Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

[NormsSYD]

I am thinking of joining Alaska airlines mileage program but not sure how to answer the question 'Primary Departure City' as all cities are US cities. I was thinking of putting Los Angeles. Does it matter which city nominated?

 

[tricky1337]

I am thinking of joining Alaska airlines mileage program but not sure how to answer the question 'Primary Departure City' as all cities are US cities. I was thinking of putting Los Angeles. Does it matter which city nominated?

I just joined as well (and put in LA). Don't think it does anything.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Fair enough, but even if BA etc shows seats available, but the AS agent can't see them, you are no more in front, are you?

That’s where you gotta hang up and call again It’s not uncommon to have to try two or three different agents before one can finally ‘see’ what you’ve been seeing all along!

Painful exercise, but worth it for some pretty sweet redemption opportunities.

 

[andye]

I picked up quite a few AS miles with Rocketmiles on a recent trip to Europe. Worth a look particularly if you are not tied to a chain

Addit: I calculated it out 41k AS on $2850 of bookings. A pretty good return

 

[burmans]

I am thinking of joining Alaska airlines mileage program but not sure how to answer the question 'Primary Departure City' as all cities are US cities. I was thinking of putting Los Angeles. Does it matter which city nominated?

NO.

 

[Limewood]

I seethe 40% extra miles deal is on again, used AS miles/points many times, finding the flights before calling is a pain, but all goes away once sitting up the pointed end...

 

[RooFlyer]

50% bonus on my viewing, for buying 40,000 miles and above.

 

[somebol]

is it possible to book syd-hkg-nrt/hnd as one award?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

is it possible to book syd-hkg-nrt/hnd as one award?

AFAIK you can only redeem what's listed on the award chart. In the case of AU-Asia, the only route listed is 'HKG'. This means anything in addition to HKG will require a second award.

 

[nightelves]

Does anyone know if Alaska consider transit as part of a single award? Was looking at BCN-HKG-TPE-ICN. HKG being the transit, TPE being the stopover and ICN as the final destination.

 

[andye]

Does anyone know if Alaska consider transit as part of a single award? Was looking at BCN-HKG-TPE-ICN. HKG being the transit, TPE being the stopover and ICN as the final destination.

My understanding is that transit is bookable without extra points applying as ling as it stays within the award charts.
I can only see CX as an option for Eur-Asia travel as a single award and that is only between Europe and Hong Kong

 

[nightelves]

Can’t you fly Asia to Asia on CX metal under a single award?

 

[andye]

Im pretty sure BCN-HKG would be one award and HKG-TPE-ICN another

 

[Shikakui]

Some good tips on how to best use Alaska Airlines miles:
17 Ways to Redeem Alaska Mileage Plan Miles for Max Value [2018]

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes indeed. Except that CX availability is troublesome, to say the least. Lots of space Alaska simply can't see

 

[Mattg]

Yes indeed. Except that CX availability is troublesome, to say the least. Lots of space Alaska simply can't see

With CX, I normally use the QF or JL website to find 6 or 7 different flights with award availability showing. I'll then call AS and ask them to check for seats on all of these flights. Usually there are 1 or 2 flights with award seats that AS actually has access to.

As an aside, this invariably means checking for availability to/from multiple Australian cities. It's always fun hearing the AS agents trying to pronounce places like Bris-BAIN and KAI-rrrns.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
As an aside, this invariably means checking for availability to/from multiple Australian cities. It's always fun hearing the AS agents trying to pronounce places like Bris-BAIN and KAI-rrrns.

But aren't they invariably friendly and helpful? I never have the dread of calling I get with many other airlines where it seems you are going to be talk to a robot.

Have you had success with CX flights in the past few months? I never used to have a problem, giving them the multiple choices you mention, but no luck the past 3 tries. I don't doubt that AS can only ever see a subset of general award seat availability.

 

[Mattg]

But aren't they invariably friendly and helpful? I never have the dread of calling I get with many other airlines where it seems you are going to be talk to a robot.

Have you had success with CX flights in the past few months? I never used to have a problem, giving them the multiple choices you mention, but no luck the past 3 tries. I don't doubt that AS can only ever see a subset of general award seat availability.

Oh yes, they're always friendly and helpful. Nothing against AS agents!

Haven't tried a CX redemption since the changes a couple of months ago, sorry.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But aren't they invariably friendly and helpful? I never have the dread of calling I get with many other airlines where it seems you are going to be talk to a robot.

Have you had success with CX flights in the past few months? I never used to have a problem, giving them the multiple choices you mention, but no luck the past 3 tries. I don't doubt that AS can only ever see a subset of general award seat availability.

Lots of reported problems with trying to book CX via Alaska recently - especially since the changes to Asia Miles. Availability on BA and QF - many reports that you need at least 2 or 3 seats to show available before AS can see 1. And then there's the new married segment availability - flights originating or terminating in HKG can have very patchy or no availability, but that opens up if you add a connection to another Asian city. But of course from Australia we are limited to just HKG (not Asia) or USA.

 

[Limewood]

Must agree, finding J award seats long haul in or out of OZ via AS is mission impossible and not having CX online and having to call is a pain.