Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

[Ecco]

Try bringing up the booking summary list, do not go right into the booking.

Select the three dots for the booking you want and choose change.

You can vary the origin, destination time etc.

I am able to change parts of my multi city existing booking online. But the new route I saw is a completely different one. Unfortunately the operator at alaska said she couldn’t hold the new booking whilst I cancelled the old one. I didn’t cancel my existing booking as I’m not 100% sure if the points would go back immediately so I could make the new booking. I leave in two weeks so decided to just stick with my original booking.

 

[Ecco]

I am able to change parts of my multi city existing booking online. But the new route I saw is a completely different one. Unfortunately the operator at alaska said she couldn’t hold the new booking whilst I cancelled the old one. I didn’t cancel my existing booking as I’m not 100% sure if the points would go back immediately so I could make the new booking. I leave in two weeks so decided to just stick with my original booking.

Just letting you know AS won't hold bookings, whilst you cancel your existing bookings. Sadly!

 

[Ecco]

I've been looking at Aer Lingus SEA-DUB-AMS on AS site. Does anyone know why sometimes the J awards are priced at 60k for the first week and then jump up to 280k?? I was wondering if there is a pattern to this. By the time I moved my miles from MR-Marriott-AS the price had jumped up. Took a good week to do the transfers.

I'm finding AS awards way better than Aeroplan in some ways. Those change fees on Aeroplan make it quite expensive to change or cancel award bookings, whereas AS doesn't charge for change fees. Also I tried to ring Aeroplan the other day and got put on hold for quite a while and ended up hanging up. AS are pretty good at answering the phone.

 

[sqrt()]

Does anyone know why sometimes the J awards are priced at 60k for the first week and then jump up to 280k?

Maybe the 60k ones are actually awards, while the 280k options are basically buying a revenue ticket with points a la QF "pay with points?"

 

[Mattg]

Alaska Airlines is partnering with STARLUX

https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/how-to-earn-miles/airline-partners/starlux

You can earn Alaska miles on Starlux flights as of today. Redemptions are "coming Summer 2023".

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

It begins.

I'm surprised they haven't done this to Fiji or Qantas yet, not that there's ever availability these days.

It's happened -- to Qantas, at least.

I have a reward booking in J to LAX on Fiji using up the rest of my Alaska miles in June. Every once in a while I check availability on the website to see if anything ever opens up on Qantas (lol) as I'd prefer the nonstop flight (as much as I otherwise genuinely have enjoyed Fiji's service).

Lo and behold, availability on the same date of my trip --- except now it priced as 80,000. Needless to say I didn't book. I've looked since and have seen QF J also pricing at 80K one-way now on several other days. Fiji remains at 55K, for now.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Whatever happened above is no longer happening, and if anyone is interested, this is available on Monday. I'm flying Tuesday on Fiji and have been hoping a nonstop on QF might open up. Gutted I can't change my work schedule to leave Monday or I'd snag this in a second.

SYD-LAX for 70K in Qantas F

 

[Kathleen01]

has anyone joined this airline - I was given the opportunity to convert miles from Virgin America and earn a bonus and I can see that it uses less miles to book one world flights.

I'm wondering how easy it is to book with them and would appreciate any advice

thanks in advance

Yes I am an Alaskan Airlines Member since late 90's. I have three Family Member's accounts.

My Main account has roughly 96K miles which 'Used to be' enough miles for a Qantas round trip SYD LAX.. but sadly now you need from memory 100k.

I would only use my AS milage for when I travel internally the USA as I now reside in Australia.

It took me many, many years from 1996 after moving home (Aus) to be able to contact AS seeking to use the points as Qantas reservations had no idea.
Has since improved.

So moving onto your question, yes AS I think overall is a 'Less milage required' type of program.

I would need to call Qantas or go online to make my reservation as not all QF flights hold AS seat availability. There are at times great offers to buy more Miles from AS , prior to general public release (email sent from AS).
The only downside I have is wanting to combine my two daughters miles (which they will never use nor have enough for a ticket) to my account would cost me significant more in USD (currency conversion etc) than just say 'Buying a last minute ticket' while in the US.

I think the transfer fee is $10USD every 1k points, which to me when I convert is too expensive...so they kids account 'Just sits there'. Hope this helps?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Whatever happened above is no longer happening, and if anyone is interested, this is available on Monday. I'm flying Tuesday on Fiji and have been hoping a nonstop on QF might open up. Gutted I can't change my work schedule to leave Monday or I'd snag this in a second.

SYD-LAX for 70K in Qantas F

Question is whether it is real or phantom? These have popped up in the past, sometimes bookable, sometimes not.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Question is whether it is real or phantom? These have popped up in the past, sometimes bookable, sometimes not.

Indeed, and cannot confirm or deny given I didn't attempt to try. I note it's no longer there, but I did double check on QF and the flight showed as available, perhaps increasing the chances it would actually ticket via AS.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Indeed, and cannot confirm or deny given I didn't attempt to try. I note it's no longer there, but I did double check on QF and the flight showed as available, perhaps increasing the chances it would actually ticket via AS.

Yeah… ‘increase chances’ is about as good as it gets

If you have points in AS already, nothing to lose. But if you need to buy or transfer points in it can be a tough lesson.

I scored a TPAC for 55k, but I had points sitting there. Others have transferred over points and gone to book but it’s come back unavailable.

 

[Ecco]

Has anyone seen that you can go HEL-DEL in J on Finnair for 45k mileage plan points? That seems like a cheap award for an 8 hour flight. Was thinking of trying to get to or from Europe, from NZ, partially using that award. I guess I could try and do SIN-DEL-HEL. Wonder if that's still 45k.

I have to have a play around on MP. I tried Finnair J on JFK-HEL recently. Not bad but found they had the cabin too hot. It was an 8 hour flight - seems like a short flight compared to anything else originating in NZ...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Has anyone seen that you can go HEL-DEL in J on Finnair for 45k mileage plan points? That seems like a cheap award for an 8 hour flight. Was thinking of trying to get to or from Europe, from NZ, partially using that award. I guess I could try and do SIN-DEL-HEL. Wonder if that's still 45k.

I have to have a play around on MP. I tried Finnair J on JFK-HEL recently. Not bad but found they had the cabin too hot. It was an 8 hour flight - seems like a short flight compared to anything else originating in NZ...

About right! QF J is 55k Au-USA… a 14 hour flight. Also FJ J for the same price

Mileage plan can have some real sweet spots

 

[aaa99]

Looks like Starlux award redemptions are live. Alaska adds exciting new airline partner — Starlux — with fantastic redemption rates - The Points Guy

 

[djkelly69]

I got an email yesterday about AS's semi-regular up to 40% bonus on points purchases until 20 August, which could be good in combination with the introductory rate on Starlux redemptions until 31 August.

 

[Ecco]

I got an email yesterday about AS's semi-regular up to 40% bonus on points purchases until 20 August, which could be good in combination with the introductory rate on Starlux redemptions until 31 August.

LAX-TPE in J now priced at 165k miles on AS.

 

[levelnine]

LAX-TPE in J now priced at 165k miles on AS.

Apparently the introductory rate lasted for a grand total of 24 hours. AS does seem to be a bit of a dud program now. While there are still some sweet spots, especially for Australians, the program is becoming increasingly untrustworthy with stealth devaluations and false promises.

 

[Ecco]

Apparently the introductory rate lasted for a grand total of 24 hours. AS does seem to be a bit of a dud program now. While there are still some sweet spots, especially for Australians, the program is becoming increasingly untrustworthy with stealth devaluations and false promises.

I can't find much availability for NZ-US or NZ-Asia. I think it may be lack of award space as well. But agree with you, trying to go from out of Oceania you have to book far in advance and be flexible. I think SQ is not releasing award space to AS any more, after Feb 2024.

Still AS is better than the horrendous surcharges and cancellation fees you get on aeroplan. Also you can't get through to aeroplan call centre if you need to as the wait time is horrible.

 

[Mattg]

Still AS is better than the horrendous surcharges and cancellation fees you get on aeroplan. Also you can't get through to aeroplan call centre if you need to as the wait time is horrible.

Aeroplan doesn't pass on fuel surcharges (only a $39 partner award fee) and you can now change Aeroplan awards online.

Yay: Change Aeroplan Awards Online (New Feature)

Air Canada Aeroplan now lets you change award tickets online (on aircanada.com), which is a fantastic development. Here are the details.

onemileatatime.com

I agree that the Aeroplan call centre is problematic.

 

[Danger]

Apparently the introductory rate lasted for a grand total of 24 hours. AS does seem to be a bit of a dud program now. While there are still some sweet spots, especially for Australians, the program is becoming increasingly untrustworthy with stealth devaluations and false promises.

And the fact that, almost two and a half years after joining oneworld, the ability to book anything but the most simply itinerary with AS miles is impossible.