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!
Sep 15, 2018, 9:08 am
#1216
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 13
Does AS print JAL tickets ?
Hi! This is my first time using AS points for an international flight. We will be flying JAL first class from LAX to NRT In a few weeks. We are starting in Seattle (SEA - LAX on AS). Question is... when we Check in at SeaTac with Alaska, will they put our luggage through to Tokyo and print second boarding passes (JAL LAX-NRT)? Or do we, upon landing in LAX, have to pick up our luggage and check in thru JAL?
I was reading a flight review online and someone mentioned they had the Qantas lounge print their JAL boarding pass tickets (after connecting from Seattle). So I was curious if AS prints JAL tickets or not at SeaTac. Thanks !!
I was reading a flight review online and someone mentioned they had the Qantas lounge print their JAL boarding pass tickets (after connecting from Seattle). So I was curious if AS prints JAL tickets or not at SeaTac. Thanks !!
Sep 15, 2018, 11:59 am
#1217
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 271
Looking at LAX-DXB in july/august time frame, but can't find a single return flight on EK J (through AS). I thought one could book EK award up to 330d.
EF seems to show some availability, but since i don't have much experience with the tool, I might be doing something wrong.
EF seems to show some availability, but since i don't have much experience with the tool, I might be doing something wrong.
Sep 15, 2018, 5:41 pm
#1218
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SFO or OAK
Programs: AA 1MM GLD, Hertz #1 Gold, bunch of other programs w/no status
Posts: 1,454
My wife has a SFO-LAX round trip (same day return) booked next week but her business plans changed and she doesn't need to go anymore. It's a cheapo <$100 ticket. She has no status on AS (yet). As I understand it, there's no way to extract any value from this ticket due to the change fee, right? Is it better to cancel, or just no-show?
Sep 15, 2018, 6:01 pm
#1219
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
My wife has a SFO-LAX round trip (same day return) booked next week but her business plans changed and she doesn't need to go anymore. It's a cheapo <$100 ticket. She has no status on AS (yet). As I understand it, there's no way to extract any value from this ticket due to the change fee, right? Is it better to cancel, or just no-show?
You can cancel and hold the ticket without paying the change fee now. I'd do that as a) it preserves the value of the ticket. If she achieves Gold or higher within the year expiration, she should be able to get the change fee waived then, b) seat is freed up for someone else and the airport agents aren't waiting for her to close check-in. I would wait until closer to the flight date though. If there's a cancellation or delay, you may be able to use that to get the ticket refunded.
Sep 16, 2018, 10:33 am
#1220
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Alaska 75K
Posts: 91
Hi... I should know this but does a 2 flight option from SEA to SFO that stops with a change of planes in PDX count as 2 segments for elite qualification purposes? Thanks....
Sep 17, 2018, 8:24 am
#1222
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 1,947
Looking at late winter / early spring r/t SEA-OGG vacation for my family of 3 + infant (no seat required). Reasonable to use a companion pass for 2 of us, miles for another, and then pay our way into bulkhead row (~$130pp)? For a 738 to Hawaii, how much better is the AS F experience/comfort over bulkhead row Premium?
Sep 17, 2018, 1:10 pm
#1223
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
Looking at late winter / early spring r/t SEA-OGG vacation for my family of 3 + infant (no seat required). Reasonable to use a companion pass for 2 of us, miles for another, and then pay our way into bulkhead row (~$130pp)? For a 738 to Hawaii, how much better is the AS F experience/comfort over bulkhead row Premium?
Sep 17, 2018, 1:45 pm
#1224
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Alaska MVPG75
Posts: 89
How do comp upgrades work for 8 FC seats (VX) configured flights for MVPG75? ~24hrs from flight. FC seats avail for purchase but no U space.
Sep 17, 2018, 1:57 pm
#1225
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
Sep 17, 2018, 3:23 pm
#1226
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Yellow Springs
Programs: AS 75k
Posts: 1,523
Sep 17, 2018, 4:54 pm
#1227
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: ANC
Programs: Alaska 100k
Posts: 1,012
Hi! This is my first time using AS points for an international flight. We will be flying JAL first class from LAX to NRT In a few weeks. We are starting in Seattle (SEA - LAX on AS). Question is... when we Check in at SeaTac with Alaska, will they put our luggage through to Tokyo and print second boarding passes (JAL LAX-NRT)? Or do we, upon landing in LAX, have to pick up our luggage and check in thru JAL?
I was reading a flight review online and someone mentioned they had the Qantas lounge print their JAL boarding pass tickets (after connecting from Seattle). So I was curious if AS prints JAL tickets or not at SeaTac. Thanks !!
I was reading a flight review online and someone mentioned they had the Qantas lounge print their JAL boarding pass tickets (after connecting from Seattle). So I was curious if AS prints JAL tickets or not at SeaTac. Thanks !!
Sep 19, 2018, 7:42 pm
#1228
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
If I asked this before, forgive me 
Just want to make very sure: if I issue an award ticket using my miles to someone else, if there needs to be a change/cancellation there is no fee for me to cancel/change that ticket as an MVPG, correct?
Just want to make very sure: if I issue an award ticket using my miles to someone else, if there needs to be a change/cancellation there is no fee for me to cancel/change that ticket as an MVPG, correct?
Sep 19, 2018, 7:47 pm
#1229
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
As an MVP™ Gold, my change fees are waived. What about for my family?
While anyone traveling with you in the same reservation will have their luggage fees waived, the change fee will apply to all passengers other than the MVP Gold. The exception is if your fellow passengers are booked on an award ticket using your miles; in that case, change fees are waived.
Sep 19, 2018, 8:57 pm
#1230
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
Hi! This is my first time using AS points for an international flight. We will be flying JAL first class from LAX to NRT In a few weeks. We are starting in Seattle (SEA - LAX on AS). Question is... when we Check in at SeaTac with Alaska, will they put our luggage through to Tokyo and print second boarding passes (JAL LAX-NRT)? Or do we, upon landing in LAX, have to pick up our luggage and check in thru JAL?
I was reading a flight review online and someone mentioned they had the Qantas lounge print their JAL boarding pass tickets (after connecting from Seattle). So I was curious if AS prints JAL tickets or not at SeaTac. Thanks !!
I was reading a flight review online and someone mentioned they had the Qantas lounge print their JAL boarding pass tickets (after connecting from Seattle). So I was curious if AS prints JAL tickets or not at SeaTac. Thanks !!
bc US airports typically dont have a transfer desk unlike ex-US