This airline lets you pay €43 a month for unlimited flights – here’s why it’s a bad idea
Alaska Airlines is the first airline to launch a subscription-based flight service.
COVID-19 has not gone away, but it’s beginning to feel a lot like the pandemic has come to an end – somehow.
As countries gradually (or sometimes suddenly, in the case of the UK) lift remaining measures and travel restrictions, adventure-starved people across the globe are expected to try to make up for lost time. Everyone wants to ‘go big’ on their holidays this year.
The aviation and tourism industries are longing for such a rebound, after two years of struggling to stay afloat.
But some are trying to meet this renewed desire for travel with initiatives the sector has never seen before. Alaska Airlines is launching a subscription-based flight service in the US – the first airline in the world to do so.
How does a subscription-based flight service work?
By buying a flight pass – either the standard ‘Flight Pass’ or the upgraded ‘Flight Pass Pro’ – subscribers to this airline will be able to fly up to 24 roundtrip flights per year. They’ll be able to travel between 16 West Coast cities for a starting sum of only €43 ($49) per month.
There is also the opportunity to book flights with a much shorter notice than the mandatory 90 days required by the standard subscription. For access to this perk, the cost of the service can cost up to €660 ($749) per month. And with the Pro Pass, passengers can book their flights up to two hours before take-off.
On top of the monthly fee, subscribers have to pay taxes, airport fees, and the nominal fare, which Alaska airlines estimates to be about €26 ($29.20) for a roundtrip.
It sounds like quite a bargain for frequent flyers, but there’s a catch: – you have to commit to a 12-month subscription, with the only option to cancel at the end of this period.
