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)
Oct 4, 2016, 3:56 pm
#241
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
Oct 4, 2016, 4:12 pm
#242
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: Lifetime AS 1MM & MVPG, AS MVPG100K, AA, DL, HH-G
Posts: 8,259
After 2 bottles of Dom Perignon in the SEA-DXB flight and way to much to eat I pretty much was. Slept a bit in the EK F lounge in DXB during the 5 hour layover. Not the best way to spend time there, but lack of sleep enjoying the flight required it.
Oct 5, 2016, 5:21 am
#243
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 224
Here's what I'm seeing on Expert Flyer for DXB-MAD on 12/25 - does this mean there should be availability in first class on both flights when I call Alaska?
EK 141 DXB-MAD
12/25/16 7:25 AM
Flex & Saver Award/Upgrade Z Yes
Business - Flex Award O 7
Business - Saver Award & Upgrade D No
Economy - Flex Award W 9
Economy - Partner Award X 9
Economy - Saver Award N Yes
EK 143
First - Flex & Saver Award/Upgrade Z Yes
Business - Flex Award O 7
Business - Saver Award & Upgrade D Yes
Economy - Flex Award W 9
Economy - Partner Award X 9
Economy - Saver Award N Yes
EK 141 DXB-MAD
12/25/16 7:25 AM
Flex & Saver Award/Upgrade Z Yes
Business - Flex Award O 7
Business - Saver Award & Upgrade D No
Economy - Flex Award W 9
Economy - Partner Award X 9
Economy - Saver Award N Yes
EK 143
First - Flex & Saver Award/Upgrade Z Yes
Business - Flex Award O 7
Business - Saver Award & Upgrade D Yes
Economy - Flex Award W 9
Economy - Partner Award X 9
Economy - Saver Award N Yes
Oct 5, 2016, 8:06 am
#244
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,132
Here's what I'm seeing on Expert Flyer for DXB-MAD on 12/25 - does this mean there should be availability in first class on both flights when I call Alaska?
EK 141 DXB-MAD
12/25/16 7:25 AM
Flex & Saver Award/Upgrade Z Yes
EK 143
First - Flex & Saver Award/Upgrade Z Yes
EK 141 DXB-MAD
12/25/16 7:25 AM
Flex & Saver Award/Upgrade Z Yes
EK 143
First - Flex & Saver Award/Upgrade Z Yes
Oct 5, 2016, 9:00 am
#245
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TYO
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,744
Just flew SFO-DXB-DEL in F on a trip I booked pre devaluation. An incredible experience and I must say I will miss flying Emirates F. It's not worth paying the extra miles for me now so I'm unlikely to splurge unless it's a very special occasion. I flew Etihad A380 F on the way back, also booked AA pre devaluation, and Etihad was a disappointment in comparison. Although their Apartment seat might be a bit roomier, everything else from food & beverage to the service to the shower is far behind Emirates. It is evident they are trying to rip off EK and doing a poor job at that.
Oct 5, 2016, 9:17 am
#246
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 224
I called Alaska, and they don't show availability.
I asked the CSR, and she said she is looking for the whole flight - JFK-DXB-MAD/LIS/BCN, rather than just the 2nd leg. She said there is no way to re-book just the second leg, whole flight would need to be rebooked.
Is that true, or should I call again?
That seems to jive with what the website says when attempting to make a change - "When making changes to an Emirates itinerary, the Change Flight or Cancel Flight tabs must be selected for all flights in that direction."
I asked the CSR, and she said she is looking for the whole flight - JFK-DXB-MAD/LIS/BCN, rather than just the 2nd leg. She said there is no way to re-book just the second leg, whole flight would need to be rebooked.
Is that true, or should I call again?
That seems to jive with what the website says when attempting to make a change - "When making changes to an Emirates itinerary, the Change Flight or Cancel Flight tabs must be selected for all flights in that direction."
Oct 5, 2016, 9:51 am
#247
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,132
I called Alaska, and they don't show availability.
I asked the CSR, and she said she is looking for the whole flight - JFK-DXB-MAD/LIS/BCN, rather than just the 2nd leg. She said there is no way to re-book just the second leg, whole flight would need to be rebooked.
Is that true, or should I call again?
That seems to jive with what the website says when attempting to make a change - "When making changes to an Emirates itinerary, the Change Flight or Cancel Flight tabs must be selected for all flights in that direction."
I asked the CSR, and she said she is looking for the whole flight - JFK-DXB-MAD/LIS/BCN, rather than just the 2nd leg. She said there is no way to re-book just the second leg, whole flight would need to be rebooked.
Is that true, or should I call again?
That seems to jive with what the website says when attempting to make a change - "When making changes to an Emirates itinerary, the Change Flight or Cancel Flight tabs must be selected for all flights in that direction."
I have switched DXB-MLE flights a couple of times in the last couple weeks online, while holding the SFO-DXB in F for 2 pax without there being a single additional SFO-DXB available in F or J for my chosen dates.
If you're working on pre-devaluation rates, though, you're going to have to go via the call center.
Oct 5, 2016, 10:56 am
#249
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,132
Glad it worked out. Despite what a few people on this board will tell you, I've had pretty good luck getting agents to "find" the availability to match EF. Just need to try a few times occasionally and avoid wasting time with agents who claim they can't make your desired (but available) change.
Oct 5, 2016, 11:52 am
#250
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
Glad it worked out. Despite what a few people on this board will tell you, I've had pretty good luck getting agents to "find" the availability to match EF. Just need to try a few times occasionally and avoid wasting time with agents who claim they can't make your desired (but available) change.
Oct 9, 2016, 11:14 am
#251
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan, British Airways, Alaska
Posts: 249
Sorry for the cross post but I posed this question on a dead thread.
I am trying to book one way LAX-DXB-CPT in F on or near Jan 23
Expert Flyer and AS show availability but when I try and book it won't complete. Then you go back to the website and it is not available.
Any suggestions on how to book this?
I am trying to book one way LAX-DXB-CPT in F on or near Jan 23
Expert Flyer and AS show availability but when I try and book it won't complete. Then you go back to the website and it is not available.
Any suggestions on how to book this?
Oct 9, 2016, 12:44 pm
#252
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
Sorry for the cross post but I posed this question on a dead thread.
I am trying to book one way LAX-DXB-CPT in F on or near Jan 23
Expert Flyer and AS show availability but when I try and book it won't complete. Then you go back to the website and it is not available.
Any suggestions on how to book this?
I am trying to book one way LAX-DXB-CPT in F on or near Jan 23
Expert Flyer and AS show availability but when I try and book it won't complete. Then you go back to the website and it is not available.
Any suggestions on how to book this?
Good luck.
Oct 9, 2016, 1:10 pm
#253
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan, British Airways, Alaska
Posts: 249
After several calls I was able to get 2 F LAX-DXB on Jan 23. Really weird the way it appears and you can't book it, then it disappears, then reappears and is bookable. A total mystery.
Now I just need my DXB-CPT to re-appear and be bookable for Jan 29. I guess I will do a separate booking and link them together instead of changing the original booking and risk losing the first leg.
Now I just need my DXB-CPT to re-appear and be bookable for Jan 29. I guess I will do a separate booking and link them together instead of changing the original booking and risk losing the first leg.
Oct 10, 2016, 10:18 am
#254
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,132
After several calls I was able to get 2 F LAX-DXB on Jan 23. Really weird the way it appears and you can't book it, then it disappears, then reappears and is bookable. A total mystery.
Now I just need my DXB-CPT to re-appear and be bookable for Jan 29. I guess I will do a separate booking and link them together instead of changing the original booking and risk losing the first leg.
Now I just need my DXB-CPT to re-appear and be bookable for Jan 29. I guess I will do a separate booking and link them together instead of changing the original booking and risk losing the first leg.
Separately, you can't use AS miles for itineraries that don't start/end in North America, so booking the DXB-CPT standalone won't work, unless you're using a different currency.
Oct 10, 2016, 10:46 am
#255
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,391