jinglish

The fact that seats were available does not mean that award space was as well, much less the level of space available to partners (which is always less than that an airline reserves for its own program members).

SriMan

@jinglish I would agree, but for the fact that AS Mileage Plan site did show bookable space for two (till the final payment transaction failed).

I expect their math computes as:

Total Space in F (minus) award space for Skyrewards (minus) non-award (revenue only space) = Partner Award space (first come, first served) eg AS.

Allocation to Skyrewards and Partner awards are separate numbers.

It is a booking problem... took 30 mins with an EK agent to book the Skyrewards space in the first place (2 seats) - not a 'rules' issues.

All of us trying to book are only doing so because it shows up on AS MP searches - before and after my Skyrewards booking i.e. if award space was common to EK and AS and limited to two, it should have disappeared from the AS search ... unless the systems are not realtime and there is latency and other rules affecting availability.

Unless someone from EK/AS clarifies allocations, this has the makings of a process/system/interface problem.

Edgerfly

Has anyone had an update as to whether or not Alaska award bookings on Premium cabins on Emirates work yet?

Adshakil

I have been trying for the last 2-3 days. Not working. Another thing is that LAX-DXB shows availability on Qantas, JL and expert flyer but does not show availability in Alaska. It does show availability on SFO-DXB but gives same error on website. I called Alaska and they said that they don't show availability and website is not updated. SFO-DXB shows availability on Experflyer, Qantas and JL as well.

Edgerfly

yes this has been the running theme with AS since May. It's really unfair, and at this point I'm starting to wonder if we're even allowed to make Award bookings on EK in C or F.

Adshakil

It seems like they are not doing anything to fix the problem or anyone in Alaska even knows that this problem exists.

mczlaw

As you now know from the response to your query on the "Ask Missy" thread, AS knows about the problem. But no one at AS will clarify or confirm what exactly the problem is or when it will be fixed. And this has been the status quo now for months.

Frankly, given that award redemptions are the currency of all FF programs, AS's persistent unwillingness to be forthright with its customers about this problem is poor form, to say the least. I suppose they might not want to aggravate a difficult situation between AS and EK, but why not issue a diplomatically worded statement of some sort? If, on the other hand, the problem is simply a matter of AS's own deficient IT, AS ought to be fully upfront about that: own it, apologize and provide a realistic horizon for repair. I'm not sure even that is a reasonable excuse. After all, what is to prevent AS from setting up--at its expense--a phone link with EK to handle these redemptions until any IT problems are cleared up? Isn't it just as likely that AS is trying to shave some expense from its financial statement?

Ultimately, AS can thumb its nose at its customers about this if it chooses. As usual, what are your alternatives? For EK redemptions, the answer is basically none. And if the threat is to switch FF programs altogether, well, we all know about the ongoing contraction of FF programs across the board in a minimally competitive environment. So, good luck being treated better elsewhere.

This is personally frustrating because I like to redeem in EK F. Inflation of the miles requirement was bad enough, but having the redemptions disappear altogether without explanation is hard to swallow.

SEA777GUY

I have a feeling of why, I bet that EK has ended the partnership with AS.

As Alaska has now been fired from its partnership from DAL and AA has basically fired them as well,AS is keeping quiet about it for now. They don't want to have any more bad news or partnership devaluations now more then ever with the VX purchase or upset and loose any more customers. If this is true, it will be a huge blow to the already problematic issue of finding and redeeming on partners that offer a quality product.

jinglish

...Oh boy.

Last I checked, people were still having successes with coach award reservations, and we've heard no complaints that Mileage Plan members aren't getting credit for EK flights.

mczlaw

Not sure I'd buy this absent evidence beyond inability to book EK F and J awards.

Adshakil

I tried booking coach for the same flight and did not have any problems booking. Its only F and J that is the problem. Nonetheless, it is a problem and someone needs to fix that.

Edgerfly

Hate to say it but it's looking like more and more we're not gonna have access to premium cabins on EK.

CDKing

When AS couldn't get JL Premium awards to work they just stopped allowing them. I'm surprised AS has not discontinued Premium EK awards all together. I would not be shocked if its coming down the line.

BOB W

Not quite sure how or why it worked, but I booked an EK J award ANC (AS Y)-LAX-DXB (EK J)-FCO- (EK J) a couple of weeks ago. Last night I booked the same itinerary except LAX-DXB in EK F and then cancelled the first award after being notified by AS that I could not hold both itineraries. Both leaving ANC May 1, 2018 arriving FCO May 4, 2018.

The system is cracked but not fully broken apparently.

Edgerfly

Wait... what about JL? We can't book JL premium awards with miles?