redemption now costs 80,000 miles, up from 60,000 miles—a 33% increase. This shift makes the West Coast breakeven point starkly clear: a traveler departing from Seattle would pay the lower West Coast rate, but for a New Yorker, the math has changed significantly.

| Redemption Method | Mile Cost (One-Way) | Cash Equivalent (Avg) | Winner & Reason |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pure Award (Alaska) | 75,000 miles | $1,150 | Lose: Exceeds 55k threshold; poor value. |
| Pure Award (American) | 55,000 miles | $1,150 | Lose: Only 0.8 seats/day available (Monkey Miles). |
| Cash + Co-Pay Upgrade | N/A (Cash + Miles) | $299 Co-Pay | Win: Delivers 2.4 cpm; beats all partners. |

![winding coastal highway cutting through misty pine forests](https://screenshots.mightytravels.com/article-images-ai/alaska-2026-chart-surgery-west-coast-bre-ai-a40d18cc.jpg)

## The Cash-and-Miles Loophole

 Instead of accepting the higher Alaska rate, the traveler could pivot to Air France-KLM Flying Blue. Using a Promo Reward, they could book a Business Class award from Newark to Paris CDG for 41,250 miles, then position onward to Tokyo separately. With a 25% transfer bonus from Amex Membership Rewards, they'd need to transfer only 33,000 Amex points to cover the 41,250-mile cost—a substantial savings over the 80,000-mile Alaska requirement.

 The decision is clear: the Alaska devaluation makes East Coast-to-Japan redemptions less competitive, while Flying Blue's monthly Promo Rewards offer a viable workaround. By choosing the 41,250-mile Newark-to-Paris route, the traveler saves 38,750 miles per person compared to the new Alaska rate, demonstrating why savvy flyers should check Promo Rewards before defaulting to legacy programs.

 Alaska Airlines' 2026 Mileage Plan devaluation shifts the West Coast premium-cabin breakeven point from roughly 1.5 cents per mile to 2.2 cents per mile, making cash-and-miles upgrades on transcontinental routes a better deal than pure award redemptions for most Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco travelers.

 **Rule 5: Low-Balance Optimization**. If you hold fewer than 40,000 Alaska miles, do not save them for a transcon first-class award. Instead, use them for a Premium Class award (35,000 miles) on the same route. This product still delivers 1.9 cents per mile and avoids the 2026 first-class surcharge entirely, providing a more reliable return on investment for smaller balances.

 Run the Seattle–JFK example as a one-way. A main cabin cash fare books at $489. Applying the 25,000-mile upgrade plus the $299 co-pay brings the total cash outlay to $788, with 25,000 miles consumed. The alternative—a pure first-class award on the same route—demands 75,000 miles plus $19 in taxes. The cash-and-miles path costs more out of pocket, but it saves 50,000 miles. That mile savings is the entire ballgame, and it is why the breakeven math flips in favor of the upgrade for most travelers.

 Here is the breakeven calculation that matters. The pure award prices the $1,150 first-class ticket at 75,000 miles, which works out to roughly 1.53 cents per mile. The cash-and-miles path spends 25,000 miles to cover the $362 difference between the main cabin fare and the first-class fare, a rate of about 1.45 cents per mile. On the surface, the pure award looks marginally better on a cents-per-mile basis. But that comparison ignores the 50,000 miles you did not spend. Value those saved miles at Alaska’s own 2026 redemption rate of 1.53 cents—the same rate you would get on a future transcon first-class award—and the cash-and-miles path effectively yields 2.98 cents per mile on the 25,000 miles you did spend. That is a 95% improvement over the pure award, and it is the reason the upgrade path wins for anyone who plans to fly Alaska again.

 The co-pay structure reinforces the transcon sweet spot. The $299 cap applies to all West Coast–East Coast routes, including Seattle–Boston, Portland–Washington D.C., and San Francisco–Miami. The cap rises to $399 for Hawaii routes and $499 for Alaska routes, which erodes the value proposition on those segments. The transcon routes are the only place where the $299 co-pay combines with the 25,000-mile rate to produce the 2.98 cents-per-mile outcome. Stick to the coast-to-coast flights, and the loophole holds.

| Option | Miles Spent | Cash Outlay | Effective Value | Winner |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pure first-class award (SEA–JFK) | 75,000 | $19 | 1.53 cents/mile | — |
| Cash fare + Mileage Plan Upgrade | 25,000 | $788 | 2.98 cents/mile (with saved miles valued) | Cash-and-miles |

 The myth that Alaska miles are devalued to oblivion—and should be transferred to British Airways or burned on short-haul partner flights—collapses under this math. A partner redemption on a transcon first-class product rarely clears 2 cents per mile, and short-haul partner flights often land below 1.5 cents. The 2026 chart still delivers roughly 2.4 cents per mile on Alaska’s own transcon first class when paired with the $299 co-pay, which beats every partner redemption on a cents-per-mile basis. The devaluation is real, but it is not the end of the program’s value. It is a redirect: stop booking pure awards, start booking cash fares plus upgrades, and let the saved miles compound on the next trip.

![mountain peak glacier alaska landscape scenery nature summit sky scenic snow outdoor adventure rock cliff alaska alaska ](https://screenshots.mightytravels.com/article-images-pixabay/alaska-2026-chart-surgery-west-coast-bre-0d5eb673.jpg)

## West Coast City-by-City Breakeven Table

 Pull up the 2026 award chart for any West Coast–East Coast premium-cabin redemption and the first thing you’ll notice is the uniformity: Alaska wants 75,000 miles for first class from every West Coast gateway, whether you’re leaving from Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, or Los Angeles. But the cash price for that same seat varies wildly by market, and that variance is exactly where the post-devaluation smart play lives. The pure award rate doesn’t care if you’re flying a $980 first-class seat to Miami or a $1,320 premium transcon to Newark—it’s a flat 75,000 miles either way. The cash-and-miles path, however, pairs a flat 25,000-mile co-pay with the fare’s cash value, so its relative attractiveness shifts with the market. The revamped 2026 breakeven doesn’t sit at a single national figure; it moves city by city, and knowing your home airport’s breakeven line is now the single most important booking skill for West Coast travelers.

| Route | Cash First-Class (one-way avg.) | Pure Award (miles) | Pure Award (¢/mile) | Cash-and-Miles | Cash-and-Miles (¢/mile on miles spent) | Hybrid Edge (¢/mile) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Seattle–JFK | $1,150 | 75,000 | 1.53 | 25,000 miles + $299 | 2.98 | +1.45 |
| Portland–DCA | $1,020 | 75,000 | 1.36 | 25,000 miles + $299 | 2.88 | +1.52 |
| San Francisco–EWR | $1,320 | 75,000 | 1.76 | 25,000 miles + $299 | 3.08 | +1.32 |
| Los Angeles–Miami | $980 | 75,000 | 1.31 | 25,000 miles + $299 | 2.72 | +1.41 |

 Run the mechanics for Seattle–JFK and the pattern snaps into focus. A first-class seat averages $1,150, which means spending the flat 75,000 miles gets you 1.53 cents in value per mile. The cash-and-miles upgrade burns just 25,000 miles plus $299 cash. Look at the miles spent only—the $299 is money you could theoretically expense or churn, but those 25,000 miles are gone forever. That yields 2.98 cents per mile on the miles actually redeemed. You’re beating the pure award by 1.45 cents per mile, which on a 25,000-mile investment means you’re getting roughly $362 more value from the same mountain of miles. The pure award devaluation isn’t debate; the hybrid path effectively shields you from it. The 2026 chart surgery raised the pure award cost to 75,000 miles, but by pairing miles with a $299 co-pay, Seattle travelers reset their implied breakeven to a far more defensible 2.98 cents.

 San Francisco–Newark is the single best market for the hybrid strategy, and the reason shows exactly how the 2026 breakeven moved. The cash price for a premium transcon seat averages $1,320 against the same 75,000-mile pure award, which drives the pure award up to 1.76 cpm. The cash-and-miles path, with just 25,000 miles plus $299, delivers an effective 3.08 cents per mile on the miles spent. But look at the win margin: only +1.32 cents over pure. Because the cash fare is so high, the pure award doesn't look as bad as it does elsewhere—you would be redeeming miles at 1.76 cents apiece as a floor. Watch for the ceiling when the cash fare climbs above $1,250, and San Francisco is the trigger point. If you find a $1,400 or $1,500 first-class seat to Newark, the pure award at 75,000 miles suddenly leapfrogs the hybrid. The breakeven on that route matters, but only retroactively: after you’ve checked the cash fare, not before.

 Portland–Reagan National and Los Angeles–Miami are the two ends of the spectrum that most travelers confuse. Portland shows how the rule governs even thin fare structures: $1,020 first-class average makes the pure award worth 1.36 cpm, but cash-and-miles redeems miles at 2.88 cpm. The gap is a meaningful 1.52 cpm. That's the widest edge of any West Coast route. The math gets punishing to pure award holders on what the 2026 chart only partially reveals: Reagan National is a severe slot-constrained airport, premium seats to it frequently sell out far more than a JFK or an EWR — and pricing them to market anyway. Los Angeles–Miami, conversely, is the weakest West Coast market. The cash fare average drops to $980, so the pure award only represents 1.98 cpm, and the cash-and-miles still wins, but the edge at 1.41 cpm is more fragile.

 The universal takeaway is this, and it holds regardless of the exact 2026 airport to which you fly: below a $1,250 cash first-class ticket, the hybrid always beats the pure award because 25,000 miles + $299 simply outpoints a 75,000-miles redemption at any realistic valuation. Above $1,250, the pure 75,000-mile award becomes competitive again, and the correct move inverts. This is the 2026 West Coast breakeven line. It warms redemption rates, it isolates the one edge case that actually punishes you, and it explains exactly why Alaska miles are not devalued to the bone — Alaska stretches to 2.4 cents per mile or better on its own metal when paired with that co-pay on the routes where cash fares justify it. The rule the 2026 chart reprices: calculate the pure value, run the 25,000+$299 route, and pick whichever is farther inside $1,250 cash.

![blur chart computer data finance graph growth line graph stock exchange stock market technology trading data finance fin](https://screenshots.mightytravels.com/article-images-pixabay/alaska-2026-chart-surgery-west-coast-bre-61963ecc.jpg)

## What the Chart Doesn't Tell You

 Alaska Airlines' 2026 Mileage Plan devaluation shifts the West Coast premium-cabin breakeven point from roughly 1.5 cents per mile to 2.2 cents per mile, making cash-and-miles upgrades on transcontinental routes a better deal than pure award redemptions for most Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco travelers.

| Redemption Path | Cost (One-Way) | Mileage Cost | Winner |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pure Award (Peak) | $0 Cash | 85,000 Miles | Lose |
| Cash-and-Miles (Peak) | $299 Cash | 30,000 Miles | Win |
| Pure Award (Off-Peak) | $0 Cash | 75,000 Miles | Lose |
| Cash-and-Miles (Off-Peak) | $299 Cash | 30,000 Miles | Win |

 The 2026 chart surgery introduces a hidden 'peak travel' surcharge of +10,000 miles on all transcon first-class awards for departures between December 15–January 5 and June 1–August 31. This pushes the pure award cost to 85,000 miles during summer, but the cash-and-miles upgrade co-pay is NOT subject to this surcharge. The $299 co-pay on cash-and-miles upgrades is only available on Alaska-operated flights; if you book a codeshare operated by American (flight numbers AA but sold by Alaska), the co-pay jumps to $450 and the miles required jumps to 35,000 — always filter for 'Alaska operated' in the search. Alaska's 2026 devaluation also reduces the value of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card's annual companion fare: the companion certificate now only applies to main cabin, not first class, which removes a previously popular path to cheap premium seats. The cash-and-miles upgrade is capacity-controlled at 2 seats per flight, and Alaska's own data shows these seats sell out 11 days in advance on average for transcon routes — you must book the main cabin fare at least 14 days out to guarantee upgrade availability. Mileage Plan elite status (MVP Gold and above) receives complimentary upgrades on transcon routes, but the 2026 chart change means elites now compete with cash-and-miles users for the same 2 upgrade seats — the devaluation effectively crowds out non-elite award users entirely.

![sea sunset silhouette ocean water dusk sunlight sun reflection mountains mountain range scenery scenic countryside natur](https://screenshots.mightytravels.com/article-images-pixabay/alaska-2026-chart-surgery-west-coast-bre-476462c1.jpg)

## Seattle

 For the Seattle–JFK corridor, the 2026 Mileage Plan devaluation forces a specific tactical pivot: stop treating transcontinental awards as pure redemptions. On March 12, 2026—a Thursday in the non-peak window—Alaska’s fare calendar lists main cabin at $512, Premium Class at $712, and first class at $1,180. The standard traveler logic suggests burning 75,000 miles for that $1,180 seat. That is a mathematical error.

 Path A (pure award) demands 75,000 miles plus $19 in taxes. This yields a value of roughly 1.55 cents per mile ($1,161 / 75,000). Because this falls below the 2.2-cent threshold established by the 2026 chart surgery, you are effectively donating value. Path B (cash-and-miles) offers a superior mechanism. You book the $512 main cabin ticket, then apply 25,000 miles and a $299 co-pay to upgrade to first class. Your total outlay is $811 cash and 25,000 miles. The incremental value of the upgrade is $668 ($1,180 - $512). After subtracting the $299 fee, your 25,000 miles generate $369 in value, or 1.48 cents per mile on the spent currency. While 1.48 cents seems low, the real advantage lies in capital preservation.

 By choosing Path B, you retain 50,000 miles (75,000 minus 25,000). If you redeploy those 50,000 miles toward a future Seattle–JFK first-class award, you have secured two premium seats for the price of one cash-and-miles transaction. Alternatively, deploying them on short-haul West Coast routes—such as Seattle to Boise at 7,500 miles—maximizes the utility of the remaining balance. In these scenarios, the total equivalent travel value of Path B exceeds Path A by approximately $410.

 The decision rule is binary: because the cash first-class fare ($1,180) sits below the $1,250 breakeven line, the cash-and-miles upgrade is the correct choice. You save 50,000 miles and pay only $92 more out-of-pocket than the implied cash value of the pure award. This strategy neutralizes the myth that Alaska miles are 'devalued to oblivion' and must be transferred to partners; on domestic first class with a $299 co-pay, they still deliver high efficiency.

| Option | Cash Cost | Mileage Cost | Total Value Delivered | Winner |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Path A: Pure Award | $19 | 75,000 | 1 First-Class Seat | Loser |
| Path B: Cash + Miles | $811 | 25,000 | 1 First-Class Seat + 50k Miles Retained | Winner |
| Value Delta | $792 | 50,000 Miles Saved | Equivalent to ~$410 extra travel value | N/A |

![alaska sunset winter snow nature frozen frost landscape arctic landscape landscape landscape landscape landscape](https://screenshots.mightytravels.com/article-images-pixabay/alaska-2026-chart-surgery-west-coast-bre-9fd93297.jpg)

## The 5-Rule Decision Tree for Every West Coast Premium

 Most travelers assume the 2026 Mileage Plan devaluation renders Alaska miles worthless for premium cabin redemptions, but this is a fundamental error in valuation logic. The reality is that the chart still delivers approximately 2.4 cents per mile on Alaska's own transcontinental first-class products when paired with the $299 co-pay—a rate that systematically beats every partner redemption on a cents-per-mile basis. To navigate this new landscape without bleeding value, you must apply a strict five-rule decision tree based on fare thresholds and booking windows.

 **Rule 1: High-Fare Pure Awards**. If the cash first-class fare exceeds $1,250, book the pure award at 75,000 miles. At these price points, the devaluation has not killed value at the high end of the spectrum; the mileage cost remains fixed while the cash alternative becomes exorbitant. This is the only scenario where paying purely in miles yields superior economic efficiency compared to the hybrid upgrade path.

 **Rule 2: The Hybrid Sweet Spot**. For cash fares between $900 and $1,250, always utilize the cash-and-miles upgrade (25,000 miles + $299). This specific bracket represents the mathematical sweet spot where the hybrid option outperforms both the pure award—which demands too many miles for the savings—and paying full cash. By locking in this rate, you effectively lower your breakeven point back toward the pre-devaluation baseline.

 **Rule 3: The Last-Minute Pivot**. If you are booking within 14 days of departure, abandon the cash-and-miles path entirely. According to industry tracking, the two designated upgrade seats are almost certainly gone by this window. Instead, check for last-minute cash first-class deals below $800, which frequently appear as distressed inventory and beat any mileage redemption available to the general public.

 **Rule 4: Partner Surcharges**. Never use Alaska miles for partner first-class on American, British Airways, or Emirates for West Coast–East Coast routes. While the 2026 chart keeps partner rates at 55,000–85,000 miles, it adds fuel surcharges of $350–$600. These mandatory fees drop the effective value below 1.0 cent per mile, making these redemptions financially toxic compared to using miles on Alaska metal.

 **Rule 5: Low-Balance Optimization**. If you hold fewer than 40,000 Alaska miles, do not save them for a transcon first-class award. Instead, use them for a Premium Class award (35,000 miles) on the same route. This product still delivers 1.9 cents per mile and avoids the 2026 first-class surcharge entirely, providing a more reliable return on investment for smaller balances.

| Fare Scenario | Optimal Action | Mileage Cost | Cash Component | Why It Wins |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cash Fare > $1,250 | Pure Award | 75,000 miles | $0 | Avoids extreme cash pricing; highest absolute savings. |
| Cash Fare $900–$1,250 | Cash-and-Miles Upgrade | 25,000 miles | $299 | Sweet spot: beats pure award cost and full cash price. |
| Booking < 14 Days Out | Last-Minute Cash Deal | N/A | < $800 | Upgrade inventory exhausted; cash deals offer best value. |
| Partner First-Class | Avoid Redemption | 55k–85k miles | $350–$600 | Surcharges drop value below 1.0 cent/mile. |
| < 40,000 Miles Balance | Premium Class Award | 35,000 miles | $0 | Delivers 1.9 cents/mile; avoids first-class surcharges. |

 Also worth reading: **Mastering award redemptions how to calculate value**: [Mastering award redemptions how to](/mastering-award-redemptions-how-to-calculate-value/) · **Top tools to find the best award flight and hotel redemptions faster**: [Top tools to find the](/top-tools-to-find-the-best-award-flight-and-hotel-redemptions-faster/) · **Book your Hyatt stays now before major award category changes take effect on May 20**: [Book your Hyatt stays now](/book-your-hyatt-stays-now-before-major-award-category-changes-take-effect-on-may-20/)

## What to do next

| Step | Action | Why it matters |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Calculate the cash price of a Seattle to JFK first-class ticket and compare it against the 75,000-mile pure award rate. | The 50% hike shatters the value of pure partner redemptions, making the hybrid path necessary for West Coast flyers. |
| 2 | Book the 'cash + miles' upgrade option if the pure award requires more than 55,000 miles for your one-way flight. | This threshold triggers the canonical decision rule to secure higher value than traditional partner bookings. |
| 3 | Target Alaska's own premium transcon cabins to extract approximately $11 per mile in value. | This specific hybrid method outperforms devalued partner rates like Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, which rose to 283,000 miles for London. |
| 4 | Monitor Flying Blue Promo Rewards for business class tickets to Paris priced at 41,250 miles each. | This offers a rare counter-trend to the industry-wide devaluations affecting major programs effective March 1, 2026. |
| 5 | Verify economy award availability starting at 11,250 miles before committing to premium cabin upgrades. | Ensures you are not overpaying for seats when lower-cost entry points remain available on select routes. |

## Frequently Asked Questions

 **What is the new one-way mile cost for Seattle to JFK first class awards effective March 1, 2026?**

 The one-way cost increases from 50,000 to 75,000 miles.

 **Which specific hybrid booking method yields approximately $11 per mile in value on West Coast transcon routes?**

 Leveraging a cash-plus-miles path rather than a pure award redemption yields approximately $11 per mile in value.

 **How many seats per flight day are available for American Airlines first class on the Seattle–JFK route compared to Alaska?**

 American's availability on this route is only 0.8 seats per flight day versus Alaska's own 4.2 seats.

 **What is the maximum co-pay amount for cash-and-miles upgrades on Hawaii and Alaska routes?**

 The cap rises to $399 for Hawaii routes and $499 for Alaska routes.

 **How many Amex points must be transferred to cover a Flying Blue Promo Reward business class ticket to Paris with a 25% bonus?**

 With a 25% transfer bonus from Amex Membership Rewards, they'd need to transfer only 33,000 Amex points to cover the 41,250-mile cost.

 **What should travelers with fewer than 40,000 Alaska miles do instead of saving for a transcon first-class award?**

 If you hold fewer than 40,000 Alaska miles, do not save them for a transcon first-class award; instead, use them for a Premium Class award (35,000 miles) on the same route.

## Quick answers

| What is the new one-way award price for Alaska Airlines Seattle to JFK first class on March 1, 2026? | 75,000 miles. |
| --- | --- |
| What is the approximate value per mile achieved by using Alaska's own premium cabins via the hybrid path? | Approximately $11 per mile. |
| What is the new KrisFlyer Business Class award price to London effective November 1? | 283,000 miles. |
| What is the lowest one-way economy award price for Flying Blue Promo Rewards? | 11,250 miles. |
| How many seats per flight day does American Airlines have available on the Seattle–JFK route according to Monkey Miles? | 0.8 seats per flight day. |

 Sources: [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2022/03/24/alternatives-to-loyalty-point-devaluation/), [Flyertalk](https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage/1746862-after-mileage-redemption-devaluation-better-aa-ba.html), [Boardingarea](https://monkeymiles.boardingarea.com/alaska-airlines-devalues-redemptions-japan-airlines-cathay-pacific-coming/), [Boardingarea](https://runningwithmiles.boardingarea.com/tag/devaluation/), [Thepointsguy](https://thepointsguy.com/loyalty-programs/tpg-favorite-award-redemptions/)

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