Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

[Mattg]

I booked this award using Alaska miles, flying Qatar F on two short flights within the Middle East. There's an overnight stop in Doha, so I booked a hotel using QR's stopover program.

Since the flights are in F, I should be able to visit the Al Safwa lounge in Doha.

I had to buy the 15,000 miles needed to book this award, which I got during a bonus offer. The total cost of buying the miles, plus the USD89 in taxes, was still less than what I would have paid in Velocity carrier charges if I'd booked it using Velocity points!



BTW there's another bonus on now if you buy Alaska miles. The offer amounts are targeted and vary between accounts; mine is 40%.

 

[aaa99]

I booked this award using Alaska miles, flying Qatar F on two short flights within the Middle East. There's an overnight stop in Doha, so I booked a hotel using QR's stopover program.

Since the flights are in F, I should be able to visit the Al Safwa lounge in Doha.

I had to buy the 15,000 miles needed to book this award, which I got during a bonus offer. The total cost of buying the miles, plus the USD89 in taxes, was still less than what I would have paid in Velocity carrier charges if I'd booked it using Velocity points!

View attachment 426877

BTW there's another bonus on now if you buy Alaska miles. The offer amounts are targeted and vary between accounts; mine is 40%.

Nice, but I assume these are actually business class flights that Qatar markets as first class. The true Qatar first class is only available on their A380 and ex Cathay 777s.

Still gets Al Safwa access which is a nice bonus though

 

[RooFlyer]

Nice, but I assume these are actually business class flights that Qatar markets as first class.

Yes, there is no J sold on these flights, so they are just J re-badged to F for local sensibilities - even the meals and wines are the same as J (in my experience DOH-CAI-DOH). Maybe a cup cardamon coffee and dates before departure as additional.

And should anyone only be arriving into DOH on one of these short-haul Fs, with another class for the onward leg, you can still access Al Safwa

 

[Gold Member]

Is this the start of an Alaska partner award journey to MVP75 for OWE, @Mattg ? Given the amount of flying you do, at 60% off it could make a lot of sense.

 

[burmans]

Yes, there is no J sold on these flights, so they are just J re-badged to F for local sensibilities - even the meals and wines are the same as J (in my experience DOH-CAI-DOH). Maybe a cup cardamon coffee and dates before departure as additional.

And should anyone only be arriving into DOH on one of these short-haul Fs, with another class for the onward leg, you can still access Al Safwa

Personally the access to Al Safwa ( as long as you have a decent layover) easily makes it worth it! Such a great lounge IMO.

 

[Muhsin]

I booked business class from Jeddah to Doha using Alaska miles on Oman Airways. To my surprise, I was told my ticket didn't include checked-in baggage and that I had to pay for 39 kilos of checked-in baggage, even though I was flying business class. Has anyone experienced a baggage issue having booked via Alaska FF points?

 

[Mattg]

I booked business class from Jeddah to Doha using Alaska miles on Oman Airways. To my surprise, I was told my ticket didn't include checked-in baggage and that I had to pay for 39 kilos of checked-in baggage, even though I was flying business class. Has anyone experienced a baggage issue having booked via Alaska FF points?

No I haven't come across this, especially when booking a reward ticket in business class.

Was the issue that you were over the maximum allowance with 39kg, or did your ticket not include any allowance?

 

[Mattg]

Nice, but I assume these are actually business class flights that Qatar markets as first class. The true Qatar first class is only available on their A380 and ex Cathay 777s.

Still gets Al Safwa access which is a nice bonus though

Yes, both flights are in Qsuites which is the same seat as they sell as J on long-haul flights. The main benefit of it being marketed as F is indeed Al Safwa lounge access.

Is this the start of an Alaska partner award journey to MVP75 for OWE, @Mattg ? Given the amount of flying you do, at 60% off it could make a lot of sense.

Since I already have Oneworld Emerald through Qantas, wasn't planning on doing this. Could make sense at some point, and for some people though.

 

[Muhsin]

No I haven't come across this, especially when booking a reward ticket in business class.

Was the issue that you were over the maximum allowance with 39kg, or did your ticket not include any allowance?

No checked in allowance at all !!! had to pay from the 1st kilo onwards

 

[sqrt()]

Didn't check AS awards across the Tasman until today. Just booked 5x Y SYD-ZQN rt on QF for 75k +$900 USD . The tax makes it hurt but most basic JQ would have been 2.2k AUD, QF 3k+. This way it's refundable and I get my OWE perks (got to pick whether mum or dad comes to the Flounge). US Amex -> HA -> AS is nice to have for the time being. QF points-wise would have been 180k plus the same taxes? BA would have been north of 100k avios.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Didn't check AS awards across the Tasman until today. Just booked 5x Y SYD-ZQN rt on QF for 75k +$900 USD . The tax makes it hurt but most basic JQ would have been 2.2k AUD, QF 3k+. This way it's refundable and I get my OWE perks (got to pick whether mum or dad comes to the Flounge). US Amex -> HA -> AS is nice to have for the time being. QF points-wise would have been 180k plus the same taxes? BA would have been north of 100k avios.

US$900 = AU$1,430 (1430/5=$286)
For my regular cash paid TT flights AU-NZ-AU real taxes are AU$140 & NZ$70. AU has a AU$70 departure tax.
In 2023 did an QF award AU to NZ. QF carrier surcharges were AU$24. QF Y classic awards are 18,000 QF points one way
JQ $2200/5=$400 RT [=$200 one way average] is good pricing, considering how much real taxes included.. Guess bags extra as is f&b on JQ lowest fares

 

[sqrt()]

US$900 = AU$1,430 (1430/5=$286)
For my regular cash paid TT flights AU-NZ-AU real taxes are AU$140 & NZ$70. AU has a AU$70 departure tax.
In 2023 did an QF award AU to NZ. QF carrier surcharges were AU$24. QF Y classic awards are 18,000 QF points one way
JQ $2200/5=$400 RT [=$200 one way average] is good pricing, considering how much real taxes included

Yep, wasn't inferring JQ to be unreasonably expensive, but like I said I value the award flexibility and status benefits over basic econ. Want the family trip to be smooth...

 

[Mattg]

Didn't check AS awards across the Tasman until today. Just booked 5x Y SYD-ZQN rt on QF for 75k +$900 USD . The tax makes it hurt but most basic JQ would have been 2.2k AUD, QF 3k+. This way it's refundable and I get my OWE perks (got to pick whether mum or dad comes to the Flounge). US Amex -> HA -> AS is nice to have for the time being. QF points-wise would have been 180k plus the same taxes? BA would have been north of 100k avios.

That's a good deal. Almost all of the co-payment you paid is taxes that go to the Australian & NZ governments, so you would need to pay those regardless of how you booked the tickets. The rest would just be Alaska's partner airline booking fees, which are minimal and levied instead of carrier charges.