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)
May 15, 2016, 7:57 pm
#91
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 53
May 16, 2016, 7:47 am
#94
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 109
It allows you to set up seat alerts and flight availability alerts.
http://www.expertflyer.com/
Try the free trial to see more I suppose
http://www.expertflyer.com/
Try the free trial to see more I suppose
May 16, 2016, 8:18 am
#95
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
It allows you to set up seat alerts and flight availability alerts.
http://www.expertflyer.com/
Try the free trial to see more I suppose
http://www.expertflyer.com/
Try the free trial to see more I suppose
May 16, 2016, 5:00 pm
#96
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: UA, AS, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 52
I'd like to buy some miles and book an EK flight for 2 (already found availability). I was wondering is there a way to hold the reservationg similar to an AA award on other airlines. I've never used AS before.
May 16, 2016, 7:36 pm
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
May 17, 2016, 12:42 am
#98
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: Currently: UA 1K | Previously: AS MVPG75K, SPG Gold, Kimpton IC, HH Gold
Posts: 144
There is no way to "hold," but what I do is search for potential award trips, book them, and then cancel them if I end up not taking them. If you're MVPG+ you get your entire balance of points and fees back, save for the $25 partner booking fee.
May 17, 2016, 5:07 am
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
That's what everyone gets now outside 60 days of departure but won't help the person asking who had no AS miles and is planning on paying an obscene amount of money to buy the points (watch it be phantom space)
May 17, 2016, 7:37 am
#100
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,992
As for "obscene" amount of points while I agree we were all spoiled before if one looks around at other reward charts for a similar long haul flights it not so "obscene" Not saying I am happy with the deval. AS flyers had a window that got shut tight. I was able to do two r/t's fc to africa and happy for that.
May 17, 2016, 8:07 am
#101
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
I know this is redundant but, if you haven't already, do some reading. AS hasn't been looking too kindly on non active/ flying accounts that are just loading up with miles and doing redemption's. Caveat Emptor.
May 17, 2016, 9:08 am
#102
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,132
Really? I was not aware. Their aggressive selling of miles to all members would seem to suggest otherwise.
May 17, 2016, 11:03 am
#103
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 53
Where is this info coming from? And have they done anything about it? I mean they allow you to purchase an unlimited amount of miles (in 40k miles per transaction I believe) so what do they expect?
May 17, 2016, 10:31 pm
#104
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP , Delta Gold Medallion, "Credit Card" status for various hotels
Posts: 672
1) opening 3+ AS credit card accounts at once
2) opening an AS credit card account, pocketing the bonus, and cancelling before paying the annual
Fee
3) buying a large amount of miles followed by soon after booking a premium partner award flight for someone else besides the account holder
4) transferring miles from SPG to AS followed by making a premium partner award booking
I haven't heard about too much since then... Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.