Booking Alaska Airlines via Qantas - Question about Cabin Class

[Vee711]

So am looking at a domestic flight in the US and it's come up with several options to fly Alaska Airlines via Qantas Classic Rewards.

There is Economy and Business Class available but I am unsure what the Business Class would equate to for Alaska Airlines as their website shows Main Cabin, Premium Cabin and First Class.

Does anyone know if I should be expecting Premium Cabin or First Class when booking the Business class ticket via QF?

 

[jpp42]

An international Business Class fare would book into First Class on AS, as with most US domestic carriers. The "Premium Cabin" on AS is just extra legroom seats , called "Main Cabin Extra" or "Economy Plus" on other US carriers, it's not like international premium economy with wider seats. Premium Cabin is technically a seating upgrade, not a cabin change, in terms of the ticketing; it's still main cabin.

Alaskan has an all narrow-body fleet, and there is nothing higher than domestic first class, i.e. they don't have any lie-flat seating. This can be a little convoluted on other US domestic carriers where they offer something "better" than first class armchairs, like American's Flagship First/Flagship Suite.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So am looking at a domestic flight in the US and it's come up with several options to fly Alaska Airlines via Qantas Classic Rewards.

There is Economy and Business Class available but I am unsure what the Business Class would equate to for Alaska Airlines as their website shows Main Cabin, Premium Cabin and First Class.

Does anyone know if I should be expecting Premium Cabin or First Class when booking the Business class ticket via QF?

Domestic first class books as a business class award for almost all US carriers. There are some exceptions, but generally on a two-class plane you’ll get ‘first’. (which is actually what we think of a business!)

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Just to temper your expectations here, although you may be travelling in First class, you won't have access to the Alaska lounge unless the distance of the flight exceeds 2000 miles effective February 15.

 

[Vee711]

Just to temper your expectations here, although you may be travelling in First class, you won't have access to the Alaska lounge unless the distance of the flight exceeds 2000 miles effective February 15.

Oh, that's good to know. I think I'm a little short between Chicago and Seattle..

 

[jpp42]

you won't have access to the Alaska lounge unless the distance of the flight exceeds 2000 miles effective February 15.

Does that affect Oneworld status holders, or just paid domestic First fares?

 

[SYD]

Does that affect Oneworld status holders, or just paid domestic First fares?

That’s just paid fare access. OWS/E (except AS/AA) still get lounge access on domestic sectors.

If arriving same day on international J long haul, you should also get gratis lounge access prior to an onward domestic connection.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

That’s just paid fare access. OWS/E (except AS/AA) still get lounge access on domestic sectors.

That's correct and a few more subtleties to consider too for OneWorld. First if you hold Sapphire or above elite status with any frequent flyer program besides Alaskan and American, you have lounge access regardless of itinerary type (i.e. domestic or international) and not just to AA/AS lounges but also to any OneWorld lounge at the airport of departure. So for instance, if you were flying Alaskan from Los Angeles to San Francisco as a Qantas Gold you could first access the OneWorld Business lounge or if you are QF Platinum or BA Gold (as an example) the QF First lounge. The reason I mention this (and perhaps this is a controversial opinion), is that I would argue that your QF or BA lounge would be significantly better than most Admirals lounges and in some cases even better than their Flagship Lounges.

A second thing to consider, and I know it's not related to OneWorld specifically is to look closely at the terms & conditions of each alliance's frequent flyer programs when it comes to lounge access. For instance, SkyTeam does not permit lounge access for elites unless you are on an international flight whereas Star Alliance does (aside from United if you are a United Premier Elite where you cannot access United Clubs unless you are also on an international flight). The latter point here is crucial since there exists a loophole whereby if you are a United elite you can access Star Alliance lounges travelling domestically within the US, so long as those lounges aren't operated by United. For instance, at Newark, Washington Dulles or Detroit you could access the Lufthansa Senator lounge or in the case of my favourite airport, LAX, you could access either of the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (located at Terminal 6 just beside the United gates) or the Star Alliance lounge (quite the jog, located at TBIT but WAY better lounge IMHO).

-RooFlyer88

 

[dan73]

With codeshare Alaska booked through Qantas i note there is no seat selection even business class fare. do they allocate seat on check in?

 

[SYD]

With codeshare Alaska booked through Qantas i note there is no seat selection even business class fare. do they allocate seat on check in?

You need to get the AS booking reference and do seat selection on the AS website or app.

You can call QANTAS and ask for the AS booking reference or try entering the QF booking reference in either rj.com (Royal Jordanian) or ba.com (British Airways). You might be able to directly select seats or see the AS booking reference. Malaysian Airlines website is another option.

 

[justinbrett]

With codeshare Alaska booked through Qantas i note there is no seat selection even business class fare. do they allocate seat on check in?

Use the desktop website.

Even with the AS PNR I can't select a seat on the AS iOS app (it is a QF booking containing QF international fights and an AS international connection). It seems for some combinations you have to use the full website and not the app. (The booking shows up and I can view details, but seats are greyed out. All good on the desktop version though. ).

 

[dan73]

You need to get the AS booking reference and do seat selection on the AS website or app.

You can call QANTAS and ask for the AS booking reference or try entering the QF booking reference in either rj.com (Royal Jordanian) or ba.com (British Airways). You might be able to directly select seats or see the AS booking reference. Malaysian Airlines website is another option.

Thanks very impressive suggestions. I just noted the Alaska partner page on the Qantas website says no seat selection avail but will try other sites as you recommended

 

[SYD]

Thanks very impressive suggestions. I just noted the Alaska partner page on the Qantas website says no seat selection avail but will try other sites as you recommended

It’s a legacy(?) quirk of the QF IT. When you book flights (revenue or points) that’s a combo of QF across the Pacific and then AS or AA in Nth America, you can often select seats at the time of booking but not subsequently via QF MMB even if eligible for free seat selection eg Business fares .

Once your have the AS (or AA) booking reference, you’re free to select/change seats. Also preorder meals if applicable.

 

[ozflier]

With codeshare Alaska booked through Qantas i note there is no seat selection even business class fare. do they allocate seat on check in?

I managed to do mine via Royal Air Maroc.

 

[Himeno]

Does that affect Oneworld status holders, or just paid domestic First fares?

oneworld status holders, of non North American member airlines, in most cases get more lounge access to AS/AA domestic lounges then their own members do.

In general, AA/AS only allow access to their lounges if you are on a same day international flight, in a premium cabin on a 3 class domestic flight, are in their paid lounge access programs or are a status holder of a non North American based oneworld member.

I used the AS ANC lounge prior to a AA ANC-DFW flight last July using my QF Platinum (traveling on DONE3). There was some confusion, but they let me in after they double checked the oneworld rules.