Apr 2, 2016, 9:31 am
Last edit by: eponymous_coward
Emirates award guide using Alaska Airlines miles. Note that Alaska Airlines cannot book EK F any longer- it's just J or Y. F awards were ceased on 3/31/2021.
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.
Only AS and EK can be used for the award.
North American Gateway Cities:
West Coast
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Central
Chicago
Dallas
Houston
East Coast
Boston
New York (JFK, EWR)
Washington DC (IAD)
Fort Lauderdale
Orlando
Canada
Toronto
Mexico
Mexico City (via Barcelona)
Award Chart Links*:
Middle East & Africa
Asia
Note: EK flies DXB-HKG-BKK but otherwise it is DXB-final stop
Europe
Note: EK flies JFK-MXP-DXB and EWR-ATH-DXB but otherwise routing will be via DXB
*If region is not listed on chart it's 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.
Only AS and EK can be used for the award.
North American Gateway Cities:
West Coast
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Central
Chicago
Dallas
Houston
East Coast
Boston
New York (JFK, EWR)
Washington DC (IAD)
Fort Lauderdale
Orlando
Canada
Toronto
Mexico
Mexico City (via Barcelona)
Award Chart Links*:
Middle East & Africa
Asia
Note: EK flies DXB-HKG-BKK but otherwise it is DXB-final stop
Europe
Note: EK flies JFK-MXP-DXB and EWR-ATH-DXB but otherwise routing will be via DXB
*If region is not listed on chart it's 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 (2016 and Later)
Aug 5, 2016, 7:12 pm
#181
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
Thanks, I'm surprised I got it! The flight is in February 2017. I was expecting to have to wait until a week or two before the flight and then cross my fingers that it opens up, per the usual scenario.
For anyone with an award reservation to/from JNB after February 1st, it's worth checking F and J award inventory again!
For anyone with an award reservation to/from JNB after February 1st, it's worth checking F and J award inventory again!
Also look into buying return trip on local economy Biz 2400 us
Aug 7, 2016, 8:37 pm
#182
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SEA town
Programs: Alaska LTG, HHonors-Gld, IHG-Dia, LT MR Ti
Posts: 627
In regards to JNB-DBX going to A380. Appears EK761 (DXB-JNB) & EK762 (JNB-DXB) will move from 777ER to A380 from MAR26, 2017 - JUL11, 2017, per emirates.com. Perfect for me, as traveling in April 2017.
Lounge access is covered, with 4 segments in with the shower in the sky! We have a 13 hour layover in DXB on the way home. At least I won't need another shower.
Thans for everyone's responses.
Aug 8, 2016, 5:28 am
#183
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
Well I got lucky. Today all four segments opened up in FC (Z). I called Gold line to make the change, must of been a pain... because I didn't get the confirmation for about 5 hours.
In regards to JNB-DBX going to A380. Appears EK761 (DXB-JNB) & EK762 (JNB-DXB) will move from 777ER to A380 from MAR26, 2017 - JUL11, 2017, per emirates.com. Perfect for me, as traveling in April 2017.
Lounge access is covered, with 4 segments in with the shower in the sky! We have a 13 hour layover in DXB on the way home. At least I won't need another shower.
Thans for everyone's responses.
In regards to JNB-DBX going to A380. Appears EK761 (DXB-JNB) & EK762 (JNB-DXB) will move from 777ER to A380 from MAR26, 2017 - JUL11, 2017, per emirates.com. Perfect for me, as traveling in April 2017.
Lounge access is covered, with 4 segments in with the shower in the sky! We have a 13 hour layover in DXB on the way home. At least I won't need another shower.
Thans for everyone's responses.
Aug 9, 2016, 7:16 am
#184
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SEA town
Programs: Alaska LTG, HHonors-Gld, IHG-Dia, LT MR Ti
Posts: 627
I tried JNB-LAX
Business $2881 USD
First $4454 USD
Now it's got me thinking, is $4454 worth 200k? I believe EK FC EQM is 2x and RDM is 2x as well. $4454 would net me 225k in my mileage account (-200k for OW and 25k RDM).
My flying companion is AA EXP, so it doesn't make sense to buy her a ticket as EK isn't a AA Partner. Plus she wants FC sky spa experience.
Aug 9, 2016, 1:22 pm
#185
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
I tried a EK paid booking on my return. You're right, one ways isn't too bad for premium seats.
I tried JNB-LAX
Business $2881 USD
First $4454 USD
Now it's got me thinking, is $4454 worth 200k? I believe EK FC EQM is 2x and RDM is 2x as well. $4454 would net me 225k in my mileage account (-200k for OW and 25k RDM).
My flying companion is AA EXP, so it doesn't make sense to buy her a ticket as EK isn't a AA Partner. Plus she wants FC sky spa experience.
I tried JNB-LAX
Business $2881 USD
First $4454 USD
Now it's got me thinking, is $4454 worth 200k? I believe EK FC EQM is 2x and RDM is 2x as well. $4454 would net me 225k in my mileage account (-200k for OW and 25k RDM).
My flying companion is AA EXP, so it doesn't make sense to buy her a ticket as EK isn't a AA Partner. Plus she wants FC sky spa experience.
Aug 10, 2016, 9:33 pm
#186
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: Lifetime AS 1MM & MVPG, AS MVPG100K, AA, DL, HH-G
Posts: 8,251
Who's right, who is wrong-I am guessing AS is wrong
I have an F flight on EK Sept. 29 DFW-DXB-MUC. The AS website shows the DFW-DXB-MUC flight as an all A380 metal flight set. The EK site shows the DFW-DXB flight as a Boeing 777. Cabin will be the same but no showers. DXB-MUC is showing A380. This trip was booked before the devaluation and my main reason for booking it was to experience the A380 one last time. I do not see any reason to book the new mileage penalty fares on EK.
It's all about the showers....I assume the EK website is correct since they will magically put a few hundred tons of metal into the air, but I am hoping AS has it right.
Anyone have recent experience on the DFW-DXB flights?
It's all about the showers....I assume the EK website is correct since they will magically put a few hundred tons of metal into the air, but I am hoping AS has it right.
Anyone have recent experience on the DFW-DXB flights?
Aug 10, 2016, 11:38 pm
#188
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP , Delta Gold Medallion, "Credit Card" status for various hotels
Posts: 672
Unfortunately, at this point, there have been enough aircraft substitutions on EK that anyone with a booking should be prepared for it to happen on any route. Even their new second daily LAX flight, which was advertised as a 380, is reverting to a 777 for a few months this fall.
Aug 11, 2016, 5:35 am
#189
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
Unfortunately, at this point, there have been enough aircraft substitutions on EK that anyone with a booking should be prepared for it to happen on any route. Even their new second daily LAX flight, which was advertised as a 380, is reverting to a 777 for a few months this fall.
Aug 14, 2016, 10:56 am
#190
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Netherlands
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, Hertz 5*, SPG Gold, Carlson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 25
BTW: knowing that the chauffeur perk is not for AS award tickets, I thought I'd give it a try anyway at the FC desk at DXB. Didn't get lucky, the agent checked my boarding pass, saw it was an AS award, denied the driver, but showed me the way to the taxis instead :-)
Aug 14, 2016, 3:28 pm
#193
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
I will agree EK 777W is a lousy product. No wonder they had such a great sale on it. 380 is another story.
Aug 15, 2016, 10:19 am
#194
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: SPG Gold/HH Diamond/CC Gold/Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 310
I was thinking of giving this a shot as well when arriving at DXB in a few weeks. Doesn't look like I'll have much luck!