Alaska Airlines, a freshly minted member of the Oneworld alliance, is slowly but surely strengthening its partnerships with other members of the alliance.
Its latest move opens up the ability to redeem its Mileage Plan miles on Royal Air Maroc flights.
Let’s take a brief look at Royal Air Maroc, the new redemption rates, and why you may want to save your valuable Alaska miles for redemptions on other carriers.
Who Is Royal Air Maroc?
Royal Air Maroc is the flag carrier of the North African nation of Morocco. It operates flights from its hub in Casablanca (CMN) to the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
The airline’s U.S. route network typically includes nonstop flights to major cities including Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), and Washington, D.C. (IAD), but these routes are currently suspended due to the pandemic.
Royal Air Maroc’s typical nonstop routes between Morocco and the U.S. Image Credit: Great Circle MapperHowever, flights are slated to resume on February 1, February 2, and February 4, 2022, to New York, Washington, D.C., and Miami, respectively. These routes are operated by a mixture of Boeing’s 787-8 and -9 Dreamliner jets.
Redeeming Alaska Miles on Royal Air Maroc Flights
News of a new redemption partner is usually something to get excited about, but sadly that’s not the case this time.
Unfortunately, the value you get from redeeming Alaska miles on Royal Air Maroc flights between the U.S. and Morocco is subpar, at best. This likely has something to do with the fact that the carrier is the only one to offer nonstop flights between the 2 countries.
Let’s take a look at an example.
A one-way flight with Royal Air Maroc from New York to Casablanca will cost 50,000 miles in economy or a whopping 100,000 in business. According to our valuations, 50,000 Alaska miles are worth $900, while 100,000 are worth $1,800.
Image Credit: Alaska AirlinesOn first glance, you may think that doesn’t sound all that crazy for a long-haul flight in business class. However, keep in mind that flying to Morocco in business class with Lufthansa (albeit with a stop in Germany) would cost you just 78,000 Avianca LifeMiles one-way, roughly equal to $1,092.
If you think about it from a cash-outlay perspective, you’d be “spending” $1,800 (plus taxes and fees) for a one-way ticket on Royal Air Maroc versus under $1,100 (plus taxes and fees) for the Lufthansa ticket — not to mention you’d save 44,000 miles.
Obviously, a journey with a layover would be longer, but there’s not a tremendous difference in the business class experience between the 2 carriers (though Royal Air Maroc’s new 787-9s have a more modern 1-2-1 configuration up front), so we’d be inclined to recommend saving your miles in this case.
Acquiring a lot of LifeMiles is also easier than doing so with Mileage Plan, thanks to transfer relationships with numerous programs including Amex Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriot Bonvoy.
The Lufthansa example is just one alternative that would provide a better value for your miles on flights to Morocco. For more ideas on getting to the region, check out our complete guide on flying to the Middle East and North Africa using points and miles.
Hot Tip: Make sure you check out our post on the best ways to use Alaska Mileage Plan miles for maximum value before you book any flights.
Final Thoughts
It’s no surprise that Alaska is attempting to deepen its relationship with other Oneworld airlines in this way. However, this development puts a dent in Alaska’s reputation as having one of the most valuable currencies out there.
Featured Image Credit:
Royal Air Maroc
