alaskaair.com
As far as I know Alaska Airlines is the only airline that guarantees you’ll get your checked bag in 20 minutes or less. But what if that doesn’t happen, as was the case on a recent OGG-SMF flight? The clock starts once they open the door to the aircraft, and if your bag isn’t there, you get to choose between a voucher for $20 off a future flight or 2,000 miles deposited to your Mileage Plan account.
I waited 23 minutes for my bag the other day, and in fact I think it is the first time I’ve ever had to wait at all. Even at Kahului, which is a notoriously slow airport (I recall the good old days at United and Aloha when we waited 45 minutes+), my bag is usually already there by the time I make the long walk down to baggage claim from gate 1.
Even though I was aware of the policy, to be honest I’d never given it much thought…that is, until our cabin crew made an announcement once we landed in Sacramento the other day. Just for fun I started the stopwatch. By the time I deplaned, rounded up the family, went to the bathroom, rode the train over from terminal B, and photographed the giant red bunny hanging from the ceiling, my bags still weren’t there. At that point it was just a few short minutes before they showed up, but a guarantee is a guarantee. I headed to the baggage office to claim my prize.
Alaska Airlines Baggage Service Guarantee Voucher
There was no mention of what time my flight actually came in or how long I waited, which leads me to believe things here are based on the honor system. I’m guessing most people don’t take Alaska up their offer, assuming the burden of proof falls on the customer. Now that I’ve revealed otherwise…well, let your conscience be your guide. The lady in the baggage office was very courteous and simply took my word for it. I waited behind one other person, and the entire process took maybe another 3-4 minutes of my time. While it’s not the $200 I used to get from United for stuff like a broken A/V, it does take the edge off of having to pay for bags until I make MVP.
The Terms
There is some fine print to pay attention to- one voucher per qualified customer for one or more checked bags and you have to go online to www.alaskaair.com/bag13 before Jan 31st, 2014 to claim your $20 discount or 2,000 miles. In this case we had all of the bags on one receipt, and despite that there were three of us (and on two separate reservations because I used my BofA companion pass), I didn’t push the issue; I graciously accepted the voucher and continued on my way. Next time, however, each person checks their own bag. There are also some additional terms posted on the website, notably, that the guarantee doesn’t apply to Mexico, and doesn’t include things like pets, skis, and surfboards.
Miles or Money?
Decisions, decisions…I’ll take the money. This certainly won’t be the last time I fly Alaska and I’ll use the discount next time I book tickets with them. To decide whether I should take the money or miles, I asked myself how many miles I could earn with that same $20. With my Alaska Airlines credit card and a couple of Vanilla Reloads from CVS…well, the answer is more than 2,000. As a general rule though, whether it be Alaska, United, or any other airline, I usually recommend taking the money.
The Redemption
I simply went to www.alaskaair.com/bag13 and filled out a short form. The process took a little bit longer because I haven’t yet memorized my Mileage Plan number, and had to go look it up – oh, the joys of learning a new program. Anyway, it was pretty easy and I know have a $20 coupon electronically stored in my account for next time.
Redeeming My Voucher at alaskaair.com/bag13
In summary, the 20 minute baggage guarantee is just another thing I like about Alaska Airlines, as I continue to experience and learn more about the airline. Along with overall great service and convenient direct flights from Sacramento to Maui, this is just one additional little thing to keep me coming back for more.