Jan 1, 2018, 3:17 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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Welcome to the Alaska Airlines Flame-Free Q&A Thread for 2018!

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.

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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.

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Welcome, and we look forward to providing any assistance we can!

~the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan forum team~

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2018 Alaska Airlines FLAME-FREE Q&A thread: all welcome, new and old!

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Mar 23, 2018, 6:25 pm

#466

WillTravel4Food

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, Marriott Lifetime Titanium

Posts: 1,598

Quote:

Originally Posted by sturges

That flight is being sold as an AS codeshare, so yes, it will post as an Alaska flight.

I’m reading that as the flight is codeshared with AS, but the OP did not book the codeshared flight number. If that’s the case, the flight will not earn AS miles.

Mar 23, 2018, 6:34 pm

#467

jinglish

Join Date: Jul 2015

Location: SEA

Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver

Posts: 2,036

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillTravel4Food

I’m reading that as the flight is codeshared with AS, but the OP did not book the codeshared flight number. If that’s the case, the flight will not earn AS miles.

Why would it show the AS codeshare number if that's not what's being booked?

Mar 23, 2018, 7:11 pm

#468

WillTravel4Food

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, Marriott Lifetime Titanium

Posts: 1,598

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinglish

Why would it show the AS codeshare number if that's not what's being booked?

To show it’s a codeshared flight. My read has always been, reading left to right, the first code listed is the code you’ve booked.

Mar 23, 2018, 7:16 pm

#469

rune87

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: SEA

Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 876

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillTravel4Food

To show it’s a codeshared flight. My read has always been, reading left to right, the first code listed is the code you’ve booked.

Alaska doesn't fly into Cleveland so AA would have to be the only flight...another reason that divorce is unnecessarily confusing.

Mar 23, 2018, 7:22 pm

#470

WillTravel4Food

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, Marriott Lifetime Titanium

Posts: 1,598

Quote:

Originally Posted by rune87

Alaska doesn't fly into Cleveland so AA would have to be the only flight...another reason that divorce is unnecessarily confusing.

I just tested this on the website. The list of flights shows the AA flight number. Only after placing the flight in your cart does it show the AS flight number at the next step. My guess, the AA flight number is the one on the ticket.

Mar 23, 2018, 8:49 pm

#471

CDKing

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Dec 2007

Location: BOS/ORH

Programs: AS 75K

Posts: 18,323

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillTravel4Food

You cant buy an AA coded ticket through the AS website. Only through the call center. If its on the website it's AS coded. Its weird how AS displays it, but its just them being extra careful in complying with DOT rules abut being clear who the operating carrier is when codeshares are involved. The only way to get AA coded flight on the AS site is as an award booking.

jinglish likes this.

Mar 24, 2018, 12:59 am

#472

jinglish

Join Date: Jul 2015

Location: SEA

Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver

Posts: 2,036

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillTravel4Food

To show it’s a codeshared flight. My read has always been, reading left to right, the first code listed is the code you’ve booked.

I've booked AS flights that I've seen at the gate are codeshared with other carriers, like KE. AS doesn't inform me of those codeshares during booking.

Mar 24, 2018, 1:14 pm

#473

headinclouds

Join Date: Apr 2000

Posts: 2,638

A few questions regarding the use of miles for award travel since I have read conflicting information in this thread.
1- On this page, https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...ID:MileagePlan there is a column labeled, Non-Refundable. Is this correct? 2-Cancelling an award and reinstating the miles incurs a charge if less than 60 days. However, MVPG & MVP75 do not incur any fees to cancel or change an award when less than 60 days except the $12.50 phone fee when first making a booking. Correct?
3-Can one book an award that is JFK-NRT, stopover, NRT-HKG as one 1-way award? What about WAS-LAX on AS, stopover, LAX-NRT, NRT-HKG?
4-Can one use AA to fly to an airline partner’s gateway city to use an award? E.G. is DCA-ORD on AA, then CX or JL to Asia valid?
5-Which region is Sri Lanka in, Asia or India? Can’t tell from the region map on AS web site.
6-Is the award chart accurate? USA-Africa using CX is only 70,000 in 1st class. Is that correct?

Mar 24, 2018, 1:29 pm

#474

CDKing

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Dec 2007

Location: BOS/ORH

Programs: AS 75K

Posts: 18,323

Answers in Bold

Quote:

Originally Posted by headinclouds

A few questions regarding the use of miles for award travel since I have read conflicting information in this thread.

1- On this page, https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/use-miles/award-charts?lid=nav:mileage-charts&int=AS_NAV_MP_AwardCharts_-prodID:MileagePlan there is a column labeled, Non-Refundable. Is this correct? 2-Cancelling an award and reinstating the miles incurs a charge if less than 60 days. However, MVPG & MVP75 do not incur any fees to cancel or change an award when less than 60 days except the $12.50 phone fee when first making a booking. Correct?
Yes

3-Can one book an award that is JFK-NRT, stopover, NRT-HKG as one 1-way award? What about WAS-LAX on AS, stopover, LAX-NRT, NRT-HKG?
Yes AS+ One partner and East coast to west coast to pick up partner is allowed and logical routing.

4-Can one use AA to fly to an airline partner’s gateway city to use an award? E.G. is DCA-ORD on AA, then CX or JL to Asia valid?
No cant mix partners. one way AS+ partner and another way a different partner and AS.

5-Which region is Sri Lanka in, Asia or India? Can’t tell from the region map on AS web site.
India i believe

6-Is the award chart accurate? USA-Africa using CX is only 70,000 in 1st class. Is that correct?
Yes, Though HK to Africa is in business ( if space available)

Mar 24, 2018, 4:59 pm

#475

Flying for Fun

Join Date: Mar 2017

Location: British Columbia

Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold

Posts: 7,263

I just flew JNB-HKG//HKG-BOS last month. Originally booked in J for 62,500 miles. At T-11 days I was able to upgrade HKG-BOS to F with an additional 7,500 miles (70K total) and $3.85 in extra fees. From JNB-HKG CX uses a 3 Class 777 without an F cabin so no option for F on that route. Still an incredible value. I use Qantas to check availability. If I see it there, AS was able to see it and book it for me.

If you are considering South Africa CX is commencing 3x weekly flights to CPT in November in addition to their daily JNB route.

James

Mar 26, 2018, 10:15 am

#476

PABE

Join Date: Sep 2014

Location: ANC

Programs: Alaska 100k

Posts: 1,012

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillTravel4Food

I’m reading that as the flight is codeshared with AS, but the OP did not book the codeshared flight number. If that’s the case, the flight will not earn AS miles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillTravel4Food

To show it’s a codeshared flight. My read has always been, reading left to right, the first code listed is the code you’ve booked.

That's not how this works. AS website doesn't show AA-coded AA flights. Only AS-coded AA flights are shown. I'm not suggesting that AS has the most intuitive interface to show what you are booking, but that screenshot DOES in fact show that an AS-coded flight is being purchased.