Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

[Mattg]

Just tried to book CX flights 331 days out, which I understood was the window opening for CX using Mileage Plan (re-inforced last week when I called to check).

Tried to get ICN-HKG and (separately) HKG-SYD or MEL. Not a cracker, any class, and nothing for past week. Then she said that 331 days was the AS window and that she didn't know when CX opened up on AS.

Can anyone say definitively when CX award flights should become available on Mileage Plan?

Should be ~330-331 days, but not all CX seats are made available to AS.

Could it be a married segments issue? I.e. have you tried booking ICN-HKG-SYD/MEL as a through ticket?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Could it be a married segments issue? I.e. have you tried booking ICN-HKG-SYD/MEL as a through ticket?

This seems to be a key factor since the changes. Tickets originating or terminating on HKG can be very hard to find. Those useing HKG as a transit seem to be much easier.

 

[RooFlyer]

But can you book an award ticket transiting HKG? I've been told yes and no by AS agents. If you look at the AS redemption page from region to region, CX for 'Asia' to 'Asia' is labelled as just that. but for Asia to Australia, its labelled 'Hong Kong to Australia'.

That is, I understood that you had to originate in HKG for a CX award to Australia. But as an agent last week said that ICN-HKG-Australia was possible on one award, that's what I went to book when I called back.

What are other's opinions about this? Does AS allow you to book something like ICN-xHKG-SYD on one award, or do you have to book it as two separate awards?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But can you book an award ticket transiting HKG? I've been told yes and no by AS agents. If you look at the AS redemption page from region to region, CX for 'Asia' to 'Asia' is labelled as just that. but for Asia to Australia, its labelled 'Hong Kong to Australia'.

That is, I understood that you had to originate in HKG for a CX award to Australia. But as an agent last week said that ICN-HKG-Australia was possible on one award, that's what I went to book when I called back.

What are other's opinions about this? Does AS allow you to book something like ICN-xHKG-SYD on one award, or do you have to book it as two separate awards?

Difference between one ticket, and one award. The two flights could go on one ticket i think, but it might be charged as two awards.

When redeeming CX via AS you can do only what is listed on the award chart. This is solely AU-HKG or AU-USA. IIRC asia-AU is not on the list (hence two awards).

The event may have erred on this.

 

[RooFlyer]

The event may have erred on this.

I'm definitely not arguing with what you said ( I've always thought the same thing), but both in my query call and then in the booking call, the agents said ICN-xHKG-SYD WAS bookable, just not available.

So I'm confused. But CX availability still sucks.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm definitely not arguing with what you said ( I've always thought the same thing), but both in my query call and then in the booking call, the agents said ICN-xHKG-SYD WAS bookable, just not available.

So I'm confused. But CX availability still sucks.

You can get USA-ASIA (via HKG), so i suspect it may be a case of agents thinking you can do the same for australia (even though you can’t).

 

[diningdecadence]

i've got 10k AS that are going to expire - is there an easy way to top up/earn, or a small item redemption so they don't go to waste? No definite travel plans upcoming.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just buy the minimum amount.

 

[jgm]

Just buy the minimum amount.

I have a CX J award MEL-HKG-SFO-SEA Jan next year. I found it on the QF site (I think) and just fed the agent the details. Only cost me 60k points + US$144.

 

[yoyo]

i've got 10k AS that are going to expire - is there an easy way to top up/earn, or a small item redemption so they don't go to waste? No definite travel plans upcoming.

You can send a friend on a one way trip within Australia on Qantas for 12,500 points, so you'd need a small top up.
Otherwise buy something from their shopping mall. Lots of retailers ship to Australia.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

For readers coming to this forum off the back of the Gazette article it's worth highlighting the extreme restrictions on availability for CX flights. Sionce the changes to Asia Miles earlier this year award availability for CX flights has become very patchy, at best. And AS can't see even less in some cases than what you'll see on the QF or BA sites. For trips originating or terminating n HKG it can be almost impossible to find availability (CX seems to be using married segments to stop travel only to or frm HKG).

A good rule of thumb to apply is that whatever availability you can see on BA or QF subtract two for what AS might be able to see in J and subtract one for F (and even then neither are guaranteed). So BA/QF would need to show three seats before you can book one (in J).

There may be exceptions, but just beware of these restrictions before taking the plunge to buy!

 

[Limewood]

Another way to find true CX availability is via JAL site.

Been using AS miles for some years to book J award seats but past months rare to find them from/to OZ.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Another way to find true CX availability is via JAL site.

Been using AS miles for some years to book J award seats but past months rare to find them from/to OZ.

Agreed - if looking to book through QF or AA etc. But AS can't see what JL/BA/QF sees - hence the difficulty. It may be a case of 'minus 1' or 'minus 2'.

 

[mlob]

Bummed to hear about this drop in availability. Had some of these points saved up for a future trip.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Bummed to hear about this drop in availability. Had some of these points saved up for a future trip.

yeah. Me too. The 60K return to HKG (business class) was what I had my eye on, but might have to be AU-HKG-USA to take advantage of the married segments thingy. Still great value, but not 100% what I wanted.

 

[appaz]

SIN-HND stopover NRT-DEL (sky suites) for 25k in J looks like amazing value with availability

 

[Limewood]

There has been a massive drop in AS award J seat availability for sure, so even though Ive booked wth them numerous times before no more points for me.

 

[ermen]

just saw discussion here

not only AS.
availability to OW partners also patchy.
cant figure out if its a CX IT problem (still) or really a cunning / sneaky way to restrict AS CX redemptions..

 

[MEL_Traveller]

CX issue since the changes. It’s getting slightly better, but not by much. Through flights with HKG as transit are showing better that flights originating or terminating in HKG.

 

[jgm]

I have awards on separate tickets. FCA-SEA in F & SEA-LAX in Y, both on the same day with a 4 hour layover in SEA. Will my luggage be checked through to LAX, or will I have to collect it in SEA?