Alaska-Hainan (HU) Partnership
Jul 9, 2016, 5:36 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: ALASKA
Posts: 5
Alaska-Hainan (HU) Partnership
I flew on a regular return ticket the PEK-SEA segment on an eligible regular HU number flight and on the return I was in "N" class (not listed on the AK Hainan earnings page). I had naively assumed it was an oversight not being on the earnings page and would be at least at the minimum 50% miles on AK. Nope, according to the AK mileage desk (even they had to follow up with Hainan directly to figure it out) Hainan considers it "deeply discounted" and I got zero for flying those 5,408 miles.
Lesson: when dealing with Hainan and Alaska you have to not only read the fine print, but the fine print that's not there.
Lesson: when dealing with Hainan and Alaska you have to not only read the fine print, but the fine print that's not there.
Jul 9, 2016, 5:42 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
Out of curiosity how much was the ticket if you don't mind sharing?
Understand if you don't just curious what deeply discounted means.
Understand if you don't just curious what deeply discounted means.
Jul 9, 2016, 5:43 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: LAX
Programs: Virgin America Gold, Virgin Atlantic Gold, AAdvantage Platinum, B6 Mosaic, HHonors Gold
Posts: 215
I flew on a regular return ticket the PEK-SEA segment on an eligible regular HU number flight and on the return I was in "N" class (not listed on the AK Hainan earnings page). I had naively assumed it was an oversight not being on the earnings page and would be at least at the minimum 50% miles on AK. Nope, according to the AK mileage desk (even they had to follow up with Hainan directly to figure it out) Hainan considers it "deeply discounted" and I got zero for flying those 5,408 miles.
Lesson: when dealing with Hainan and Alaska you have to not only read the fine print, but the fine print that's not there.
Lesson: when dealing with Hainan and Alaska you have to not only read the fine print, but the fine print that's not there.
Jul 9, 2016, 5:44 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
The fine print is there (emphasis mine):
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...-airlines.aspx
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...-airlines.aspx
To ensure flight credit, the two-letter airline code (HU) must precede the flight number (for example, HU XXXX) on your ticket receipt or boarding pass.
Mileage earned is based on a percentage of actual flight miles flown, with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles. No miles will be earned for classes of service not listed above.
Mileage earned is based on a percentage of actual flight miles flown, with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles. No miles will be earned for classes of service not listed above.
Jul 9, 2016, 5:46 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: ALASKA
Posts: 5
Bought from a regular travel agency, service and all was fine, but a partner relationship ticket should not be like patching together a bunch of separate tickets. The ANC-SEA SEA-ANC segments were on Alaska flights.
Jul 9, 2016, 5:49 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Interesting. I looked at a SEA-PEK-SEA for $717 it was Q on the outbound and N on the return. Interestingly enough when i was selecting the individual flights the outbound which earning ($278 Economy Saver) was cheaper than the return that didn't earn ($438 Economy Basic). Saver < Basic
Jul 9, 2016, 6:06 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: YYZ, HKG, MFM
Programs: AC35K, AS MVP, WS Gold, ITA EP, Marriott Plat, Hyatt-Explorist, IHG Diamond
Posts: 2,019
Jul 9, 2016, 6:17 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2013
Location: west coast best coast
Programs: TINDER GOLD, STARBUCKS GOLD, COSTCO EXECUTIVE!!
Posts: 3,989
Airlines love to stretch the definition of "deeply discounted economy" tickets. I'd wager about 25%, maybe 50% of the aircraft in low-yield markets are passengers on these fares. Think R/T for Alaska, O/N/Q for American, V/T for Delta, N/K/L for United. It's a way for airlines to make their FFP members splurge for more expensive fares to get miles.
Jul 9, 2016, 7:24 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,838
Well, I'd think that. And I'd like to see that.
Jul 9, 2016, 10:49 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,723
I just always assume that if I buy a revenue ticket on an AS partner, I'm not getting any miles and if I do happen to get any, it's a welcome surprise. I certainly would never buy a partner ticket as a mileage run for AS elite qualification.
For me, the wide variety of AS partners is really a benefit only in terms of award redemption, not miles earning.
For me, the wide variety of AS partners is really a benefit only in terms of award redemption, not miles earning.
Jul 9, 2016, 11:56 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,838
My domestic trips are not long enough to get me to elite status. So I do expect to get something out of partner international travel. Otherwise I might just as well travel with UA where I already have elite status.
Jul 10, 2016, 12:12 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: AS: MVPG, Hyatt: P, SPG: G, Marriott: G, IHG: P
Posts: 305
I just always assume that if I buy a revenue ticket on an AS partner, I'm not getting any miles and if I do happen to get any, it's a welcome surprise. I certainly would never buy a partner ticket as a mileage run for AS elite qualification.
For me, the wide variety of AS partners is really a benefit only in terms of award redemption, not miles earning.
For me, the wide variety of AS partners is really a benefit only in terms of award redemption, not miles earning.
