Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - Seattle to Delhi: Which partner airline in business class??

Planning our first trip to India.

Any thoughts on which partner airline I should focus on for 2 business award seats ( Alaska miles) from Seattle to Delhi?

Thanks.

http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/using-miles/award-chart-Africa.aspx

Based on the award chart and my general thoughts as to quality of service, I'd shoot for Cathay Pacific.

It's 5,000 miles per person more than Delta and Air France/KLM, but I think you'd be able to get a reasonably direct routing.

I don't have a clue as to availability. Travel in 2013 is my big year to burn some miles, probably F to Hong Kong.

Planning our first trip to India.

Any thoughts on which partner airline I should focus on for 2 business award seats ( Alaska miles) from Seattle to Delhi?

Thanks.

SEA->ORD->DEL->ORD->SEA on AA is 180000 miles for F. Not sure about Business.

SEA->ORD->DEL->ORD->SEA on AA is 180000 miles for F. Not sure about Business.

AA has already ended the route, I am not sure why AS has not updated their award chart to remove AA.

I agree, CX is the way to go in business and I would go for F since it is only 15K miles more apiece... If someone does not mind paying $1000 in fuel surcharges per tickets, then BA is not a bad alternative.

Since this is a long route, I would aim for an airline that offers lie-flat seats, or almost lie flat like EK's... I would avoid AF, KL, and DL at all costs with their pathetic angled flat seats.

The outrageous BA surcharges make them a non-starter if you ask me.

Agree CX is top option out of YVR or SFO.

Next: AF out of SFO.

Next: KL out of YVR.

Next: DL out of SEA, via AMS or CDG. HATE that DL replaced AF on the CDG run.

Last: BA, owing to surcharges and possibility of slipshod service from occasional bad crews and / or cabin in disrepair.

I would avoid AF, KL, and DL at all costs with their pathetic angled flat seats.

It seems you haven't kept up with DL's lie-flat installations on the 777s, 764s, and now 747s and 767-300s.

Next: DL out of SEA, via AMS or CDG. HATE that DL replaced AF on the CDG run.


I don't believe that this a possibility anymore because of Alaska's one partner rule. Delta doesn't fly AMS-DEL or CDG-DEL. There may be an exception to this rule for AF/KL itins, but I don't think you can have AF/KL/DL on the same award.


This was perhaps the worst aspect of losing AF in SEA, it eliminates all CDG connections.

It seems you haven't kept up with DL's lie-flat installations on the 777s, 764s, and now 747s and 767-300s.

Last I checked, most of DL's AMS flights are on the A330, then the India flight is on the 767 or A330...

As far as I am concerned in this scenario I am correct, but in the long run, DL will surely be a nice option when more than half of their long-haul fleet has the new seats.

Again, this only works if the OP is willing to fly to BOM instead of DEL and if s/he can find saver award space.

Planning our first trip to India.

Any thoughts on which partner airline I should focus on for 2 business award seats ( Alaska miles) from Seattle to Delhi?

Thanks.

Wait until late in 2012 and fly EK.

Alternately, CX is probably the way to go.

CX First for 140,000 miles is one of the best values for India in general. Almost any redemption to India in any airline is atleast 120,000 miles in business.

Another vote for CX First. You can have a stopover in Hong Kong if you like.

Another vote for CX First. You can have a stopover in Hong Kong if you like.

Is it one of those no more than 24 'stopover' or you're actually allowed to make one with/without extra miles?

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Another vote for CX First. You can have a stopover in Hong Kong if you like.

Is it one of those no more than 24 'stopover' or you're actually allowed to make one with/without extra miles?

If not on an open jaw its a true stopover ^

Anecdotal, but it seems like there is usually okay space on LAX-CDG on AF compared to other AF flights. And it's reasonably easy to get a positioning flight on Alaska from SEA-LAX in first. I did AF in J last year and their seat and service were fine. Agreed that CX J is better though, but I have little experience booking west...