UPDATE : I don't think the 49¢ cent trick worked. I would test a purchase of $1 or more to see. Anything of at least $1 should give a mile.
I've accumulated a lot of miles with Alaska Airlines over the years. But I haven't flown with Alaska lately and the last activity on my account was in June 2012. After 24 months Alaska miles will go inactive so I only have a bit over 4 months to earn some more miles before they are inactivated. If the account goes inactive you have to pay a fee to reinstate your miles. In fact the Alaska Miles Benefits Q&A says that the fee is $75.
You can earn miles by shopping at various online merchants at the Mileage Plan Shopping site. I figured if I make a cheap purchase through a merchant then I could get a mile or two and keep my miles active. I've used this trick before with my United miles. I talked about that a while ago in Two Tricks to Keep United Miles from Expiring. with United I made a 99¢ purchase at Newegg and got myself 1 mile which kept my account active.
I figured I'd try the same trick with Alaska. I searched Newegg and found a 49¢ item for a Max Payne 3 online game code. I don't actually want the game code and in fact have no intention of doing anything with it. But I picked it since it was cheap and the purchase is immediate plus it won't waste anyones time and money by shipping me something I really don't want. I went ahead and bought the item. They say that miles are usually credited to your account 3-5 days after the purchase but it can take up to 45 days. I hoped that an online purchase like this would be fast.
Follow up : It took about 4 weeks for the credit to appear on my United account.
2nd Follow up: When Alaska credited my account I got 50 miles. Looks like they incorrectly counted the 49¢ as $49.99. Then they removed the 50 mile credit a few days later. I'm still waiting...
2nd follow up : I still only have the +50 and -50 records. It doesn't appear this worked.
I tried a 2nd 49 cent purchase and did not see any activity. I'm thinking that they don't credit a full mile for 49 cents and probably round cents to the dollar?
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