Originally Posted by
yerffej201
has anyone booked any alaska flight with krisflyer recently?
Yes, via online chat but I had to be
very persistant:
Me: Hi. I'm looking to book redemption seats on Alaska Airlines AS1232 on xx/yy/zz. Are you able to help with that?
SQ Agent: Hi, I can check if they have available seats. May I ask from which airport the flight leaves from and the arrival airport as well, please?
Me: The flight is from Portland (PDX) to San Francisco (SFO). Two seats, one on my Krisflyer account and one on my wife's.
SQ Agent: Thank you for the information. Kindly allow me 2-3 minutes to check this for you.
Me: Thank you. I can see they have redemption availability, but unable to book online as a Krisflyer redemption.
SQ Agent: Thank you for patiently waiting.
SQ Agent: At this time, they have not opened up seats for redemption on their flights for use with KrisFlyer miles.
Me: I'm sure that's not right as there is redemption availability there and Singapore Airlines is a partner through whom it should be possible to book them.
SQ Agent: Alaska Airlines and Singapore Airlines are indeed partner carriers in the Star Alliance group. Both of which are still dependent on whether seats are available for an Award ticket to be issued.
SQ Agent: That said, at this time, none is showing on our end.
SQ Agent: Alternatively, you may contact us back for future availability.
Me: But there are redemption seats available, which can be booked directly with Alaska Airlines, and indeed via their other partners.
Me: Are you able to see any availability at all with Alaska Airlines?
SQ Agent: May I confirm which frequent flyer account will you be using for the reservation?
Me: For my seat xxx (John Doe). For my wife's seat xxx (Jane Doe).
SQ Agent: May I confirm if those are your KrisFlyer account numbers?
Me: Yes, they are.
SQ Agent: May I presume that you intend to use your KrisFlyer account for the reservation?
Me: Yes, that's correct.
SQ Agent: Thank you for the information.
SQ Agent: On that note, please be advised, for the flight you wanted to book on an Award ticket, this would need to be booked via Singapore Airlines as we are the ones who has access to your KrisFlyer miles.
SQ Agent: That said, we, here in Reservations, are dependent on the available seats any carrier in the Star Alliance group would provide us.
SQ Agent: On that note, at this time, we do not have available seats to book an Award ticket for the said flight you are requesting with Alaska Airlines.
Me: Alaska Airlines is not Star Alliance. They are a separate partner with a different award chart.
SQ Agent: One moment, please.
SQ Agent: Thank you for patiently waiting.
SQ Agent: May I ask if the reservation is for First Class or Economy?
Me: Economy
SQ Agent: Thank you.
SQ Agent: Kindly stay online with me.
Me: Thank you.
SQ Agent: You’re welcome.
SQ Agent: I have the flight you are requesting. Kindly stay online with me as I prepare the reservations.
Alleluia! So it seems SQ's agents don't realise that AS is not Star Alliance and that has to be spelt out to them for them to find the availability... Given that to get through to someone at all I had to online chat them on the dot of 9am Singapore time, 1am in the UK where I am, and it took a grand total of 1.5 hours to book two seats on one flight I think I was extremely patient :-)