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!
Aug 8, 2017, 9:15 pm
#1111
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
C is the first stop from N. D is the last stop before N.
Aug 9, 2017, 5:06 am
#1112
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: ANC
Programs: AS (75K+ miles flown) | Marriott Rewards | MLife Sapphire | Identity Silver | Hertz Gold Plus |
Posts: 209
The 20th, it's probably only available during "meal times" as my ANC-SEA at 2:30 am only has in flight snack packs. You can also only do it 14 days in advance, but it was actually 13 for me.
Last edited by SpicyMorale; Aug 9, 2017 at 5:08 am Reason: Clear as mud
Aug 9, 2017, 8:33 am
#1113
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 4
Cool, I'm still a month out, but I was hoping it wasn't a day before type of deal when you check in. That's a good point though about the time of the flight, I hadn't thought about that. I'm on the last flight out of SEA that leaves at 10pm so I may not have many options.
Aug 9, 2017, 11:05 am
#1114
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ANC
Programs: AS; Hyatt; Bonvoy
Posts: 1,718
Cool, I'm still a month out, but I was hoping it wasn't a day before type of deal when you check in. That's a good point though about the time of the flight, I hadn't thought about that. I'm on the last flight out of SEA that leaves at 10pm so I may not have many options.
Aug 9, 2017, 1:24 pm
#1115
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 11
Hi all,
I know that AS offers 1 free stopover on one-way award tickets. If I want to fly A-B-C with a stopover in B, do I need to find award availability for both flight A-B and flight B-C, or does it suffice to find availability for the entire itinerary A-B-C as a whole?
Thanks!
I know that AS offers 1 free stopover on one-way award tickets. If I want to fly A-B-C with a stopover in B, do I need to find award availability for both flight A-B and flight B-C, or does it suffice to find availability for the entire itinerary A-B-C as a whole?
Thanks!
Aug 9, 2017, 1:30 pm
#1116
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
Hi all,
I know that AS offers 1 free stopover on one-way award tickets. If I want to fly A-B-C with a stopover in B, do I need to find award availability for both flight A-B and flight B-C, or does it suffice to find availability for the entire itinerary A-B-C as a whole?
Thanks!
I know that AS offers 1 free stopover on one-way award tickets. If I want to fly A-B-C with a stopover in B, do I need to find award availability for both flight A-B and flight B-C, or does it suffice to find availability for the entire itinerary A-B-C as a whole?
Thanks!
Aug 9, 2017, 2:25 pm
#1117
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,633
it does affect pricing from the taxes perspective, which with some itineraries can be a reasonably substantial impact.
Aug 9, 2017, 2:34 pm
#1118
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS, WN
Posts: 13
Hey all, first time poster but a bit of a lurker. I will be booking three one-way tickets for June 2018 to Anchorage in the next couple of months (waiting for Southwest and JetBlue to release their June schedules). Departure is RDU, but how we book depends on how we can get the best deal. I have AS miles and Southwest Rapid Rewards points to use.
If I can't get three flights using Miles & Money for a good price (or preferably three SEA-ANC tickets for 12.5K miles only each which is looking unlikely), then I will be booking with a combination of points (one ticket), cash (one ticket) and using a companion certificate (one ticket). I would like to be able to book everything on the same reservation number so we can all get a free checked bag w/ my Alaska Air Visa. Does anyone know if I can I book that way under one reservation number, or will I have to book the one flight using miles only separately? I know I have to book the cash and companion tickets together.
TIA!
If I can't get three flights using Miles & Money for a good price (or preferably three SEA-ANC tickets for 12.5K miles only each which is looking unlikely), then I will be booking with a combination of points (one ticket), cash (one ticket) and using a companion certificate (one ticket). I would like to be able to book everything on the same reservation number so we can all get a free checked bag w/ my Alaska Air Visa. Does anyone know if I can I book that way under one reservation number, or will I have to book the one flight using miles only separately? I know I have to book the cash and companion tickets together.
TIA!
Aug 9, 2017, 2:47 pm
#1119
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
Hey all, first time poster but a bit of a lurker. I will be booking three one-way tickets for June 2018 to Anchorage in the next couple of months (waiting for Southwest and JetBlue to release their June schedules). Departure is RDU, but how we book depends on how we can get the best deal. I have AS miles and Southwest Rapid Rewards points to use.
If I can't get three flights using Miles & Money for a good price (or preferably three SEA-ANC tickets for 12.5K miles only each which is looking unlikely), then I will be booking with a combination of points (one ticket), cash (one ticket) and using a companion certificate (one ticket). I would like to be able to book everything on the same reservation number so we can all get a free checked bag w/ my Alaska Air Visa. Does anyone know if I can I book that way under one reservation number, or will I have to book the one flight using miles only separately? I know I have to book the cash and companion tickets together.
TIA!
If I can't get three flights using Miles & Money for a good price (or preferably three SEA-ANC tickets for 12.5K miles only each which is looking unlikely), then I will be booking with a combination of points (one ticket), cash (one ticket) and using a companion certificate (one ticket). I would like to be able to book everything on the same reservation number so we can all get a free checked bag w/ my Alaska Air Visa. Does anyone know if I can I book that way under one reservation number, or will I have to book the one flight using miles only separately? I know I have to book the cash and companion tickets together.
TIA!
I'm almost certain there's no way to put an award and cash ticket on one reservation, so you'll only get the two free checked bags between the three of you. It's annoying.
A phone agent was able to swap names around for me recently: I booked a companion ticket with Jane Smith (MVP, credit card holder) and Jason Jones (MVPG) on it and Child Jones on a separate (paid) reservation; after ticketing but within 24 hours, they were able to swap Jane Smith to the separate reservation and Child Jones to the companion reservation so that we got the elite's checked bag allowance on both reservations.* But it sounds like that won't help you, alas. I was very pleasantly surprised with how much the phone agents were able and eager to do for us in this situation, though, so definitely give them a call and see if they can somehow create one reservation.
You will certainly be able to link the reservations through the Alaska web site, but my experience is that that doesn't transfer benefits; it just puts a note in the record to help agents see that you're traveling with someone else.
*(The credit card holder had to be on the companion pass reservation at ticketing because we couldn't find her actual credit card at that moment.)
Aug 9, 2017, 5:41 pm
#1120
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Just off the Main Line
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT 2MM, DL Lifetime GM 2MM, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite, HH Diamond, IHG Amb Diamond
Posts: 881
Just wanted to double-check with the crowd and/or @missydarlin. It won't let me do this online and the main res number says it is not allowed. What I want to do is use a single award ticket for LAX-DFW (stopover) -PHL. It just comes back with nothing. Individually I can see award availability for non-stop AA flights for each leg (and VX LAX-DFW). But multi-city I get nada.
As explained to me it's due to the system trying to route DFW-SEA-PHL (which is obviously backtracking) even though AA has a non-stop. Or maybe its some other rule? But just confirming that this routing is not legal.
Thanks in advance.
As explained to me it's due to the system trying to route DFW-SEA-PHL (which is obviously backtracking) even though AA has a non-stop. Or maybe its some other rule? But just confirming that this routing is not legal.
Thanks in advance.
Aug 9, 2017, 6:08 pm
#1121
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Just wanted to double-check with the crowd and/or @missydarlin. It won't let me do this online and the main res number says it is not allowed. What I want to do is use a single award ticket for LAX-DFW (stopover) -PHL. It just comes back with nothing. Individually I can see award availability for non-stop AA flights for each leg (and VX LAX-DFW). But multi-city I get nada.
As explained to me it's due to the system trying to route DFW-SEA-PHL (which is obviously backtracking) even though AA has a non-stop. Or maybe its some other rule? But just confirming that this routing is not legal.
Thanks in advance.
As explained to me it's due to the system trying to route DFW-SEA-PHL (which is obviously backtracking) even though AA has a non-stop. Or maybe its some other rule? But just confirming that this routing is not legal.
Thanks in advance.
Aug 9, 2017, 6:27 pm
#1122
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,832
Just wanted to double-check with the crowd and/or @missydarlin. It won't let me do this online and the main res number says it is not allowed. What I want to do is use a single award ticket for LAX-DFW (stopover) -PHL. It just comes back with nothing. Individually I can see award availability for non-stop AA flights for each leg (and VX LAX-DFW). But multi-city I get nada.
As explained to me it's due to the system trying to route DFW-SEA-PHL (which is obviously backtracking) even though AA has a non-stop. Or maybe its some other rule? But just confirming that this routing is not legal.
Thanks in advance.
As explained to me it's due to the system trying to route DFW-SEA-PHL (which is obviously backtracking) even though AA has a non-stop. Or maybe its some other rule? But just confirming that this routing is not legal.
Thanks in advance.
Plus, a stopover on any domestic award must be completely on AS metal (not even VX - yet).
From the T&C:
Mileage Plan awards may include one of the following: a one-way, round-trip or open jaw itinerary. One en route stopover at an eligible city is allowed for each one-way award on international itineraries. An exception allowing an otherwise-illegal open jaw trip is permitted when travel is between the State of Alaska and the lower 48 states and a stopover occurs in Southeast Alaska. When award travel is redeemed solely on Alaska Airlines, one enroute stopover is allowed for each one-way award. One enroute stopover is allowed on a one-way award. Round-trip itineraries with 2 stopovers, or one-way awards with 1 stopover may only be booked through an Alaska Airlines call center. They are not available online. Call center ticketing fees apply.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...onditions.aspx
Aug 9, 2017, 6:33 pm
#1123
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,397
Just wanted to double-check with the crowd and/or @missydarlin. It won't let me do this online and the main res number says it is not allowed. What I want to do is use a single award ticket for LAX-DFW (stopover) -PHL. It just comes back with nothing. Individually I can see award availability for non-stop AA flights for each leg (and VX LAX-DFW). But multi-city I get nada.
As explained to me it's due to the system trying to route DFW-SEA-PHL (which is obviously backtracking) even though AA has a non-stop. Or maybe its some other rule? But just confirming that this routing is not legal.
Thanks in advance.
As explained to me it's due to the system trying to route DFW-SEA-PHL (which is obviously backtracking) even though AA has a non-stop. Or maybe its some other rule? But just confirming that this routing is not legal.
Thanks in advance.
edit: beaten by not advancing to the new page.
Aug 9, 2017, 7:08 pm
#1124
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS, WN
Posts: 13
Welcome to FlyerTalk!
I'm almost certain there's no way to put an award and cash ticket on one reservation, so you'll only get the two free checked bags between the three of you. It's annoying.
A phone agent was able to swap names around for me recently: I booked a companion ticket with Jane Smith (MVP, credit card holder) and Jason Jones (MVPG) on it and Child Jones on a separate (paid) reservation; after ticketing but within 24 hours, they were able to swap Jane Smith to the separate reservation and Child Jones to the companion reservation so that we got the elite's checked bag allowance on both reservations.* But it sounds like that won't help you, alas. I was very pleasantly surprised with how much the phone agents were able and eager to do for us in this situation, though, so definitely give them a call and see if they can somehow create one reservation.
You will certainly be able to link the reservations through the Alaska web site, but my experience is that that doesn't transfer benefits; it just puts a note in the record to help agents see that you're traveling with someone else.
*(The credit card holder had to be on the companion pass reservation at ticketing because we couldn't find her actual credit card at that moment.)
I'm almost certain there's no way to put an award and cash ticket on one reservation, so you'll only get the two free checked bags between the three of you. It's annoying.
A phone agent was able to swap names around for me recently: I booked a companion ticket with Jane Smith (MVP, credit card holder) and Jason Jones (MVPG) on it and Child Jones on a separate (paid) reservation; after ticketing but within 24 hours, they were able to swap Jane Smith to the separate reservation and Child Jones to the companion reservation so that we got the elite's checked bag allowance on both reservations.* But it sounds like that won't help you, alas. I was very pleasantly surprised with how much the phone agents were able and eager to do for us in this situation, though, so definitely give them a call and see if they can somehow create one reservation.
You will certainly be able to link the reservations through the Alaska web site, but my experience is that that doesn't transfer benefits; it just puts a note in the record to help agents see that you're traveling with someone else.
*(The credit card holder had to be on the companion pass reservation at ticketing because we couldn't find her actual credit card at that moment.)
Better to pay for one bag than three . If we end up booking this way, I'll check with them. Would be nice if they could do something since my first year fee on the card was not waived like lots of people here talk about.
Aug 9, 2017, 7:29 pm
#1125
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
Annual fee is never waived for Alaska Visa Card.