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!
Mar 21, 2017, 4:27 am
#496
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
I am AA Gold but have not been able to find all the rules/info related to award travel on AS. I am looking at award on AA flights and have never used AS miles for awards before.
If I book an award with AS miles do I use my AS or AA number. If AS, likely, can I change the AA flights to my AA number?
What are the rules for changed to other AA flights if they become available?
If I book an award with AS miles do I use my AS or AA number. If AS, likely, can I change the AA flights to my AA number?
What are the rules for changed to other AA flights if they become available?
Mar 21, 2017, 6:25 am
#497
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,598
Yes, you can switch the reservation to your AA FF number after booking and get elite benefits. This question was just asked yesterday in the relevant thread in the AA forum.
Mar 21, 2017, 10:16 am
#498
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,639
All late spring/summer AA is selling seats on a QX PDX-OAK flight for $69 while AS has had it $120-195 for a long time. I keep waiting for AS to drop the prices in line with AA but it hasn't happened. Does that happen on other routes? Annoying. I don't want an AA ticket but I'm also not going to pay twice as much for each flight.
Mar 21, 2017, 10:44 am
#499
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,642
All late spring/summer AA is selling seats on a QX PDX-OAK flight for $69 while AS has had it $120-195 for a long time. I keep waiting for AS to drop the prices in line with AA but it hasn't happened. Does that happen on other routes? Annoying. I don't want an AA ticket but I'm also not going to pay twice as much for each flight.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...codeshare.html
Long story short there is no guarantee that AS will ever price the segment in line with AA. Is there a reason you don't want an AA ticket? BFG/free changes, I assume?
Mar 21, 2017, 10:52 am
#500
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,639
Here is a thread I started on this topic a couple weeks ago, ironically also referring to a flight out of OAK
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...codeshare.html
Long story short there is no guarantee that AS will ever price the segment in line with AA. Is there a reason you don't want an AA ticket? BFG/free changes, I assume?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...codeshare.html
Long story short there is no guarantee that AS will ever price the segment in line with AA. Is there a reason you don't want an AA ticket? BFG/free changes, I assume?
Mar 21, 2017, 10:55 am
#501
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,642
I thought that AA ticketed flights on AS metal count as AS EQMs but I might be wrong, I am far from an expert on these things.
Mar 21, 2017, 12:50 pm
#503
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
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 American, but operated by Alaska, you will earn miles at the new rate.
Mar 21, 2017, 1:25 pm
#504
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
Ordinarily in IROPS you deal with the operating carrier, not the marketing/ticketing carrier (though you can go to the ticketing carrier at least sometimes). IROPS certainly can become more of a mess when the ticketing and operating carrier aren't the same.
Mar 21, 2017, 2:18 pm
#505
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,639
AA coded AS operated flights count towards AS EQM. However it's at the rates dictated by AA's chart- see AS' blog:
Not sure what I'm going to do if Alaska keeps their pricing as they've had it
Mar 21, 2017, 2:22 pm
#506
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
Mar 21, 2017, 2:27 pm
#508
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
Mar 21, 2017, 2:32 pm
#509
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,639
Thanks. So that eliminates that as a downside. Maybe I'll give it one more week and if Alaska pricing doesn't change, bite the bullet and buy a bunch of AA tickets.
Mar 21, 2017, 3:17 pm
#510
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Seattle
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 21
Hi! First post here. I'm looking to make a trip out to Bangkok in November to visit my dad and looking to maximize my EQMs. I'll be flying out of Seattle. I'm considering a couple options right now.
I have:
118k AS Miles
103k AA Miles
230k Chase UR points
Obviously using miles wont earn me EQM, so I may be looking to use my Chase UR points for the longer/more expensive flights.
Option 1:
SEA > LAX most likely using $
LAX > CSX on HU booked in R Class for 200% EQM for ~$1780
CSX > DMK on Air Asia ~$120
Total EQM: ~30k
Option 2:
SEA > AMS most likely using miles
AMS > BKK on BA booked in I Class for 150% EQM + 100% bonus RDM for ~$1550 (before any AARP or Visa discounts)
Total EQM: ~18k
Based on this it seems like Option 1 is my best bet, but are there other options out there that may be cheaper and/or net me more miles? Or something I'm missing?
I have:
118k AS Miles
103k AA Miles
230k Chase UR points
Obviously using miles wont earn me EQM, so I may be looking to use my Chase UR points for the longer/more expensive flights.
Option 1:
SEA > LAX most likely using $
LAX > CSX on HU booked in R Class for 200% EQM for ~$1780
CSX > DMK on Air Asia ~$120
Total EQM: ~30k
Option 2:
SEA > AMS most likely using miles
AMS > BKK on BA booked in I Class for 150% EQM + 100% bonus RDM for ~$1550 (before any AARP or Visa discounts)
Total EQM: ~18k
Based on this it seems like Option 1 is my best bet, but are there other options out there that may be cheaper and/or net me more miles? Or something I'm missing?