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 16, 2018, 6:18 pm
#601
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: In the clouds
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 42
As an Alaska MVP Gold member who booked a VX main cabin ticket, is there any difference in checking in for the flight on Alaska's website vs Virgin's? A better/worse chance of upgrade on check-in?
Apr 16, 2018, 10:15 pm
#602
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
First time I have ever gotten an email telling me a flight tomorrow may be oversold and asking to "click here" if I would volunteer to take a different flight for "at least" a $250 travel credit.
Questions:
a) Is this potential VDB list ordered like United's (e.g., the higher the higher the status the higher on the bump list?) Or is it whoever rushes the podium the fastest when the announcement that VDB's are indeed needed is made?
b) Do gate agents have the power to move you to a different arriving-city flight (e.g., from OAK to SFO)?
c) That "at least" language is intriguing: does that mean that the bidding starts at $250?
Questions:
a) Is this potential VDB list ordered like United's (e.g., the higher the higher the status the higher on the bump list?) Or is it whoever rushes the podium the fastest when the announcement that VDB's are indeed needed is made?
b) Do gate agents have the power to move you to a different arriving-city flight (e.g., from OAK to SFO)?
c) That "at least" language is intriguing: does that mean that the bidding starts at $250?
Apr 16, 2018, 11:29 pm
#603
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,832
First time I have ever gotten an email telling me a flight tomorrow may be oversold and asking to "click here" if I would volunteer to take a different flight for "at least" a $250 travel credit.
Questions:
a) Is this potential VDB list ordered like United's (e.g., the higher the higher the status the higher on the bump list?) Or is it whoever rushes the podium the fastest when the announcement that VDB's are indeed needed is made?
b) Do gate agents have the power to move you to a different arriving-city flight (e.g., from OAK to SFO)?
c) That "at least" language is intriguing: does that mean that the bidding starts at $250?
Questions:
a) Is this potential VDB list ordered like United's (e.g., the higher the higher the status the higher on the bump list?) Or is it whoever rushes the podium the fastest when the announcement that VDB's are indeed needed is made?
b) Do gate agents have the power to move you to a different arriving-city flight (e.g., from OAK to SFO)?
c) That "at least" language is intriguing: does that mean that the bidding starts at $250?
We're looking for volunteers to take an alternate flight in exchange for a $300 discount on future travel.
If you are interested in this offer, please contact us at 1-800-252-7522. You will be rebooked on the next available flight to your destination, at no additional charge.
Apr 17, 2018, 8:53 am
#604
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: AA ex-EXP LT PLT, AS 75K, B6 Mosaic, HH D, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 128
As we get closer to the last date for VX flights, the process still shows up under MVP Gold Flight Benefits. I don't expect it to change until 25th April.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...efits/mvp-gold
If you booked on VX, you should manage your flight and check-in with VX.
Hope that helped.
Apr 17, 2018, 10:35 am
#605
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: ANC
Programs: Alaska 100k
Posts: 1,012
When did D Gates at SeaTac get fancy new security scanner and precheck? I always went to B, because D was awful, but today walked right through and quickly got to D1 for my IND flight (where I was then pressed up against the wall because that hallway is too small).
This was checkpoint 5. I've been through there once or twice before, and they didn't have full PreCheck at the time: they gave you a card that said "expedited screening" and then you got to use the metal detector instead of the body scanner iirc.
Yesterday, they had new, larger bins that automatically recycled themselves and moved your stuff through the checkpoint, and that was in addition to a dedicated PreCheck line.
Yesterday, they had new, larger bins that automatically recycled themselves and moved your stuff through the checkpoint, and that was in addition to a dedicated PreCheck line.
It does have a different arrangement now (at least when I went through on Friday). It looks like BOTH checkpoint 4&5 are Precheck ONLY. The tso at the line was sending all non-precheck pax to checkpoint 3.
Apr 17, 2018, 10:51 am
#606
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: In the clouds
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 42
The way that it works is that if you booked on AS, as soon as you booked your flight, you would either call or to go to the VX website to tick the box to "opt in" for the request to Main Cabin Select. If you wanted to try and snag the upgrade to F, you could do so at 24 hours prior to flight time on the VX website during check-in. Those options are not available on the AS website.
As we get closer to the last date for VX flights, the process still shows up under MVP Gold Flight Benefits. I don't expect it to change until 25th April.
If you booked on VX, you should manage your flight and check-in with VX.
Hope that helped.
As we get closer to the last date for VX flights, the process still shows up under MVP Gold Flight Benefits. I don't expect it to change until 25th April.
If you booked on VX, you should manage your flight and check-in with VX.
Hope that helped.
As a loyal VX flyer, I hate to see the brand go away, but I'm looking forward to these kinks going away.
Apr 17, 2018, 3:46 pm
#607
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Idaho, USA
Programs: AS MVPG, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 147
Has anyone ever had any luck getting AS to credit a Christmas/New Years RT to a single status year?
We're looking at flying to Europe on ICE in late December and coming back in early January, and wondering if there's any chance of getting the entire trip credited either to 2018 or 2019 for the purposes of status.
We're looking at flying to Europe on ICE in late December and coming back in early January, and wondering if there's any chance of getting the entire trip credited either to 2018 or 2019 for the purposes of status.
Apr 17, 2018, 3:49 pm
#608
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: Delta Gold, Alaska Gold 75K, LATAM Black
Posts: 3,393
Has anyone ever had any luck getting AS to credit a Christmas/New Years RT to a single status year?
We're looking at flying to Europe on ICE in late December and coming back in early January, and wondering if there's any chance of getting the entire trip credited either to 2018 or 2019 for the purposes of status.
We're looking at flying to Europe on ICE in late December and coming back in early January, and wondering if there's any chance of getting the entire trip credited either to 2018 or 2019 for the purposes of status.
miles for both 2018 and then 2019.
You could always *try* and *hope for the best* but even if you succeeded .. Alaska is known for retroactively going back, correcting their mistakes, and reducing people’s status and revoking benefits. I don’t think it’s worth the risk.
mb
Apr 17, 2018, 4:19 pm
#609
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
It did, thanks. I called AS to try and opt-in, but was told that because I wasn't MVP Gold when I booked, but got the status after booking, they couldn't do anything. Which after reading the forum more, it seems like this information might have been incorrect? I'll blame it on the AS/VX merger dysfunction I guess.
I'd call in and ask them to remove your FF# from the reservation, thank them and hang up. Give it a couple of minutes to allow the agent to exit the reservation and either readd it on the website or call back for a second agent to do it. See if that updates your status.
Apr 19, 2018, 12:44 pm
#610
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6
Quick question - needing to cancel a First Class (booked P class) ticket and I'm wondering:
1. Canceled ticket is for a non-elite flyer.
2. If I select the "Emailed the cancelled ticket numbers to use later to retrieve value" option - and I reuse in future to book travel for gold or 75k flyer itent, will the $125 fee be waived?
Thank you in advance!
1. Canceled ticket is for a non-elite flyer.
2. If I select the "Emailed the cancelled ticket numbers to use later to retrieve value" option - and I reuse in future to book travel for gold or 75k flyer itent, will the $125 fee be waived?
Thank you in advance!
Apr 19, 2018, 1:07 pm
#611
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Quick question - needing to cancel a First Class (booked P class) ticket and I'm wondering:
1. Canceled ticket is for a non-elite flyer.
2. If I select the "Emailed the cancelled ticket numbers to use later to retrieve value" option - and I reuse in future to book travel for gold or 75k flyer itent, will the $125 fee be waived?
Thank you in advance!
1. Canceled ticket is for a non-elite flyer.
2. If I select the "Emailed the cancelled ticket numbers to use later to retrieve value" option - and I reuse in future to book travel for gold or 75k flyer itent, will the $125 fee be waived?
Thank you in advance!
Apr 19, 2018, 11:18 pm
#612
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: AP, BA, AS, UA, WS
Posts: 6
The first leg of my 2-leg revenue ticket was rescheduled (looks like the flight I booked was cancelled), so they rebooked me on a flight 2 hours later. I looked and saw there were a few other AS options for the same route including one only 5 minutes different than the original. Called in, agent was able to rebook me, got confirmation e-mail and can see the reservation online fine.
The weird thing is that I booked the first leg in Main in like some fare like K/T/R, but the current ticket has it as Y. Second leg remained the same (Main, one of K/T/R) as originally booked. So, can I look forward to earning 50% bonus miles for the first leg?
The weird thing is that I booked the first leg in Main in like some fare like K/T/R, but the current ticket has it as Y. Second leg remained the same (Main, one of K/T/R) as originally booked. So, can I look forward to earning 50% bonus miles for the first leg?
Apr 19, 2018, 11:42 pm
#613
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 1,922
Another, potentially dumb question: I have an AA-marketed, AS-operated ticket. Should I credit this to AS? How can I determine the corresponding fare class in this case?
Per MileagePlan site, it describes the AA-operated/AS-plated scenario, but not the reverse.
Per MileagePlan site, it describes the AA-operated/AS-plated scenario, but not the reverse.
You'll still earn miles on domestic American Airlines flights with an Alaska Airlines (AS) flight number, and on all American international flights.
Apr 20, 2018, 6:06 am
#614
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Another, potentially dumb question: I have an AA-marketed, AS-operated ticket. Should I credit this to AS? How can I determine the corresponding fare class in this case?
Per MileagePlan site, it describes the AA-operated/AS-plated scenario, but not the reverse.
Per MileagePlan site, it describes the AA-operated/AS-plated scenario, but not the reverse.
Apr 20, 2018, 7:04 am
#615
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336