Sunday, October 9, 2016 – A Guest Post by John @laptoptravel

I recently wrote about Delta Air Lines’ new promotion, “12Status,” which is just another jab in the continuing saga of the ‘Battle in Seattle’ between Alaska Airlines and Delta.  It is a ‘turf war,’ with Delta being the newcomer.

For years Alaska Airlines has been the ‘hometown’ airline to Seattle and has a loyal following. Alaska also boasts an all-Boeing (Seattle-based manufacturer) aircraft fleet.  Alaska Airlines even signed the NFL Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson as their CFO (Chief Football Officer.) This flies in the face of Delta’s ‘12Status’ NFL promotion for SkyMiles members to earn free SkyMiles.

Not to be outdone by Delta’s free giveaway, Alaska has come up with their own free miles giveaway promotion; Fantasy Bonus Miles. Qualification is limited to those Alaska MileagePlan members who live in one of five states; Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.  Alaska even made up an illustrative promotional video, featuring the Seahawks’ quarterback to launch and explain the promotion. You can see the full video here

A Significant Difference Between the Two Promotions

The one significant difference between the two promotions is that Delta gives away free miles to all eligible SkyMiles members who show up while Alaska is picking three winners from a pool of eligible entries. Alaska is touting the possibility of earning 400,000 redeemable miles in this program!

The tag line goes like this – This season, we’re converting our Chief Football Officer’s performance on the field into miles in the sky. Enter for your chance to win at http://fantasybonusmiles.com  You Must Register to Win   Enjoy discounts on travel to away game destinations.  Alaska also features discount fares to the Seahawks’ away games on this website.

We know the importance of having supportive fans in the stands, both at home and on the road. To help Russell’s fans support him all season long, we are offering a 12% discount on air travel to most away games if you are traveling from WA, OR, ID, MT, AK, or British Columbia.  Alaska Airlines also has a promotion to allow fans to win free flights to cities where the Seahawks are playing.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Follow Russell on The Road Sweepstakes starts 8/22/16 at 12:00 p.m. PT and ends 12/16/16 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Open only to eligible legal residents of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington who are at least 18 years old. Click here for Official Rules and complete details, including eligibility requirements, entry periods, entry instructions, odds of winning a prize, prize details and restrictions, etc. Void elsewhere & where prohibited or restricted by law. Sponsor: Alaska Airlines, Inc. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Facebook, NFL or any NFL team.

Also, if you’re on an Alaska flight departing Seattle (to any destination) this football season, you can board early if you wear Russell’s #3 jersey. If you have travelled with Alaska, or been near one of their gates during boarding, in an airport in one of these states you have likely heard the agent announcement offering early boarding when wearing a Russell Wilson jersey.

 Final Thoughts

So, while it is a bit comical to sit on the sidelines (pun intended) and watch the battle ensue, it can be rewarding as you can pick up free SkyMiles and MileagePlan miles while letting every play be for your benefit. I have already picked up more than 2,000 SkyMiles and the season has just begun! With a potential to earn say 400,000 Alaska Airlines’ MileagePlan Miles I am sitting pretty in the Pacific Northwest!

What do you think of Alaska’s latest response to Delta’s 12Status promotion?  Have you signed up for either one (or both) of these giveaway promotions?  Please let us know in the comments.  Thank you & safe travels! We’ll see you ‘up there’ – John of laptoptravel