Global getaways: Enjoy winter destination flights using fewer miles via Alaska Airlines' limited offer

Oneworld Alliance carrier Alaska Airlines has revealed the latest selections in its Global Getaway promotions with half-off points and miles flights to six new destinations.

This batch of destinations appears to be targeted at ski and hiking enthusiasts, with the discounts covering flights to the likes of Switzerland and Austria with Alaska's international partners.

Previous destinations in the rotating selection of gateways have included sunny island escapes and warm city breaks.

This quarterly group includes destinations across North America and Eurasia known for ski slopes and mountain hikes.

Only one of the destinations is served by the Alaska Airlines Group directly, so the airline is relying on its oneworld Alliance partners to facilitate the flights.

For flights booked before the end of the year, Alaska is offering up to 50% savings on award redemption for travel between January 1st, 2025, and April 30th, 2025, in economy and premium economy cabins.

Half of the destinations are in Europe proper, with the discounts applying to flights to flights to Geneva (GVA) and Zurich (ZRH) in Switzerland, alongside Vienna (VIE), Austria.

Flights to Vienna and Geneva are now starting at 20,000 Mileage Plan miles instead of 30,000 miles, while trips to Zurich are also down to 20,000 miles from the usual 22,500.

Slightly further afield, the promotion includes flights to Yerevan, the capital and largest city of Armenia. Ticket prices to the city's Zvartnots International Airport now begin at 30,000 miles, down from the normal 42,500.

For those looking for a Central Asian ski trip, the carrier's furthest destination offered in the quarterly discount is Almaty, Kazakhstan (which also now starts at 30,000 miles instead of 42,500 miles).

Closer to home, flights to Kelowna, British Columbia in Canada are down to 10,000 miles instead of the usual 12,500 miles.

To take advantage of the mileage discounts, one must be a member of the airline's frequent flyer program, Mileage Plan. Although, anyone can browse flights without logging in.

Looking at the cheapest flights first, tickets from Seattle-Tacoma to Kelowna's Elison Field (YLW) start at 5,000 miles plus $6 in each direction for dates across the promotion period.

Flights from Los Angeles (LAX), which is the only other Kelowna nonstop route Alaska serves, begin at 7,500 miles.

The flights to Swizerland rely on connecting partners, of which there are several. According to Simple Flying's research, five main itinerary options are available under the promotion for sample dates in February, including American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, and Qatar Airways.

Flights from the United States to Zurich Airport (ZRH) start at 20,000 miles each way plus $41 with layovers in places like Helsinki with Finnair, Philadelphia with American Airlines, and London Heathrow with British Airways.

Similarly, flights to Geneva (GVA) also begin at 20,000 miles and are routed through the likes of London Heathrow or Casablanca with Royal Air Maroc.

Itinerary options for using the promotion to reach Vienna International Airport (VIE) also include stops in London with British Airways or Doha with Qatar Airways.

Flights to Almaty Airport (ALA) in Kazakhstan are also included in the deal. The only oneworld carrier flying to Almaty next spring is Qatar Airways, based on data from Cirium, and all of the available redemption options found in Simple Flying's research involve a stop in Doha.

The same applies to Yerevan (EVN) in Armenia. Both cities are served by Qatar daily from Doha with an Airbus A320 family aircraft.