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!
Aug 17, 2018, 2:10 am
#1111
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Aug 17, 2018, 10:50 am
#1112
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: AS MVPG75K, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 126
Help with companion ticket change
My brother is visiting with his SO and now has a medical emergency which may prevent him from flying home on his original ticket. He was primary on booking with SO as companion. SO must fly home on original booking but my brother may have to extend his stay. What is the best approach here? I could just call and throw money at the situation but would like to know if anyone can suggest a strategy?
Thanks and hope this posted correctly.
Thanks and hope this posted correctly.
Aug 17, 2018, 2:11 pm
#1114
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
Just noticed a $9 fare drop on my already cheap nonstop ticket X2 (I try not to book r/t).
Worth asking for credit (flying in a week)? If it's done online at AS.com, did not find it. Where to look?
Possibility of changing this mid con to a connection via SFO for extra miles?
I suspect both ? have own thread, but my Google Advanced Search did not find them (usually don't even bother with FT search).
Worth asking for credit (flying in a week)? If it's done online at AS.com, did not find it. Where to look?
Possibility of changing this mid con to a connection via SFO for extra miles?
I suspect both ? have own thread, but my Google Advanced Search did not find them (usually don't even bother with FT search).
Aug 17, 2018, 2:14 pm
#1115
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
My brother is visiting with his SO and now has a medical emergency which may prevent him from flying home on his original ticket. He was primary on booking with SO as companion. SO must fly home on original booking but my brother may have to extend his stay. What is the best approach here? I could just call and throw money at the situation but would like to know if anyone can suggest a strategy?
Thanks and hope this posted correctly.
Thanks and hope this posted correctly.
See what they offer.
Be prepared to submit medical paperwork.
Aug 17, 2018, 2:16 pm
#1116
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
Just noticed a $9 fare drop on my already cheap nonstop ticket X2 (I try not to book r/t).
Worth asking for credit (flying in a week)? If it's done online at AS.com, did not find it. Where to look?
Possibility of changing this mid con to a connection via SFO for extra miles?
I suspect both ? have own thread, but my Google Advanced Search did not find them (usually don't even bother with FT search).
Worth asking for credit (flying in a week)? If it's done online at AS.com, did not find it. Where to look?
Possibility of changing this mid con to a connection via SFO for extra miles?
I suspect both ? have own thread, but my Google Advanced Search did not find them (usually don't even bother with FT search).
GARR is the key word.
As for should you... I dunno. It resets waitlist positions for upgrades.
I'd be tempted to reroute via SFO for more miles and to stop in the SFO AMEX Lounge if time permitted.
Aug 17, 2018, 5:28 pm
#1117
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Southwest A-List; Alaska MVPG; Hilton Diamond; Avis PreferredPlus; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Posts: 920
Can you help me make sure I don’t do something wrong here?
i just booked SAN-BWI RT expecting to secure MVP for 2019. I’m currently MVP, but MVP bonus miles aren’t EQM, so that shouldn’t be relevant. It’s right on the line of 20k, so I want to make certain that I understand the rules while I have a chance to back out within 24 hours of booking my tix.
Here’s what I have:
- SAN-DAL : 1182
- SAN-BOS : 2581
- BOS-SAN : 2581
- SAN-BWI : 2289
- BWI-SAN : 2289
- SAN-SJC : 417 = 500min
- SJC-SAN : 417 = 500min + Class M booking bonus of ??? (104? 125?)
- SAN-GEG : 1028
- SAN-SEA : 1051
- SEA-SAN : 1051
- SAN-KOA : 2551
- KOA-SAN : 2551
This results in a total of 20,154 (or 20,258 or 20,279, depending on how the class M booking bonus is calculated)
As you see, my margin is slim. If I have misunderstood the 500 mile minimum as EQM, or the booking bonus as EQM, then I want to know now.. not in December.
Thanks for anyone who wants to review my work. The raw mileage numbers came from the AS flight details page.
i just booked SAN-BWI RT expecting to secure MVP for 2019. I’m currently MVP, but MVP bonus miles aren’t EQM, so that shouldn’t be relevant. It’s right on the line of 20k, so I want to make certain that I understand the rules while I have a chance to back out within 24 hours of booking my tix.
Here’s what I have:
- SAN-DAL : 1182
- SAN-BOS : 2581
- BOS-SAN : 2581
- SAN-BWI : 2289
- BWI-SAN : 2289
- SAN-SJC : 417 = 500min
- SJC-SAN : 417 = 500min + Class M booking bonus of ??? (104? 125?)
- SAN-GEG : 1028
- SAN-SEA : 1051
- SEA-SAN : 1051
- SAN-KOA : 2551
- KOA-SAN : 2551
This results in a total of 20,154 (or 20,258 or 20,279, depending on how the class M booking bonus is calculated)
As you see, my margin is slim. If I have misunderstood the 500 mile minimum as EQM, or the booking bonus as EQM, then I want to know now.. not in December.
Thanks for anyone who wants to review my work. The raw mileage numbers came from the AS flight details page.
Aug 17, 2018, 6:00 pm
#1118
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: 36,027
Download this excellent status calculator Excel spreadsheet:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29118926-post51.html
Plug in your flights. You'll have the information you need.
A truly helpful tool to me the last couple of years.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29118926-post51.html
Plug in your flights. You'll have the information you need.
A truly helpful tool to me the last couple of years.
Aug 17, 2018, 6:02 pm
#1119
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Plugged your segments into Milecalc, and it pretty much backs up your calculations (they use slightly different mileage on some but AS' mileage numbers are the only ones that count after all!). Looks to me like you're all set. Welcome to 2019 MVP!
Aug 17, 2018, 9:22 pm
#1120
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
Twitch 76 Welcome to 2019 MVP. I also have my calculations worked out to about 200 above 20,000. Yes, I do double check my work. EQM and COS matter. Went with 2 flights -P fare- just for the COS I needed to finish out the year.
Aug 18, 2018, 12:23 pm
#1122
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 876
Whats the maximum time in between flights that one GGU will work? Looking at some flights that have a 2-3 Hour layover, but both legs have U space open.
Aug 18, 2018, 12:27 pm
#1123
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,833
Each guest upgrade code is valid for one-way travel for one person. Connecting flights must have no more than a 4-hour stopover between them.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...guest-upgrades
Aug 19, 2018, 1:52 pm
#1124
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Southwest A-List; Alaska MVPG; Hilton Diamond; Avis PreferredPlus; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Posts: 920
I think it’s unlikely that there’s any way to do what I want, but thought I’d ask here.
Two PAX on the same reservation, one is MVP. There are still four seats available in first class. Flight is 36 hours away.
If they are still available at the 24-hr check in window, can I call and request complimentary upgrade for one and a paid upgrade for the other?
Two PAX on the same reservation, one is MVP. There are still four seats available in first class. Flight is 36 hours away.
If they are still available at the 24-hr check in window, can I call and request complimentary upgrade for one and a paid upgrade for the other?
Aug 19, 2018, 2:42 pm
#1125
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
I think it’s unlikely that there’s any way to do what I want, but thought I’d ask here.
Two PAX on the same reservation, one is MVP. There are still four seats available in first class. Flight is 36 hours away.
If they are still available at the 24-hr check in window, can I call and request complimentary upgrade for one and a paid upgrade for the other?
Two PAX on the same reservation, one is MVP. There are still four seats available in first class. Flight is 36 hours away.
If they are still available at the 24-hr check in window, can I call and request complimentary upgrade for one and a paid upgrade for the other?
Unless you're on a companion fare, easiest way would be to call in and split the res, take the MVP upgrade now and then check one right at T-24 for the other (actually start a little bit sooner as OLCI may open just before then).
I'd also do a dummy booking for 2 F seats using MVP Gold or higher as the upgrade option just to confirm that U=2 or more, which is what upgrades clear into.