Update: It appears that this isn’t possible on everyone’s account, as we’ve had numerous readers write to say that they still don’t have the option. As you’ll read below, I was able to book a companion ticket with wallet funds last week, and still have the option in my account. Several other readers have the option as well.
We don’t know whether this is an ongoing or partial rollout, or if it’s a temporary bug that will go away. We’ve reached out to Alaska for comment.
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Alaska’s companion fare has now been almost completely untanked.
The airline offers a “famous” companion fare with both the Atmos Ascent and Business credit cards, allowing a companion to travel for $99 plus taxes (totaling ~$121). It’s valid on any North American economy fare class on Hawaiian or Alaska, and the companion earns both status and redeemable points while also receiving elite benefits (just like the fully-paid traveler).
Last Fall, when Alaska was integrating Hawaiian and building a new booking engine, Atmos members suddenly lost the ability to book multi-city or open-jaw itineraries when using a companion fare. Instead, they were limited to strict round-trip or one-way bookings.
At the same time, and just as bad for many of us, it also became impossible to use wallet funds to pay for any portion of a ticket booked with a companion fare. Previously, customers could always apply these funds toward companion fare tickets, but no more. With the change, each time you used a companion fare, you had to pay for the entire total using your Alaska credit card, regardless of how much credit you have in your wallet. Had to cancel a family trip and now have $1k+ in wallet funds that you want to use with a companion fare? No can do, regardless of whether or not you put the original fare on an Alaska credit card. It also made it impossible to combine gift cards with companion fares.
At the time, we reached out to Alaska about these unannounced changes, primarily to find out if they were intentional and permanent, and received the following response:
While we understand that cardholders have appreciated the $99 Companion Fare’s flexibility to use wallet funds for payment, or book multi-city or stopover travel, our recent systems modernization has closed this long-standing loophole. We are actively exploring solutions to reintroduce greater booking flexibility in the future.
This seemed (to us) to indicate that Alaska was considering rolling back one or both changes. In January, it partially did, and once again made multi-city itineraries with a companion fare possible.
Now, with no announcement and much to my thankful relief, Alaska has reversed the second part as well: it’s again possible to use wallet funds to pay for a companion fare.
Previously, the ability to select wallet funds as a payment method was completely missing from the checkout screen when booking an itinerary with a companion fare code attached. Now, it’s back:
Even better, the previous, short-lived restriction that you needed to put at least some portion of the fare on an Alaska card in order to use wallet funds also seems gone. I was able to book the entire $1k+ itinerary cost for my wife and me using only wallet funds.
Quick Thoughts
I couldn’t be more thrilled to see this restored. I know that Alaska wants to direct as much spending as possible to its credit cards, but disabling wallet funds was a bizarre, consumer-unfriendly move. Folks have already spent the money with the airline; Alaska should let them apply it to any flight they want.
Personally, I had been in a real pickle, since my wife and I use companion fares for almost all of our domestic travel. Because of that, we convert all of our Amex Platinum and Hilton Aspire airline credits into wallet funds and then use those funds toward the companion fares we eventually buy. Not being able to do that created a serious backup, and I had over $3,000 in wallet funds idling away in my account. Now, we’re back in business.
Along with the restoration of multi-stop bookings, this change again makes Alaska’s companion fare one of the most valuable buy-one-get-one instruments around. It’s time to give Atleas some kudos to Atmos.
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Tim, could you please contact Alaska Airlines for clarification on this matter? I’m unable to locate the option to apply “wallet funds” toward a “companion fare” on either their website. I just tried today, July 9. Thanks soo much!
Tim, it would be great if you could get further clarification from Alaska on this. I am also not seeing the option of using wallet funds for a companion fare booking on both the Alaska website and app. I just called Alaska and the agent looked in the updated copy of their manual for companion fares and she read the relevant section which states that they are NOT allowing wallet funds for the companion fare. Can you try to get more details on this? Is it coming soon? Is it a partial roll out? Is there a way to get the option to appear on the website? Thanks very much.
Option isn’t there for me either.
I’m also not seeing the option. I still see “Please use an Atmos Rewards Visa card to purchase a Companion Fare ticket.” and this is for a fare (incl companion cost) that is less than the full balance of my wallet funds. Must be a partial roll-out.
I’m not seeing this as an option for either partial or full payment either. I have sufficient wallet funds to cover the tickets.
Not seeing this as an option for either partial or full payment on both website and app.
How did you convert your Amex and Hilton airline credits into wallet funds???
@Tim my question also
Hilton Aspire flight credits are easy: just buy a main cabin ticket and cancel it after 24 hours.
Platinum credits are a PIA. By the letter of the law, I have to book a ticket for a non-elite family member using wallet funds, pay for seat selection separately with the Platinum card, and then cancel the ticket after 24 hours. These usually require a manual credit, so I have to wait ~14 days for the credit to post and then reach out via chat.
Thanks. Never thought of that. That’s pretty clever. Likely some tickets the seat selection cost is a better value for your time spent than others. Any tips on that? A lot of hoop jumping, and yes, a PIA but at least it gets you to the goal line.
You can see how much a Premium Class seat selection would be by simply comparing the main cabin and premium seat costs. That’s how I do it.
So the fare from wallet funds AND the upgrade from AMEX platinum credit as wallet funds and your charge for upgrade gets credited by AMEX? So you would have to book and cancel to start the process of having wallet funds in the first place?
You have to completely book the ticket, then go back in and pay for the seat selection as a separate transaction.
Presumably this seat selection has to be in the same fare class to strictly follow the rules? So do you have to do this many times to get to $200? Any recommendations on an expensive seat selection that works?
I paid about $80 for a “Premium Class” Main cabin seat for a cross-continental flight. It still shows up as Main Cabin (ie not First Class).
Viv – Did you get the fee reimbursed?
I did, but i got genuinely confused and told the agent it was a Seat Selection fee (Seat Upgrade fees aren’t eligible, which i guess this one technically might have been, since it put me in Premium).
Since “Premium Class” on Alaska isn’ a separate cabin, it applies. That said, I always refer to the charge as a seat selection and have never had an issue.
Does this work for you when you pay for “Premium Class” seats in the main cabin, or does it just have to be preferred or normal main cabin seats?
I suspect it doesn’t, because my receipt for Premium Class seat said “Seat Upgrade”, and Seat Upgrades aren’t eligible.
Tim can you lay out how this affects any travel protections? Or were you able to specify the amount that goes on wallet and credit card (like Hilton)? I’m assuming if it’s all on wallet you get zero protections including the Summit baggage delay etc
You’re correct. If it’s all on wallet funds, no credit card protections would apply.
Not on my account. Wallet funds are still not an option for me when using a companion fare. Perhaps only certain people? I have $113 wallet funds. Booking a companion 1-way main cabin fare for $278 total.
Hmmm…interesting. Maybe it only shows if you have enough for the entire fare?
Yeah, not sure. I don’t have enough wallet funds to try that out. However, I did try a round trip (to rule out limitations on 1-ways). I also tried it through the mobile app and paying through wallet funds did not work either. I remember when it did work, but unfortunately not anymore (for me). No worries, just wanted to add a few data points.
In the app for me I was able to see the wallet option for a flight that cost more than my wallet funds available. It was also on a flight that included a partner airline so doesn’t seem to be exclusive to Alaksa metal
Great! Thanks for the DP!
I have tried on the web and app to use wallet funds to partially pay for companion fare ticket. It is not showing up as an option on either platform.
@Tim Steinke
What are your plans with Plat credits moving forward?
I just checked Flyertalk – looks like AS Plat credit is very difficult to get credited for many charges that were credited even with multiple HUCA attempts.
We have four Aspires and four Plats as well as P1/P2 each having a grandfathered Ascent with. the no spend CP we also each hold Summits (for a limted time). May bank Aspires as AS wallet funds instead of UA.
Seems like SW is airline of last resort for to get credit now for a future flight – the Plat Airline incidental is almost worthless for most airline options (esp if you hold a branded card).
Will likely be culling (PC) many of our high AF cards.
Even the $50 Sak’s credit is being replaced with Meh credits (Dans Deals) the Black Card is getting $1K in Resy credits to replace $250 Sak qtrly credit. Would habe been happy with $125 Resy (instead of $100) as a Sak’s replacement.
I’m still going to use the airline credits for AS, especially now that they can be used for companion fares. Yes, getting them credited is a PIA, but that’s partially because the reps are often unaware of the terms. If you have a valid charge and it hasn’t been credited within 14 days, you’re entitled to a manual credit, even if the reps tell you it may take 6-8 weeks.
I’ve found that it’s usually much easier via a chat request during weekday business hours than on weekends, as the reps are more familiar with the process. However, even on the weekends, I’ve never had one not get credited by politely pointing out the terms and asking them to double-check with a supervisor.
I bank the Aspire credits to AS like you’re thinking about doing, which is an easy win for me.
I’m thrilled that this is an option again. One word of caution – AS allowed the use of wallet funds for partner booking fees, and then took it away one week later. Hopefully that’s not the case here.
Interesting…I just paid partner fees with my wallet funds yesterday as well. Odd that different folks seem to be having different experiences.
Hi Tim, this is great news from Alaska! If they are feeling generous, they should allow Wallet funds to be used for the Barclays issued discount codes as well since those can’t be used with wallet funds as of last week when I tried.
Next, they need to untank U-space, so that the companion certs can again actually be used with upgrades IN ADVANCE. The companion certs are fairly useless at this point for those who want to use them to fly first class.