Summary
- Alaska Airlines is allowing frequent fliers to buy sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to earn status.
- Passengers can even decide to support nature-based climate projects to count towards their status.
- The carrier is working to bring down the price of SAF.
Seattle-based Alaska Airlines is taking a brand new approach towards status-earning trips for its frequent fliers generally known as ‘Mileage Runs’. In an effort to cut back the impact on the environment, the carrier is allowing travelers to buy sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to earn status as an alternative of booking a visit.
The update comes because the airline is announcing a brand new partnership with climate tech company CHOOOSE to supply recent alternatives for sustainability-minded passengers. Along with SAF, travelers can opt to support nature-based climate projects to count toward their status.
What’s a mileage run?
Passengers enrolled in Alaska’s Mileage Plan program can qualify for elite status depending on their miles flown per 12 months. If their mileage is just in need of achieving status toward the top of the 12 months, it is not uncommon that some will book a ‘mileage run’ – one other trip solely for the aim of achieving or retaining status.
All that flying, nevertheless, comes with an environmental cost. Greater than 2% of world annual carbon dioxide emissions come from aircraft flying day by day, and the number is increasing.
Photo: Alaska Airlines
Bringing down the price of SAF
On November 17, Alaska announced that Mileage Plan members can earn 500 Elite-Qualifying Miles (EQMs) in the event that they purchase $100 of SAF credits, limited to five,000 EQMs. The carrier said the funds will contribute toward the
Alaska’s Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Sustainability, Diana Birkett Rakow, spoke in regards to the recent initiative.
“We all know that reaching our sustainability goals – including net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 – would require investment and motion on all fronts, and that sustainable aviation fuel presents our greatest opportunity to take a step forward on this journey. “But today, there isn’t enough SAF to satisfy demand – and we’d like to bring its cost down by creating scale. That’s why, along with purchasing and using SAF, constructing partnerships, and advocating for public policy support, we’re inviting our guests to affix us – to learn more about SAF, to speculate in its development, and to assist us grow supply for the long run.”
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
The all-Boeing operator has worked to advance the marketplace for SAF, being the primary US carrier to fly several routes using alternative fuels in 2011. SAF is understood to lower carbon emissions by as much as 80% in comparison with traditional jet fuel.
The airline said the brand new offering for Mileage Plan members is hosted by CHOOOSE, which helps individuals and organizations understand their carbon emissions.
Birkett Rakow said.