Jan 1, 2018, 3:17 pm
Last edit by: Baze
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.
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
For the 2017 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
For the 2017 version of this thread, please click here
2018 Alaska Airlines *FLAME-FREE* Q&A thread: all welcome, new and old!
Apr 14, 2018, 10:30 am
#586
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Hmmm...
Is it possible then for a return flight to be credited before an outbound?
I've gotten our miles for the return (tickets booked as two one-ways), but not for the outbound. For the outbound all I have is the BP which says it is W, and I honestly got the tickets sooo long ago I can't remember if we paid cash or used miles. But if you say W is for a paid ticket, then I guess I have to submit for credit.
Update: I just looked in my old e-mails and found the original - it WAS a mileage ticket, mystery solved
Is it possible then for a return flight to be credited before an outbound?
I've gotten our miles for the return (tickets booked as two one-ways), but not for the outbound. For the outbound all I have is the BP which says it is W, and I honestly got the tickets sooo long ago I can't remember if we paid cash or used miles. But if you say W is for a paid ticket, then I guess I have to submit for credit.
Update: I just looked in my old e-mails and found the original - it WAS a mileage ticket, mystery solved
Apr 14, 2018, 12:13 pm
#587
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,223
Apr 14, 2018, 6:55 pm
#588
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: SFO
Posts: 32
Hi everyone,
Last week a friend offered to let me use one of his $99 companion passes (it was from his Alaska biz card). He sent me the code and I booked my tickets with it on my account. It worked fine and I got the $99 companion ticket. I've now come to realize that Alaska says the companion pass must be used by the person who it was issued to, i.e., my friend should've booked my ticket for me.
So I'm wondering—is that rule not enforced? Is there a new policy?
I have the reservation confirmation, so I don't see how anything could go wrong at this point. Maybe I (or my friend) is at risk of getting in trouble with Alaska for not using the companion pass as the terms suggest?
Thanks for any help!
Last week a friend offered to let me use one of his $99 companion passes (it was from his Alaska biz card). He sent me the code and I booked my tickets with it on my account. It worked fine and I got the $99 companion ticket. I've now come to realize that Alaska says the companion pass must be used by the person who it was issued to, i.e., my friend should've booked my ticket for me.
So I'm wondering—is that rule not enforced? Is there a new policy?
I have the reservation confirmation, so I don't see how anything could go wrong at this point. Maybe I (or my friend) is at risk of getting in trouble with Alaska for not using the companion pass as the terms suggest?
Thanks for any help!
Apr 14, 2018, 8:12 pm
#589
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,196
Hi everyone,
Last week a friend offered to let me use one of his $99 companion passes (it was from his Alaska biz card). He sent me the code and I booked my tickets with it on my account. It worked fine and I got the $99 companion ticket. I've now come to realize that Alaska says the companion pass must be used by the person who it was issued to, i.e., my friend should've booked my ticket for me.
So I'm wondering—is that rule not enforced? Is there a new policy?
I have the reservation confirmation, so I don't see how anything could go wrong at this point. Maybe I (or my friend) is at risk of getting in trouble with Alaska for not using the companion pass as the terms suggest?
Thanks for any help!
Last week a friend offered to let me use one of his $99 companion passes (it was from his Alaska biz card). He sent me the code and I booked my tickets with it on my account. It worked fine and I got the $99 companion ticket. I've now come to realize that Alaska says the companion pass must be used by the person who it was issued to, i.e., my friend should've booked my ticket for me.
So I'm wondering—is that rule not enforced? Is there a new policy?
I have the reservation confirmation, so I don't see how anything could go wrong at this point. Maybe I (or my friend) is at risk of getting in trouble with Alaska for not using the companion pass as the terms suggest?
Thanks for any help!
Edit: just thought of something...is your friend the second person on the ticket? I.e. you booked and paid but he's on it? That could be why it worked...the rules require that he either be the person paying or one of the travelers, so even if you paid, as long as his last name is one of the travelers, it'd be completely legit.
Apr 14, 2018, 9:28 pm
#590
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,028
Is there any airline's lounge that is accessible from the AS gate(s) at BOS?
Not very familiar at all with BOS.
Not very familiar at all with BOS.
Apr 14, 2018, 9:34 pm
#591
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Nope, though if you have priority pass, you press your luck and use the BP to enter the Jetblue gates (unless you get a TSO on a power trip) but be prepared to walk quite a bit. One lounge is by C19 and 2 others way down in E (accessible from jetblue gates in C.)
Apr 15, 2018, 12:05 am
#592
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: SFO
Posts: 32
just thought of something...is your friend the second person on the ticket? I.e. you booked and paid but he's on it? That could be why it worked...the rules require that he either be the person paying or one of the travelers, so even if you paid, as long as his last name is one of the travelers, it'd be completely legit.
Apr 15, 2018, 12:13 pm
#593
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Currently in Bloomington, IN, but Normally NYC, CDG, and even POZ or wherever FT takes me.
Programs: Northwest Airlines. MTA pay-per-ride Metrocard; zero-balance Oyster card.
Posts: 14,022
AS noob question: do AA domestic segments booked on alaskaair.com earn AS miles?
Apr 15, 2018, 12:19 pm
#594
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
If they're purchased as AS codeshares. Easiest way is just make sure there's an AS flight number in parentheses to the side of the AA flight number when it's in your Cart, prior to checking out.
Apr 15, 2018, 1:49 pm
#595
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Currently in Bloomington, IN, but Normally NYC, CDG, and even POZ or wherever FT takes me.
Programs: Northwest Airlines. MTA pay-per-ride Metrocard; zero-balance Oyster card.
Posts: 14,022
Code:
American 449 (Alaska 6611) Operated by American Airlines Check in with American Airlines
Apr 15, 2018, 1:56 pm
#596
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Thank you for that. I'm still a bit unclear, however, as in the cart, I get both AA and AS flight numbers.
So... Which is it? It seems to me that if AS is selling the ticket, then I should earn the miles. Or am I wrong?
Code:
American 449 (Alaska 6611) Operated by American Airlines Check in with American Airlines
So... Which is it? It seems to me that if AS is selling the ticket, then I should earn the miles. Or am I wrong?
AS will sell segments on other airlines on an AS ticket that do not earn on AS, such as DL segments to select destinations. I *think* but am not positive that non-codeshare AA flights have to purchased via an AS phone agent.
Apr 15, 2018, 3:33 pm
#597
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
That's what I originally thought, i found example that contradicts my prior claim. You can get an AA codes using the AS site but you will know before adding to the cart because they are full F/Y only and will be extremely expensive, some cases close to $1500 for short leg in coach. I believe it only comes up on multi city.
Apr 15, 2018, 4:02 pm
#598
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Currently in Bloomington, IN, but Normally NYC, CDG, and even POZ or wherever FT takes me.
Programs: Northwest Airlines. MTA pay-per-ride Metrocard; zero-balance Oyster card.
Posts: 14,022
^ Yes, that's what you want to see. AA flight number with AS flight number in paranetheses to the side. That's a AS codeshare of an AA operated flight and does earn AS miles.
AS will sell segments on other airlines on an AS ticket that do not earn on AS, such as DL segments to select destinations. I *think* but am not positive that non-codeshare AA flights have to purchased via an AS phone agent.
That's what I originally thought, i found example that contradicts my prior claim. You can get an AA codes using the AS site but you will know before adding to the cart because they are full F/Y only and will be extremely expensive, some cases close to $1500 for short leg in coach. I believe it only comes up on multi city.
Apr 15, 2018, 9:11 pm
#599
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere
Programs: AS MVP, EK Silver, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 921
The benefit applies to tickets on AS stock only. It may also trigger a reprice as its likely EK HYD-HNL fare, AS cannot make changes to reservation booked through EK. It may be best to just no-show the last segment unless the EK change fee and fare difference saves you money. Some of the sample dates I looked at EK HYD-SFO is $500 cheaper than HYD-HNL so may be worth contracting emirates.
I guess at that point elite status doesn't matter and its the terms of the actual ticket. Not sure which overrides - rule of the fare based on ticket stock or rule of the operating carrier. If it were AS stock it'd be a fully flexible F ticket and I could do whatever I wanted with it.
Apr 16, 2018, 5:56 am
#600
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
How about if the final AS segment is booked in revenue F bucket, but on EK stock on an overall "O" (Business Saver) fare?
I guess at that point elite status doesn't matter and its the terms of the actual ticket. Not sure which overrides - rule of the fare based on ticket stock or rule of the operating carrier. If it were AS stock it'd be a fully flexible F ticket and I could do whatever I wanted with it.
I guess at that point elite status doesn't matter and its the terms of the actual ticket. Not sure which overrides - rule of the fare based on ticket stock or rule of the operating carrier. If it were AS stock it'd be a fully flexible F ticket and I could do whatever I wanted with it.
Last edited by CDKing; Apr 16, 2018 at 6:25 am