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
Jan 16, 2013, 4:52 pm
#106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Has anyone checked if availability matches that shown by EK?
Jan 16, 2013, 5:27 pm
#107
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K UAL Premier Exec
Posts: 126
Booked my SEA-DXB FC this afternoon. Unfortunately the India travel I need to do has to be booked in D class which is not available for either of my flights, and this is out in November of this year. Not sure what I'm going to do now, but have a while to think about it.
Jan 16, 2013, 5:28 pm
#108
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K UAL Premier Exec
Posts: 126
Jan 17, 2013, 11:51 am
#109
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ANC
Programs: AS MVP, Club 49, Global Entry, National Emerald Club, Hilton Silver
Posts: 1,400
Two minutes ago on AS FB page:
"For Mileage Plan members, the world just became a little smaller. We're delighted to announce that you can now redeem your miles for travel on Emirates to any one of their over 128 destinations in Asia, Africa & the Middle East.
Additionally, Mileage Plan members can earn up to triple miles on Emirates new, nonstop service between Seattle & Dubai! Register today: http://bit.ly/XGQPlI"
"For Mileage Plan members, the world just became a little smaller. We're delighted to announce that you can now redeem your miles for travel on Emirates to any one of their over 128 destinations in Asia, Africa & the Middle East.
Additionally, Mileage Plan members can earn up to triple miles on Emirates new, nonstop service between Seattle & Dubai! Register today: http://bit.ly/XGQPlI"
Jan 17, 2013, 1:14 pm
#110
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
Yep, as long as it is within 100 miles. Pretty generous Radius 
Also if you have a long layover in DXB, you can stay at the airport hotel [a very luxurious hotel, can't remember the name] and EK will pay for it.
As EK is adding more partners, I am not sure how much longer they will include this benefit for award tickets.
Also if you have a long layover in DXB, you can stay at the airport hotel [a very luxurious hotel, can't remember the name] and EK will pay for it. As EK is adding more partners, I am not sure how much longer they will include this benefit for award tickets.
Jan 18, 2013, 12:10 am
#111
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: DL gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 305
stopovers
If I'm looking to book a winter trip to Cape Town and Johannesburg can I have a 3 day layover in Dubai? I tried finding it on the website and we're trying to decide which airline to fly?
Jan 18, 2013, 12:37 am
#112
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 454
If you want to visit Dubai and South Africa on one award ticket, Emirates is your best bet for airlines. Were you looking on the Alaska website? You won't be able to see Emirates flights there. If you want to stop over in Dubai, you will likely have to fly in and out of the same airport in South Africa, because you can have either a stopover or an open jaw, but not both (pretty sure this applies for Emirates awards as well).
Jan 18, 2013, 10:01 am
#113
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: DL gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 305
If you want to visit Dubai and South Africa on one award ticket, Emirates is your best bet for airlines. Were you looking on the Alaska website? You won't be able to see Emirates flights there. If you want to stop over in Dubai, you will likely have to fly in and out of the same airport in South Africa, because you can have either a stopover or an open jaw, but not both (pretty sure this applies for Emirates awards as well).
Jan 25, 2013, 12:06 am
#114
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 454
I am trying to book a flight CMB-DXB-SEA right now and can see D3 for the CMB-DXB leg and cannot get the agent to see it. I have tried back a few days in a row, so I guess the availability is not perfectly aligned with Expertflyer.
Jan 25, 2013, 5:12 am
#115
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
xCMB First Class fares are routinely under $2,000 one way, with full EQM/RDM earning.
In two weeks, I have CMB-DXB-LHR-LAX-DEN First Class on EK-EK(380)-BA-AA. Total price $1,920 AI.
Jan 25, 2013, 2:57 pm
#116
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SEA town
Programs: Alaska LTG, HHonors-Gld, IHG-Dia, LT MR Ti
Posts: 627
Just booked a SEA-DXB-MLE (Maldives) trip in May. Finding seats on first segment was a breeze.
SEA-DXB F (booked in Z) had Z2 on just about every day. I used ExpertFlyer. FYI- AS Partner Desk had exact same availability as EF.
Although DXB-MLE had very limited. Even finding Economy (booked in N) was a challenge. Some days it was N9, others was N0. I did not find anything in Biz (booked in D) nor anything in F (Booked in Z). Although the important flight is already booked in F!!
My plan is to watch ExpertFlyer on D and Z class for the ride home.
DXB-MLE is only 4 hrs, we can deal with that in cargo if necessary!! I am just glad we can get there in 2 segments rather than 6, like we did last year on Cathay Paficic. Although Cathay was plush, Emerites will be an experience!!
SEA-DXB F (booked in Z) had Z2 on just about every day. I used ExpertFlyer. FYI- AS Partner Desk had exact same availability as EF.
Although DXB-MLE had very limited. Even finding Economy (booked in N) was a challenge. Some days it was N9, others was N0. I did not find anything in Biz (booked in D) nor anything in F (Booked in Z). Although the important flight is already booked in F!!
My plan is to watch ExpertFlyer on D and Z class for the ride home.
DXB-MLE is only 4 hrs, we can deal with that in cargo if necessary!! I am just glad we can get there in 2 segments rather than 6, like we did last year on Cathay Paficic. Although Cathay was plush, Emerites will be an experience!!
Jan 25, 2013, 8:37 pm
#117
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 43
Emirates (EK) awards availability status update?
SFO777 (or anyone) could you please clarify, where or how you find CMB TO US one way F seats for under 2000? Is that using EF? Thanks
Jan 25, 2013, 10:20 pm
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
CMB-DXB EK
DXB-LHR EK
LHR-LAX AA codeshare on BA metal
LAX-DEN AA
Prices out at 260,400 Rupees AI ($2,048 at today's exchange rate)
When I purchased mine a few months ago, the exchange rate priced it at $1,920.
You'll need A class avails. EF is helpful to make sure A is available before you use EK.com
Jan 26, 2013, 12:59 am
#119
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: AS MVPG
Posts: 454
I am currently in DXB and trying to add a tag on to my trip. I have tried CMB and KUL, both of which have Z or D availability on Expertflyer but I can't get the agent to see. Do you think EK has reduced availability for AS?
Jan 26, 2013, 1:47 am
#120
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Melonville
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan MVPG, HHonors Gold, Hyatt GP Plat, SPG Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 134
CMB DXB EK 77W
DXB LHR EK 388
LHR DFW AA 77W
DFW SEA AA 738
All for around $1,950. I'm crediting the miles to AS MP, so BA metal was out for me. I prefer the EQMs on EK and AA, plus I get the new AA 77W.