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)
Dec 8, 2016, 11:21 am
#301
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ANC
Programs: AS; Hyatt; Bonvoy
Posts: 1,718
Jan 15, 2017, 3:33 pm
#303
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,991
Jan 15, 2017, 8:32 pm
#304
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Australia / USA
Programs: AS 100K, UA 1K, VA Platinum, HA Platinum, QF Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 414
I haven't had any success except for one flight that was considerably delayed out of LAX (8 hours). Booked First using Alaska miles. I ended up missing my connection in DXB. Upon landing, an agent was waiting for me and already had a chauffeur organized to take me to a hotel they provided until the next available connection the following day. So basically in disruption situations, EK strives to do their best for their F customers regardless of how its booked. But I think if its business as usual, then you won't have a chance whatsoever.
Jan 15, 2017, 10:28 pm
#305
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 109
I haven't had any success except for one flight that was considerably delayed out of LAX (8 hours). Booked First using Alaska miles. I ended up missing my connection in DXB. Upon landing, an agent was waiting for me and already had a chauffeur organized to take me to a hotel they provided until the next available connection the following day. So basically in disruption situations, EK strives to do their best for their F customers regardless of how its booked. But I think if its business as usual, then you won't have a chance whatsoever.
Any suggestions on alternates?
Uber, Taxi?
Jan 16, 2017, 4:07 pm
#308
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Alaska 75K
Posts: 91
In making the decision I'd consider your future need for the 67.5k miles you'd save by flying business, and your rate of mileage accrual over the year. If you don't need the miles and/or can make them back in a reasonable amount of time I'd do first. You'll be on the a380 out of JFK so that means a shower. You'll also be able to enjoy lots of time in the Dubai emirates first class lounge which is a treat. On the other hand if you'll only bank 20k over the next year I'd go business and save the miles for another biz ticket in a year. Have fun either way it'll be special.
Jan 16, 2017, 6:12 pm
#309
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,991
Jan 23, 2017, 9:38 am
#310
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: 718
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, IHG Diamond
Posts: 967
I have an upcoming flight JFK-DXB (stopover for 3nts)-MLE in F (booked AS pre-deval!). My MLE flight is at 4:35AM and was wondering when is the earliest I can check-in/go to the Emirates First lounge? Is the lounge open 24 hours? I understand there are 3 F lounges? I want to visit the A lounge (the big one with all the shops?) but do believe my flight will be near the B lounge (since flying 777), am I able to visit both lounges? Staying at PH Dubai and will have 4PM late check out. Probably will roam around dubai for another 3-4 hours and get to the airport/lounge at 8-9PM and eat dinner there?!
Also, any tips as to what I may/should need to know before flying EK F would be greatly appreciated!
Also, any tips as to what I may/should need to know before flying EK F would be greatly appreciated!
Jan 23, 2017, 10:02 am
#311
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,232
Any recent experiences from IAD-DXB ? Found a 2016 review that said staff was pretty much clueless about lounge access on award tickets and it became a bit of an issue that required "Supervisor" intervention. I just wish these occasional lounge access hiccups could be solved . That being said , it appears that the AF lounge at IAD is not all that impressive.
Jan 23, 2017, 10:39 am
#312
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,991
Any recent experiences from IAD-DXB ? Found a 2016 review that said staff was pretty much clueless about lounge access on award tickets and it became a bit of an issue that required "Supervisor" intervention. I just wish these occasional lounge access hiccups could be solved . That being said , it appears that the AF lounge at IAD is not all that impressive.
Jan 25, 2017, 4:28 pm
#313
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: AF Plat, DL Gold
Posts: 366
Should Mileage Plan see the same award seats as Expertflyer? I'm trying to add CMB-DXB in J to my DXB-JFK F ticket. EF is showing 7 seats open in J but AS can't see it. Has anyone else had this issue?
Jan 25, 2017, 5:32 pm
#314
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,395
(CX J would only be 62.5k... making the F premium pretty small.)
Jan 25, 2017, 8:03 pm
#315
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
If looking segment by segment the #'s are not accurate. Second it almost seems like its an unpublished bucket anyways so cant really trust EF