Apr 5, 2014, 3:23 pm
Last edit by: eponymous_coward
Emirates award guide using Alaska Airlines miles
Routing Rules:
All trips must start or end in North America.
One open jaw and one stopover allowed on each one-way award.
No fees for changes/cancellations prior to 60 days from departure.
North American Gateway Cities:
West Coast
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Central
Chicago
Dallas
Houston
East Coast
Boston
New York (JFK)
Orlando (Effective September 1, 2015)
Washington DC (IAD)
Canada
Toronto
Award Chart Links*:
Middle East & Africa
Asia
Europe
*If region is not listed on chart its not available.
Perks
Chauffeur Drive NOT Available
Car service is not available for all Business Class and First Class passengers on Alaska Airlines ticketed award tickets on Emirates flights (as of Jan 2015). The chauffeur will not confirm if you use the EK website for this, though the website makes it look you can make a reservation.
Lounges
Access is available for all passengers traveling in Business and First Class. Not all cities have lounges and many may be operated by a Partner. There have been some reports of people having an issue accessing the Dubai lounges as the tickets may appear in their system as non-revenue employee travel. This is not as much of a problem as it used to be but in case it comes up please advise the lounge attendant that you are on an Alaska Airlines award.
Dubai Connect
AS Awards on EK do not qualify for Dubai Connect, which is the service that offers the free hotel.
Tricks to find Transoceanic availability
Instead of performing a blanket, i.e. SEA-DXB search, perform: SEA-MED.
Madinah is a destination that is only served by EK. Consequently, if there is availability, only EK will show up in the calendar results.
Routing Rules:
All trips must start or end in North America.
One open jaw and one stopover allowed on each one-way award.
No fees for changes/cancellations prior to 60 days from departure.
North American Gateway Cities:
West Coast
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Central
Chicago
Dallas
Houston
East Coast
Boston
New York (JFK)
Orlando (Effective September 1, 2015)
Washington DC (IAD)
Canada
Toronto
Award Chart Links*:
Middle East & Africa
Asia
Europe
*If region is not listed on chart its not available.
Perks
Chauffeur Drive NOT Available
Car service is not available for all Business Class and First Class passengers on Alaska Airlines ticketed award tickets on Emirates flights (as of Jan 2015). The chauffeur will not confirm if you use the EK website for this, though the website makes it look you can make a reservation.
Lounges
Access is available for all passengers traveling in Business and First Class. Not all cities have lounges and many may be operated by a Partner. There have been some reports of people having an issue accessing the Dubai lounges as the tickets may appear in their system as non-revenue employee travel. This is not as much of a problem as it used to be but in case it comes up please advise the lounge attendant that you are on an Alaska Airlines award.
Dubai Connect
AS Awards on EK do not qualify for Dubai Connect, which is the service that offers the free hotel.
Tricks to find Transoceanic availability
Instead of performing a blanket, i.e. SEA-DXB search, perform: SEA-MED.
Madinah is a destination that is only served by EK. Consequently, if there is availability, only EK will show up in the calendar results.
Consolidated Emirates (EK) awards availability/booking/routing thread
Sep 13, 2015, 10:43 am
#2191
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 700
What's the word on award flights becoming available after cancelation? I currently have a March 2016 itinerary for LAX-DXB-MAD, but might change MAD to BCN. My understanding is that in order to do this, I have to cancel the whole itinerary and rebook it as LAX-DXB-BCN; I can't just change the second segment and keep the first segment intact. If I try doing this, is the LAX-DXB guaranteed to be available?
Sep 13, 2015, 10:43 am
#2192
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
Will obviously pursue this strategy. This is how we normally book CX, then over time as additional F space opens we move the other travelers forward.
So, considering I've spent two hours this am trying and failing to book displayed EK availability on AS, hence I don't really have the patience to go over this entire thread, would somebody be kind enough to guide me:
1) Is AS' actually access to EK based on Z-1/D-1 while using expertflyer? Or does AS access = EK awards per expertflyer?
2) Will AS agents have any difficulty splitting a PNR i.e. I just booked the four of us in J, hence I'll need an agent to break one or two of us off?
3) Is EK as consistent as CX in releasing F awards close-in?
Look, I realize flying EK J isn't the end of the world, it just really irritates me that AS phantom availability is SO ABUNDANT. I've run across phantom availability on LAN and Cathay when booking on BA, but usually just once in a blue moon. The AS issue is widespread and consistent. And it causes me to waste miles.
Jamie
So, considering I've spent two hours this am trying and failing to book displayed EK availability on AS, hence I don't really have the patience to go over this entire thread, would somebody be kind enough to guide me:
1) Is AS' actually access to EK based on Z-1/D-1 while using expertflyer? Or does AS access = EK awards per expertflyer?
2) Will AS agents have any difficulty splitting a PNR i.e. I just booked the four of us in J, hence I'll need an agent to break one or two of us off?
3) Is EK as consistent as CX in releasing F awards close-in?
Look, I realize flying EK J isn't the end of the world, it just really irritates me that AS phantom availability is SO ABUNDANT. I've run across phantom availability on LAN and Cathay when booking on BA, but usually just once in a blue moon. The AS issue is widespread and consistent. And it causes me to waste miles.
Jamie
2) No problem splitting PNRs.
3) No, not as consistent. I have seen flights go out with nearly empty F cabins and Z = 0 even the day of the flight.
As far as phantom availability goes, I have never run across phantom availability on AS for EK, this must be something new. If ExpertFlyer is showing Z > 1 and AS is seeing inventory, but EK is refusing it, I can almost assure you the fault is on EKs side.
Sep 13, 2015, 11:29 am
#2193
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,524
Wife and I are booked on DFW-DXB-SEZ, but due to issues with availability we are having to fly one day apart on DFW-DXB for F, stopover, then DXB-SEZ a couple days later we do not want to fly apart so wife is in J and I'm in Y. I have expert flyer alerts setup that keep getting tripped via email but when I check the seat has been put back already, also EF shows D=2 but somehow AS cannot access them.
1) Any way of getting access to one of these D seats? They seem phantom.
2) If there is no way, can I at least get into J lounge with wife in DXB when we leave?
3) This flight shows Z = 1, but I cannot find a single day that AS has access to it. According to the EK site the plane does have F seats. Anyone been able to book this route with AS miles?
Thanks!
1) Any way of getting access to one of these D seats? They seem phantom.
2) If there is no way, can I at least get into J lounge with wife in DXB when we leave?
3) This flight shows Z = 1, but I cannot find a single day that AS has access to it. According to the EK site the plane does have F seats. Anyone been able to book this route with AS miles?
Thanks!
Last edited by glocklt4; Sep 13, 2015 at 12:33 pm
Sep 18, 2015, 8:23 am
#2194
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,913
Is there a way to perform the search where they don't include mixed class itineraries? It is very annoying that one leg for example is in F and the other in Y. Why is there so many frequent mixed class availability vs. having the premium class for both legs? Everything I have looked up to South Africa has mixed class awards and can't find anything with the same class for the whole trip.
Sep 18, 2015, 8:25 am
#2195
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Is there a way to perform the search where they don't include mixed class itineraries? It is very annoying that one leg for example is in F and the other in Y. Why is there so many frequent mixed class availability vs. having the premium class for both legs? Everything I have looked up to South Africa has mixed class awards and can't find anything with the same class for the whole trip.
Sep 18, 2015, 8:35 am
#2196
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,051
Is there a way to perform the search where they don't include mixed class itineraries? It is very annoying that one leg for example is in F and the other in Y. Why is there so many frequent mixed class availability vs. having the premium class for both legs? Everything I have looked up to South Africa has mixed class awards and can't find anything with the same class for the whole trip.
It appears that EK's routes to JNB and CPT are currently all 777, which surprised me as I would have guessed JNB at least had some A380 service. But until/unless they do fly the A380 to South Africa, you're very unlikely to find 2 first class seats all the way there unless you book last-minute when they tend to open up more space.
You may be able to find first on an A380 connecting to business on a 777, but unfortunately there's no easy way to get the AS search engine to highlight such options.
Sep 18, 2015, 9:03 am
#2197
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,913
Are you looking for 2 people? When booking in advance EK seems to release 2 first class award seats consistently on A380 routes, which covers many US routes these days, but only 1 on 777 routes, so a search for 2 people on a routing with an A380 flight connecting to a 777 flight will return a mixed-class option.
It appears that EK's routes to JNB and CPT are currently all 777, which surprised me as I would have guessed JNB at least had some A380 service. But until/unless they do fly the A380 to South Africa, you're very unlikely to find 2 first class seats all the way there unless you book last-minute when they tend to open up more space.
You may be able to find first on an A380 connecting to business on a 777, but unfortunately there's no easy way to get the AS search engine to highlight such options.
It appears that EK's routes to JNB and CPT are currently all 777, which surprised me as I would have guessed JNB at least had some A380 service. But until/unless they do fly the A380 to South Africa, you're very unlikely to find 2 first class seats all the way there unless you book last-minute when they tend to open up more space.
You may be able to find first on an A380 connecting to business on a 777, but unfortunately there's no easy way to get the AS search engine to highlight such options.
Sep 18, 2015, 9:09 am
#2198
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,051
Actually just looking for 1 seat. Is it true that the website doesn't clearly show availability for F at times with these multi legs partner trips or do I need to essentially need to invest an EF subscription to see accurate availability as I believe its booked into Z class?
Sep 18, 2015, 9:32 am
#2200
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AC SE100K, AA EXP, SPG Plt, HH Dmnd
Posts: 1,507
So even if the website allows me to book chauffeur drive on a award ticket, it still isn't valid and will be revoked?
Sep 18, 2015, 9:37 am
#2201
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: SK Gold, ITA Executive, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis PC, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,164
Does it allow you to confirm it? It shows as available on EK, but if you try to book it, it errors out on the final step after you enter all the details...
Sep 18, 2015, 9:46 am
#2202
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,913
Is the EK skywards website a good source for finding availability for multi leg F tickets that AS can book?
Sep 18, 2015, 10:44 am
#2203
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,992
Hey it's free and coach is not that bad on the second leg and hear tell EK might be working on a Premium Class !!
Sep 18, 2015, 11:37 am
#2204
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,913
Doesn't work that way AS can only book with what "they see" which is also what "we see". JNB and CPT are huge hot spots, we have flown this several times. Mostly likely you will get First or Biz to Dubai then coach over. In the past if you wait till the last few weeks inventory if unsold will open up.
Hey it's free and coach is not that bad on the second leg and hear tell EK might be working on a Premium Class !!
Hey it's free and coach is not that bad on the second leg and hear tell EK might be working on a Premium Class !!
Last edited by ASUDan130; Sep 18, 2015 at 1:07 pm
Sep 18, 2015, 2:13 pm
#2205
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,992
Ahh this is a bummer. I did see something with business class to South Africa so would your recommendation is to definitely book the SA leg in business as yes it looks like First is next to impossible to come by on these routes. What is "premium" class? It looks like CPT and JNB Z space is pretty much nil and Business class space is only available to JNB during very limited times. Am I right on this? This is all based solely what I see online on AS.
777 does not have that feature. but never the less EK's business section is great and when it's ope we take it. It's an 8 hour flight to JNB but if you can block a good set of sets in coach it's not bad. This year we are doing SFO over FC then coach.