Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - Redeeming Cathay Pacific ticket using Alaska miles

I am trying to book CX872 from HKG to SFO in the coming 30 days. I found that this is 140k miles using alaska miles for a RT ticket in First, which sounds like an amazing offer. However, because I am based in Hong Kong, I have never flied Alaska Airlines, therefore this would require me to transfer my SPG points to miles and move things around (or even buy 40k miles since I am booking for two)

Sorry for the confusion, but I guess my question is just how likely can I pull this off? Especially considering that I am booking for this month and some of the points to miles transfer can take "up to 6 weeks"

Sorry if this question's been answered before.

You can only transfer up to 94999 SPG points into Alaska mile per day so you will need to do multiple transactions which is allowed.


Personally your best bet may be to transfer into American Airlines (same 94999 limit) and then you can get a business class ticket for 110,000 miles round trip so you have less to purchase.

In terms of finding available flights you can use KVS tool. Here is the link.

http://www.kvstool.com/

Since I am transferring points, this does make a lot of sense. SPG gives 5000 bonus miles for every 20k, so 20k points to 25k miles. Apparently, it is cheaper to fly business using Alaska, but more expensive to fly in first. (AA is 135k RT)

Also, any upgrade options for CX using miles? I do know I can do a one class upgrade using 50k using asia miles, which sounds stupid to do...

AA award redemptions in some ways have more flexible rules than Alaska: one-ways on partners are allowed, mixing partner carriers on the same award is allowed.

SPG transfers to AA can be pretty quick. A search on 'long, transfer' in the SPG forum will find lots of posts.

CX F awards are sometimes scarce. I'd recommend calling AS and check availability before moving points around.

You can only transfer up to 94999 SPG points into Alaska miles.


Personally your best bet may be to transfer into American Airlines (same 94999 limit) and then you can get a business class ticket for 110,000 miles round trip so you have less to purchase.

In terms of finding available flights you can use KVS tool. Here is the link.

http://www.kvstool.com/


This limitation is per day. Simply do another transaction the next day if you want to transfer a greater number of miles.

Last SPG transfer to AS took five days. YMMV.

This limitation is per day. Simply do another transaction the next day if you want to transfer a greater number of miles.

Last SPG transfer to AS took five days. YMMV.

Thanks for the clarification. I thought it was per year and will update the post.

Since we're deep into the footnotes on SPG transfers, don't overlook this:

Please keep in mind that only one airline transfer transaction per member, per airline program, is permitted within a 24-hour period.

SPG posts transfer to AA on a weekly basis. Request done before 10am Tuesday got processed the same week and will show up in your AA account the following week. I forgot whether it is Mon or Tue.

I gather you know that CX opens up its F award seats 7 to 10 days before departure. HKG-SFO tends to have the biggest last minute availability.

Keep in mind AS program is not as flexible as AA program. For example, AS charges $100 for ANY change. AA does not charge anything as long as your origin and destination remain the same - so you can change date, you can change routing if better routing becomes available after you ticketed. AA charges close-in booking fee of $75 for non-elites. Dont know how much AS charges.

The free change on AA can be advantageous - say, you initially find availability HKG-YVR on CX, you can book a HKG-YVR-DFW-SFO itinerary AA award. Later CX opens up HKG-SF0, you can change your itinerary to HKG-SFO for free if it is an AA award. You would have to pay $100 per ticket change fee if it is an AS award. You could even fly HKG-JFK-SFO using AA award and still pay the same 55/67.5K (one-way) and you have the option to change it to HKG-SFO.

I would transfer to AA instead of AS because of the uncertainty of CX availability.

AA charges close-in booking fee of $75 for non-elites. Dont know how much AS charges.

$0. ;) $25 for partner redemptions, though.

$0. ;) $25 for partner redemptions, though.

I guess the $25 is telephone booking fee. AA charges the same too.

In light of the CX award seat availability, I would rather take the $0 change fee on AA than the $100 change fee on AS.

On our last trip to HKG we have changed our itinerary 3 times - started with MIA-DFW-NRT-HKG, to MIA-LAX-NRT-HKG to MIA-DFW-SFO-HKG - as award seats opened up for better itinerary, and we upfared from J to F on the last change when CX opened up loads of SFO-HKG F on the 747.

OP, dont forget you also can have stopover or open jaw on AS which is a r/t award.

With AA, it is one-way system so an open jaw is given if you want it. However you are also entitled to one stopover at North America gateway on each direction.

So you can literally do this on AA, same price, HKG-SFO (stopover) - YVR/ORD/JFK/YYZ or wherever you want to be in USA/Canada/Caribbeans/Mexico. On your way home you can start from anywhere in North America, fly to the CX gateway have a stopover and then fly back to HKG. In other words, you would have TWO trips in one price, to let you visit somewhere in North America other than SFO where you plan to go.

I guess the $25 is telephone booking fee. AA charges the same too.

Your guess would be slightly off the mark. The $25 is a partner award fee. It is charged to all customers, non-elite and elite. (:mad:) If you are not elite on AS, you pay the $15 phone booking fee on top of the $25, even if it is not a ticket that can be booked via the website. (The $15 is waived for elite members.)

Your guess would be slightly off the mark. The $25 is a partner award fee. It is charged to all customers, non-elite and elite. (:mad:) If you are not elite on AS, you pay the $15 phone booking fee on top of the $25, even if it is not a ticket that can be booked via the website. (The $15 is waived for elite members.)

For years AA charges $25 telephone booking phone despite none of the partner flights could be booked online up till last year when it first added AS flight, then followed by BA, HA and QF.

I am far more annoyed by the AS $100 change fee which can be a big downer when it comes to book CX premium cabin as one often starts with a compromised itinerary and then moves to better itinerary as award seats opening up. Also when folks book months ahead of their actual travel, sometimes things happen and they need to change dates - AS charges $100 versus AA is free - that is a big consideration if one can use either AS or AA to book the award. In OP's case, he has an option because he does not have miles in either program to begin with and he plans to transfer SPG pts in to book his award.

CX F awards are sometimes scarce. I'd recommend calling AS and check availability before moving points around.

I strongly second this. No point in moving miles/points unless you are sure the availability is there.

I strongly second this. No point in moving miles/points unless you are sure the availability is there.

+1 if it takes 5 days for the transfer then your seats could very well be gone when you call to book.

Is the $100 change fee for partner awards on AS waived for MVP Gold?

QL

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Is the $100 change fee for partner awards on AS waived for MVP Gold?

QL

Y

:)

CX award tickets on AS miles are hard to get, especially in short notice.

CX award tickets on AS miles are hard to get, especially in short notice.

How so?

CX last minute availability on the premium cabin seats is GREAT for the North America - Hong Kong routes. SFO-HKG routinely comes up 4 or more F seats almost every day starting 7 days to departure. I have seen 7, 8 out of 9 seats are available. Incredible. JFK almost always have at least 1 F available on each flight, more often than not 2 or more. YVR, ORD and YYZ all often have last minute availability though not as abundant as SFO, nor JFK. Only LAX is very hard to get.

How so?

CX last minute availability on the premium cabin seats is GREAT for the North America - Hong Kong routes. SFO-HKG routinely comes up 4 or more F seats almost every day starting 7 days to departure. I have seen 7, 8 out of 9 seats are available. Incredible. JFK almost always have at least 1 F available on each flight, more often than not 2 or more. YVR, ORD and YYZ all often have last minute availability though not as abundant as SFO, nor JFK. Only LAX is very hard to get.

Agreed. Absolutely no problem redeeming for CX F tickets.

Only LAX is very hard to get.

I am hoping to book on CX using AS miles, but only in coach. Is it also hard to get coach seats from LAX? (I'm trying to plan our first Thailand trip, so I'm hoping for LAX to Hong Kong, 2 day stop over, and then continue on to BKK.
I'm thinking of going in November 2013, which I know is the beginning of peak season, so I'm curious as to how difficult it will be to get 2 coach tickets.)

Thanks for any help!

For whomever didn't get CX F seats because I recently took a trip with an AS CX award, na na na na na. All I can say is keep up the effort, it is worth it (although I've only taken one flight segment so far). A tough call whether CX or LH F is better - both have their touches that make one better than the other in certain respects.

Thanks guys! Got 2 Fs for my wife and me with a stopover in JFK. This would be great.

I am hoping to book on CX using AS miles, but only in coach. Is it also hard to get coach seats from LAX? (I'm trying to plan our first Thailand trip, so I'm hoping for LAX to Hong Kong, 2 day stop over, and then continue on to BKK.
I'm thinking of going in November 2013, which I know is the beginning of peak season, so I'm curious as to how difficult it will be to get 2 coach tickets.)

Thanks for any help!

Dont know about coach. But I can imagine coach is actually more difficult to get than First class because CX often flies full to the gill in its coach section on most longhaul flights.

You can watch the availability for Nov 2012 and get a feel how it may go.

Sign yourself up a JL FF account, then use JL's award booking engine to search the coach award flying CX between North America and Hong Kong.

You dont need to fly from LAX. AS would transport you on AS flight between LAX-SFO, or between LAX-YVR - you can fly to HKG from SFO or YVR. I dont know if AS would let you fly LAX-JFK-HKG, which is a valid routing for CX, and bookable using AA miles. Dont know if AS allows such though. CX also flies to Hong Kong from YYZ and ORD.

The AS experts here may be able to give you more info, or you can call AS partner desk to ask if it is possible to fly LAX-XXX-HKG.

Thanks guys! Got 2 Fs for my wife and me with a stopover in JFK. This would be great.

What is your exact itinerary? This would help us to know what routing AS allows, assuming you are using AS miles.

You dont need to fly from LAX. AS would transport you on AS flight between LAX-SFO, or between LAX-YVR - you can fly to HKG from SFO or YVR. I dont know if AS would let you fly LAX-JFK-HKG, which is a valid routing for CX, and bookable using AA miles. Dont know if AS allows such though. CX also flies to Hong Kong from YYZ and ORD.

AS does NOT fly LAX-SFO any longer (eliminated that route some years ago). They do fly LAX-SJC, and I can personally attest that they will consider SJC/OAK/SFO as coterminals for CX awards (but that still means you have to get from SJC or OAK to SFO, or vice versa).

AS also does NOT allow mixed partners on awards*, so you can't have AA and CX on the same award (so AA can't fly you to ORD or YYZ from LAX to connect to CX on an AS award)- the only airline you can use to get to a partner gateway is AS. They also don't allow backtracking, generally, which probably means an itinerary of LAX-SEA-ORD(AS)-HKG(CX) isn't going to be allowed on one award (AS does not fly to YYZ, and I don't think they allow XXX-SEA-EWR//JFK-HKG routings).

* one exception: AF/KL are considered as if they are one partner for awards.

AS does NOT fly LAX-SFO any longer (eliminated that route some years ago). They do fly LAX-SJC, and I can personally attest that they will consider SJC/OAK/SFO as coterminals for CX awards (but that still means you have to get from SJC or OAK to SFO, or vice versa).

AS also does NOT allow mixed partners on awards*, so you can't have AA and CX on the same award (so AA can't fly you to ORD or YYZ from LAX to connect to CX on an AS award)- the only airline you can use to get to a partner gateway is AS. They also don't allow backtracking, generally, which probably means an itinerary of LAX-SEA-ORD(AS)-HKG(CX) isn't going to be allowed on one award (AS does not fly to YYZ, and I don't think they allow XXX-SEA-EWR//JFK-HKG routings).

* one exception: AF/KL are considered as if they are one partner for awards.

I would not assume AS not allow the bolded routings until actually talk to the partner desk. You never know until you actually ask and are told yes or no.

What I suggested to the poster who asked the question is, CX flies from these gateways - it may be necessary for the poster to have position flights in case he needs to - depends on of course whether it makes sense - say, if he happens to have families in ORD or YYZ, then he could do a positional flight to visit them, then use the AS award to HKG. On return he can have an open jaw to go home.

When it comes to award redemption, one needs to be creative and think outside the box in order to expand the options available.

I would not assume AS not allow the bolded routings until actually talk to the partner desk. You never know until you actually ask and are told yes or no.

What I suggested to the poster who asked the question is, CX flies from these gateways - it may be necessary for the poster to have position flights in case he needs to - depends on of course whether it makes sense - say, if he happens to have families in ORD or YYZ, then he could do a positional flight to visit them, then use the AS award to HKG. On return he can have an open jaw to go home.

When it comes to award redemption, one needs to be creative and think outside the box in order to expand the options available.

The restrictions mentioned in eponymous_coward's post have been confirmed here on FT by someone who used to work at the Partner Desk.

That said, it doesn't hurt to try, but don't get your hopes up too much that it'll work. Several here have asked and been told no, IIRC.

I would not assume AS not allow the bolded routings until actually talk to the partner desk. You never know until you actually ask and are told yes or no.

What I suggested to the poster who asked the question is, CX flies from these gateways - it may be necessary for the poster to have position flights in case he needs to - depends on of course whether it makes sense - say, if he happens to have families in ORD or YYZ, then he could do a positional flight to visit them, then use the AS award to HKG. On return he can have an open jaw to go home.

When it comes to award redemption, one needs to be creative and think outside the box in order to expand the options available.

Along with what jackal mentioned, read the OP's post:

I'm trying to plan our first Thailand trip, so I'm hoping for LAX to Hong Kong, 2 day stop over, and then continue on to BKK.

Can't open jaw with a stopover on an AS award on CX- AS allows one or the other, not both. (I also know this from personal experience.)

Adding paid coach positioning flights onto the award is certainly possible, but also note the OP is discussing two people, and this expense reduces the value of the award, since now you're shelling out cash for tickets to do the LAX-XXX segment that you could just use to pay for LAX-BKK flights (plus the extra time you're baking into more flights as opposed to the nonstop).

I'd also avoid doing LAX-SFO on a separate ticket without a lot of padding (more than you would think for such a short flight), because SFO gets hosed by wx so often, and the short-distance flights are the ones punished for this. The first flight of the day is usually the best one for on-time purposes. (If AS was a oneworld carrier, this policy would make me a little more willing to cut corners on separate tickets, and, say fly AA on a tighter connection LAX-SFO to CX SFO-HKG (http://www.aa.com/i18n/agency/Booking_Ticketing/Reaccom/oneworld_tkt_policy.jsp), but since AS isn't, that should be accounted for on purchasing for positioning flights: if you miss the CX flight you're at the mercy of AS and CX to fly you).

Along with what jackal mentioned, read the OP's post:



Can't open jaw with a stopover on an AS award on CX- AS allows one or the other, not both. (I also know this from personal experience.)

Adding paid coach positioning flights onto the award is certainly possible, but also note the OP is discussing two people, and this expense reduces the value of the award, since now you're shelling out cash for tickets to do the LAX-XXX segment that you could just use to pay for LAX-BKK flights (plus the extra time you're baking into more flights as opposed to the nonstop).

I'd also avoid doing LAX-SFO on a separate ticket without a lot of padding (more than you would think for such a short flight), because SFO gets hosed by wx so often, and the short-distance flights are the ones punished for this. The first flight of the day is usually the best one for on-time purposes. (If AS was a oneworld carrier, this policy would make me a little more willing to cut corners on separate tickets, and, say fly AA on a tighter connection LAX-SFO to CX SFO-HKG (http://www.aa.com/i18n/agency/Booking_Ticketing/Reaccom/oneworld_tkt_policy.jsp), but since AS isn't, that should be accounted for on purchasing for positioning flights: if you miss the CX flight you're at the mercy of AS and CX to fly you).

Thanks for the confirmation on the "No" part.

As I said, the poster needs to consider other options "when it makes sense" - only he can know whether a position flight would make sense for him or not especially he is flying coach. He might be better off just to buy the $1K or so coach r/t from LAX and be done with it. Or, he could get himself up to SFO with ample time and fly his AS award, or buy a UA ticket which would earn him quite a bit of UA miles - And my friend, UA miles have been proven more useful than AA miles these days. The Starnet blocking is a way of past and UA miles now with its very extensive partner network is far superior than OneWorld both in terms of availability and routing.

Again, evaluate all workable options and find the optimal one, hopefully.

And my friend, UA miles have been proven more useful than AA miles these days. The Starnet blocking is a way of past and UA miles now with its very extensive partner network is far superior than OneWorld both in terms of availability and routing.

Again, evaluate all workable options and find the optimal one, hopefully.

I would agree (though I think that CX is perfectly fine for getting to BKK as the OP wants to do). I would call out the UA South Asia intra-region business class round trip award as really excellent value: 35K miles (so one credit card churn :D), includes a stopover AND an open-jaw, you can fly TG and SQ very easily, so something like HKG-SIN-DPS(dest)-BKK-HKT(stop)-HKG is very do-able.

I've also used US miles to go to that region of the world; they are a quite viable option (HKG is North Asia for US, which makes the awards very reasonable). For that matter, BA miles are also useful for short segments on CX or AA if you need positioning flights (the YQ and fees they charge on CX is very modest, $40 on flights as long as a transcon, and only $5 for AA flight), and there are a number of ways to acquire/transfer to BA. For that matter, you could use WN on an award to go to OAK, BART to get to SFO to connect to CX (and WN's shuttle schedule should make things easy).

Lots of tools in the toolbox.

Is it possible to book a JFK-YVR award ticket using Alaska miles?

Is it possible to book a JFK-YVR award ticket using Alaska miles?

Yes, as a round-trip ticket (CX isn't available on one-ways yet).

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

Note that because of cabotage rules you will NOT be able to get YVR->USA or USA->YVR segments as part of the same ticket.

Yes, as a round-trip ticket (CX isn't available on one-ways yet).

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

Note that because of cabotage rules you will NOT be able to get YVR->USA or USA->YVR segments as part of the same ticket.

So does the direction of flight mater? I see I could book a RT using BA miles JFK-YVR-JFK but are you saying I could only fly one way on CX and then since I can't mix partners fly the rest back on AK? Thanks! Also what mileage level is required for CX redemptions in NA? I don't see it lited on the award chart.

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Yes, as a round-trip ticket (CX isn't available on one-ways yet).

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

Note that because of cabotage rules you will NOT be able to get YVR->USA or USA->YVR segments as part of the same ticket.

So does the direction of flight mater? I see I could book a RT using BA miles JFK-YVR-JFK but are you saying I could only fly one way on CX and then since I can't mix partners fly the rest back on AK? Thanks! Also what mileage level is required for CX redemptions in NA? I don't see it lited on the award chart.

From quoted link for CX:


Request your Partner Award reservation on Cathay Pacific by calling Alaska Airlines Reservations
at 1-800-252-7522 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-682-2221) 5:00 a.m. - Midnight (PT), Daily .

Class of ServiceRegionRound-Trip
Award Level
CoachBetween New York (JFK) and Vancouver (YVR) only35,000
Premium EconomyBetween New York (JFK) and Vancouver (YVR) only40,000
BusinessBetween New York (JFK) and Vancouver (YVR) only50,000
FirstBetween New York (JFK) and Vancouver (YVR) only70,000

So does the direction of flight mater? I see I could book a RT using BA miles JFK-YVR-JFK but are you saying I could only fly one way on CX and then since I can't mix partners fly the rest back on AK? Thanks! Also what mileage level is required for CX redemptions in NA? I don't see it lited on the award chart.

No, I'm saying that you may ONLY fly JFK-YVR-JFK or YVR-JFK-YVR on that AS North America award when you fly on CX- no destinations or origins other than JFK or YVR will be allowed as part of the award. Cabotage rules do not allow CX to transport passengers on routings between two cities in the USA without a large fine involved (that neither AS nor CX want to pay), and AS only flies to USA destinations out of YVR (and doesn't have any operations out of JFK). Any flights preceding or following your CX flights must be on separate tickets/awards.