Jan 4, 2017, 7:30 pm
Last edit by: Calchas
Welcome to the Alaska Airlines Flame-Free Q&A Thread for 2017!
Anyone is welcome to ask anything, even the most basic questions, in this thread without having to fear a snarky response. In this thread, there's no such thing as a dumb question--we were all new to Alaska Airlines, FlyerTalk, and even the whole idea of mileage programs once and needed some help navigating the ropes. We're here to help you do just that!
That said, if you want to do a little reading to see if your question has been previously discussed, links to some of the most common and extensive topics in this forum are listed in our FAQ thread -- click here to check it out.
Special care will be given in this thread to trying to provide answers in a clear manner with minimal use of acronyms and jargon.
If you need to contact someone for help, here's a current list of our forum's team:
Ambassadors (Our Greeters--members who have specifically volunteered to welcome and mentor newbies and monitor this thread):
ANC RED-EYE
baliktad
beckoa
golfingboy
Moderators (Our Janitors--members who have volunteered to do housekeeping/keep the forum in order)
ryandc99
jackal
You are welcome to send a private message to any of these individuals for assistance, but you'll generally get a faster response and broader palette of answers if you simply post your inquiry here in this thread.
Note to FlyerTalk members who enjoy the ability to take advantage of loopholes--if someone posts something that exposes information you'd rather not be public, please remember this is a Flame-Free thread, and harsh or snarky posts are not permitted. Although FlyerTalk itself does not censor posts that share information, members are free to edit their own posts to remove information. If you wish to request any poster to remove information they have shared publicly, please do so politely and respectfully.
Welcome, and we look forward to providing any assistance we can!
~the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan forum team~
For the 2016 version of this thread, please click here
Anyone is welcome to ask anything, even the most basic questions, in this thread without having to fear a snarky response. In this thread, there's no such thing as a dumb question--we were all new to Alaska Airlines, FlyerTalk, and even the whole idea of mileage programs once and needed some help navigating the ropes. We're here to help you do just that!
That said, if you want to do a little reading to see if your question has been previously discussed, links to some of the most common and extensive topics in this forum are listed in our FAQ thread -- click here to check it out.
Special care will be given in this thread to trying to provide answers in a clear manner with minimal use of acronyms and jargon.
If you need to contact someone for help, here's a current list of our forum's team:
Ambassadors (Our Greeters--members who have specifically volunteered to welcome and mentor newbies and monitor this thread):
ANC RED-EYE
baliktad
beckoa
golfingboy
Moderators (Our Janitors--members who have volunteered to do housekeeping/keep the forum in order)
ryandc99
jackal
You are welcome to send a private message to any of these individuals for assistance, but you'll generally get a faster response and broader palette of answers if you simply post your inquiry here in this thread.
Note to FlyerTalk members who enjoy the ability to take advantage of loopholes--if someone posts something that exposes information you'd rather not be public, please remember this is a Flame-Free thread, and harsh or snarky posts are not permitted. Although FlyerTalk itself does not censor posts that share information, members are free to edit their own posts to remove information. If you wish to request any poster to remove information they have shared publicly, please do so politely and respectfully.
Welcome, and we look forward to providing any assistance we can!
~the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan forum team~
For the 2016 version of this thread, please click here
2017 Alaska Airlines *FLAME-FREE* Q&A thread: all welcome, new and old!
Feb 25, 2017, 6:53 pm
#377
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
Either way, the biggest benefit of booking through AS (which means getting an AS flight number) is that AS's lower (zero more than 60 days out or for MVP Golds) change fees apply.
Feb 25, 2017, 9:25 pm
#378
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: East or West
Posts: 388
For AS codeshares on AA metal, missydarlin says they earn according to the AS chart but count in the partner bucket for elite qualification. (Confusingly, this is specific to AS*/AA flights; other codeshares earn according to the operating carrier's table.)
Either way, the biggest benefit of booking through AS (which means getting an AS flight number) is that AS's lower (zero more than 60 days out or for MVP Golds) change fees apply.
Either way, the biggest benefit of booking through AS (which means getting an AS flight number) is that AS's lower (zero more than 60 days out or for MVP Golds) change fees apply.
Last edited by MahiMahi524; Feb 25, 2017 at 9:31 pm
Feb 26, 2017, 8:24 am
#379
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
Interesting. That was my understanding as well. The flight I took (AS marketed, AA operated) didn't credit, and when I called in the agent manually credited 25% of mileage and said the credit is by partner table only. I'll ask Missy on her thread; maybe she can clarify. Thanks for the help!
What if I purchase a codeshare flight?
For flights marketed by American, but operated by Alaska, you will earn miles at the new rate. For flights marketed by Alaska, but operated by American, you will earn miles based on the distance you fly, as well as any class of service bonuses. See our Earn on Alaska page for details.
For flights marketed by American, but operated by Alaska, you will earn miles at the new rate. For flights marketed by Alaska, but operated by American, you will earn miles based on the distance you fly, as well as any class of service bonuses. See our Earn on Alaska page for details.
Feb 27, 2017, 8:25 am
#380
Join Date: May 2008
Location: WAS
Programs: AA Ex Plt
Posts: 1,630
10K bonus re Virgin linking
Can someone explain who gets the 10k bonus for linking accounts? I have an Alaska account. I have a Virgin account. Both opened years ago. If I merge accounts, do I receive the 10K? Is it for new Alaska accounts only? What am I missing here(?) (outside of the thread where this is explained? 
)
Cheers -
)Cheers -
Feb 28, 2017, 2:46 pm
#381
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP (probably nothing w/ AA next year :)), Delta Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 405
Slap me across the head virtually if this is a stupid question, but as an MVP Gold 75Ker, will I seriously not be able to get a free checked back on VX?
Feb 28, 2017, 2:54 pm
#383
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Seattle, WA (US)
Programs: Oneworld (Emerald)
Posts: 127
Officially no change yet. Unofficially, several have reported that an agent will waive the fee upon presenting your MVPG card. (Though you do run the risk of having to pay the fee if the agent chooses not to waive it.)
Feb 28, 2017, 6:47 pm
#384
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
That is correct. It is not a published benefit for any AS level. Though as noted by others, showing your card at the counter people have been successful in getting the fee waived. But don't expect it as it is not a benefit.
Mar 1, 2017, 1:11 am
#385
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 19
Flying with Bike box
Is there an oversized fee for a bicycle cardboard box (linear dimension ~97in)? On the sporting equipment page it says they are subject to an oversize fee.
However on the checked baggage page it says sporting equipments are an exception to the size or weight allowance.
Thanks.
Each checked piece listed below is subject to our standard checked baggage fees, overweight fee, and oversize fee.
- Bicycles
Any baggage (including baggage checked free of charge) which exceeds the size or weight allowance, is subject to the additional fees outlined below. Exception: Sporting equipment.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...cked-bags.aspx
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...cked-bags.aspx
Mar 1, 2017, 11:26 am
#386
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Queens!
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan, Marriott Bonvoy, NEXUS
Posts: 334
Is there an oversized fee for a bicycle cardboard box (linear dimension ~97in)? On the sporting equipment page it says they are subject to an oversize fee.
However on the checked baggage page it says sporting equipments are an exception to the size or weight allowance.
Thanks.
However on the checked baggage page it says sporting equipments are an exception to the size or weight allowance.
Thanks.
Mar 1, 2017, 12:09 pm
#387
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: USA
Programs: MVPG
Posts: 112
MVP & 2 Alaska CC's - 4 checkin bag allowance?
Spouse and I are both MVP and each have 2 Alaska Air credit cards (4 cards total). Does that mean we can each check in 4 bags free? Just curious. Seldom check in bags at all, but was thinking of camping at the Grand Canyon and that would mean a lot of gear.
Mar 1, 2017, 12:15 pm
#388
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Queens!
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan, Marriott Bonvoy, NEXUS
Posts: 334
No, unfortunately benefits don't stack like that. It's max(benefit a, benefit b, benefit c) and not sum(benefit a, benefit b, benefit c).
Mar 1, 2017, 12:22 pm
#389
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,640
As your 3rd+ bags per passenger would each be $75, you might want to look at packing your lightest and least fragile items (eg, sleeping bags/tents) together in a box or two and shipping them to yourself in Arizona via FedEx. It would likely be less expensive than paying AS to transport them.
Mar 1, 2017, 1:37 pm
#390
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,456
Changing from AS FF #
Can one easily change an AS FF # to an AA #, shortly after ticketing on AS? I'm thinking in terms of an award on CX or JL where my AA elite status(and no AS status) would get benefits such as immediately accessing preferred seats.