skimthetrees

But, if it is an AS caused misconnect AS will rebook you through on CX. I was lead to believe by an AS agent that they can force open an award seat from revenue inventory (even on CX), so long as revenue seats are available, in the case of an AS caused delay causing you to miss your flight.

eponymous_coward

I wouldn't do a 40 minute connect SFO-PDX-ORD on a dare even if I think I could change it later, unless I was completely prepared to lose time on my vacation (Narrator: he never wants to do that). Multiple flights SFO-PDX cancelled or delayed 1+ hours today. 2.5 hours connecting into SEA out of SFO is probably OK, though with all the penalty boxes these days I'd have to wonder. My last few flights involving SEA have been late. Shades of me trying UA and VX through SFO...

AS has done SDC for me when I've been on an award and it looks like I could blow the connection, without saver Y required (I suspect you'd likely not get F because it will be upgraded into by then, though you never know). This was without Gold status (I gladly paid $25 to downgrade out of F and go ORD-SEA, to not risk an overnight at MCI). While SDC from one-stop to non-stop is officially discouraged, AS CS is pretty good at being sensible when you go "hey, I'm trying to help you help me".

VegasGambler

Actually only my return is on CX. My outbound is JAL.

SFO-TYO-BKK on JAL, BKK-HKG-SFO on CX. The SFO - TYO leg currently has 3 segments, but, hoping to cut that down to 2 or 1 as space opens up.

But yes, as it's all one ticket, I expect that they will get me there.

eponymous_coward

An ATC hold out of an airport notorious for air traffic control-imposed delays is not an AS-caused delay. Personally, I think it's questionable to accept connections to longhaul once-daily flights at the bare minimum connection time when you're talking about an airport like SFO (or for that matter SEA these days, though 2.5 hours is probably fine). There's "minimum connection time" and "sensible connection time". Also, putting you on the next day's flight doesn't give you that vacation day back, and no airline is going to pay you money you can reimburse for consequential damages like blown hotel reservations, etc., if it's weather/stuff outside the airline's control (which is what an ATC hold out of SFO is most of the time).

This is why although LAX is a dumpster fire compared to SFO I prefer to connect on CX there out of SEA (he said, bringing this back on topic). When it's not runway construction time LAX is way better at not having weather mess it up.

VegasGambler

meh. I'm not overly concerned about a 6am flight leaving late. And if it does they have plenty of time to get me there. I don't particularly care about that day in Chicago... sure a night in Chicago will be fun, but that's not the purpose of the trip (I'd rather fly SFO-HND directly).

As for hotel reservations, etc.... first I'm pretty sure that Hyatt will let me cancel with no fee (they have waived stuff like that for me in the past, as a Globalist) and if not, that's why you book with a card that gives you free travel insurance.

It's really not worth stressing over.

McSam18

Getting ready to book award flights for two people but have a quick question. From previous experience booking CX F with AA miles, I know to book 1F/1J and wait until the 2nd F award opens up around 10 days out.

If I'm flying PVG - HKG (stop) - JFK and I've already taken the PVG - HKG leg, will Alaska still allow me to change the ticket into F if it comes available? Not sure if they have any restriction on changing awards after travel has begun.

Thanks!

eponymous_coward

The rules for AS awards are no changes once you've flown your first flight on the award, except for IROPS-related changes on day of travel when the operating carrier can do what they need to do to get you to your destination. Also note that minus elite status that any change for an award booked after June 2018 is $125, including rebooking in a different class of service, unless you wanted to pay F mileage in advance in the hopes F opened up (I wouldn't do this, CX availability isn't as good as in the past).

jamienbaker

VegasGambler

Doesn't this mean that you have to pay for two awards rather than one (since the stopover is free)?

Sorry, I'm probably just not understanding you.

jinglish

I don't think you're misunderstanding. Based on his stories of prior trips, jamienbaker doesn't really want for miles.

jamienbaker

VegasGambler

You have more miles than I do

eponymous_coward

Also J on CX for PVG-HKG is only 15k Avios using the BA Avios frequent flyer program (or less if BA offers the option of using less Avios/more cash). I have done that when I have wanted to use my free stopover on the US side instead of the Asia side. It basically came out to $90 and 8k Avios to fly in CX regional J. That's OK for me.

Unfortunately I don't think OP would be able to use the free stopover on the US side as I have in the past, since they want to go HKG-JFK; if it was West Coast Best Coast OP could do something like HKG-SFO(stop)-PVR/HNL for the same miles as HKG-SFO. But AS isn't keen to do HKG-JFK(stop)-SEA/PDX/California-somewhere (though I guess You Never Know, AS sometimes lets one get through, but the rules say "no using AS positioning flights to/from the West Coast for CX out of JFK/BOS/IAD").

Flying for Fun

Yet they will happily fly you JFK-LAX as part of an EK Award to DXB & beyond or YVR-SEA-JFK for a JL award to TYO & beyond or...., open jaws in the USA? Sure, no problem. From the West Coast and want to spend a week or more on the East Coast via SEA before flying to PVG via SEA? Absolutely, happy to accommodate! So many options "online."

James

McSam18