Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - Icelandair award questions

I just got off the phone with Mileage Plan regarding award booking on FI to Reykjavik. The rep I had insisted that the mileage for a coach roundtrip ticket from North America to Iceland is 55,000, despite the fact the Alaska website states 50,000. She repeatedly insisted that "it has changed" and that "they just haven't updated the website."

Does anyone have any experience booking these awards so that I can get a true mileage level? Or is this just a situation where I would just have to call again and hope I get a different rep?

Also, I know summer is Icelandair's busiest time of the year, but has anyone been able to find coach class availability from any US city to KEF for June 2013?

The rep is probably just confused between the following two prices because very few people book the first one:

Coach Between North America and Iceland 50,000
Coach Between North America and Europe 55,000

For just 5000 miles more, you can hit up Reykjavik AND another European destination. You're allowed a free stopover in Iceland on either the outbound or inbound direction, so you can still spend all the time in Reykjavik you want, and get a nearly-free flight to anywhere FI flies in Europe.

I had them check a number of dates in May and June 2013 with zero space. Some partnership :rolleyes:

I had posted this a few days ago.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alaska-airlines-mileage-plan/1375702-whats-up-award-space-jfk-kef-icelandair.html

I am having serious issues with getting out and back of JFK in July. Can't ticket anything anyway because ALL the returns are zeroed out!!! And since AS does not allow all partner awards, if you can't come back on FI, you can't get out on FI so it's a no-go.

And yes, my agent was also confused but in the end corrected herself to 50K and not 55K if the itinerary terminated in KEF.

The rep is probably just confused between the following two prices because very few people book the first one:

Coach Between North America and Iceland 50,000
Coach Between North America and Europe 55,000

For just 5000 miles more, you can hit up Reykjavik AND another European destination. You're allowed a free stopover in Iceland on either the outbound or inbound direction, so you can still spend all the time in Reykjavik you want, and get a nearly-free flight to anywhere FI flies in Europe.

Actually, I believe for FI, if you are going to Europe, you are allowed a stopover on the outbound AND the return in Raykjavik, or you can do a open jaw AND one stopover! :D

Thanks all for the input.

If anyone is looking for an economy seat, Mileage Plan did find me one (maybe two?) seat for July 1st from DEN to KEF. But I really need June instead.

Can I book an award that departs from DEN to KEF and then on the return book KEF to SEA? I'm desperate at this point, so I'm willing to work any city pairs.

Thanks all for the input.

If anyone is looking for an economy seat, Mileage Plan did find me one (maybe two?) seat for July 1st from DEN to KEF. But I really need June instead.

Can I book an award that departs from DEN to KEF and then on the return book KEF to SEA? I'm desperate at this point, so I'm willing to work any city pairs.

Each partner has somewhat different rules ..but in general ..an open jaw ..especially to the same country is not a problem. Not sure how many miles you have to work with ..but if you have enough, you *definitely* want "Saga" class (aka Business) on FI over Coach. I think award space on that is somewhat easier to find as well. If you go out of DEN, you shouldn't have any problem finding some Saver space SEA-DEN.

FYI, looks like DL has some low BE space available from JFK-KEF around that time.

Just a heads up that it seems there is decent summer 2013 availability to KEF from MSP. I didn't get the exact dates I was looking at, but the results were much more encouraging than from SEA or DEN.

I was a bit surprised that taxes and fees come out to around $180 before the $25 phone fee.

Interesting discovery, grandmaster b. Was also debating DEN->KEF next summer. Had no idea availability was this limited.

I'll be curious what you end up booking. Cheers....

Actually, I believe for FI, if you are going to Europe, you are allowed a stopover on the outbound AND the return in Raykjavik, or you can do a open jaw AND one stopover! :D


This is absolutely the case but not typical for most award tickets. Usually you get open jaw OR stopover. I am sitting in Reykjavik waiting for our flight home. We flew SMF > SEA then on to Reykjavik where we spent 5 days. Then on to Amsterdam.

Our return today started in Frankfurt.

We are in Saga class and everything has been terrific. I booked about 11 months out but had no issues.

I'm still trying to book a flight to KEF, but so far it has been nothing but trouble. The past two days I've been told the "link is down" whenever Mileage Plan tries to get their system to talk to Icelandair's. She mentioned that Qantas and Air Pacific give them the same problems, and that it happens during any time of the day.

I do have to clarify the taxes and fees. I'm still not sure what the real charge is supposed to be, as when I called the day my original award hold was due to expire, the taxes went down to $87.10 per person. I was quoted $180 per person previously. I don't know if this is the right number or not.

Is there any way to find icelandair economy award space online or do I have to call in?

Is there any way to find icelandair economy award space online or do I have to call in?

You have to call.