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!
Dec 28, 2018, 9:00 am
#1711
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Assuming the flight leaves from T2 at SFO, wouldn’t OP have access to the AC on the basis of an incoming flight in Oneworld J? I understand OP’s onward flight is not operated by Oneworld, and I am not 100% sure OP has access. But I think it might be worth a try. (If OP were trying to gain access via status, then onward flight definitely has to be on Oneworld.)
If access is denied, T2 itself is not a bad place to spend some time.
To be eligible, you must be departing on a flight that is both marketed and operated by a oneworld member airline.
Connecting between oneworld marketed and operated flights:
First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa).
Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.
You must be prepared to show your boarding pass or itinerary showing travel in First or Business class on the international long haul flight, in order to access the lounge before your international short haul or domestic flight.
First and Business Class customers connecting on the same day of travel, or before 6am the following day, can access the lounge when travelling between an international long haul (a oneworld international long haul flight is defined as an international flight marketed and operated by any oneworld carrier with a scheduled flight time longer than 5 hours) and an international short haul or domestic flight (and vice-versa).
Lounge access will be determined on the international long haul ticketed flight (either First of Business Class) regardless of the ticketed class of travel on the international short haul or domestic flight.
You must be prepared to show your boarding pass or itinerary showing travel in First or Business class on the international long haul flight, in order to access the lounge before your international short haul or domestic flight.
Dec 28, 2018, 9:44 am
#1712
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
Sure, it’s always worth a try. But OneWorld’s lounge access policy is
OP isn’t connecting between OneWorld operated flights. Another possibility is paying $59 pp to access the AC. It doesn’t allow complimentary access to Alaska Lounge members but I’m not sure that extends to paying guests.
OP isn’t connecting between OneWorld operated flights. Another possibility is paying $59 pp to access the AC. It doesn’t allow complimentary access to Alaska Lounge members but I’m not sure that extends to paying guests.
Assuming the flight leaves from T2 at SFO, wouldn’t OP have access to the AC on the basis of an incoming flight in Oneworld J? I understand OP’s onward flight is not operated by Oneworld, and I am not 100% sure OP has access. But I think it might be worth a try. (If OP were trying to gain access via status, then onward flight definitely has to be on Oneworld.)
If access is denied, T2 itself is not a bad place to spend some time.
Dec 28, 2018, 12:31 pm
#1713
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
As @rustykettle explained from the OW rules, you will most likely not be given access, my friend has had similar issues when flying into LAX on AA/CX and flying back to SEA on AS, they will not give you access. But again always worth a try, worst case they say no and you are right back where you started.
All of this to say: I think the rule is actually not clear, but I agree that probably the more reasonable (or common) interpretation is that the onward connection needs to be OW marketed and operated, even if arriving in longhaul J/F on a Oneworld marketed and operated flight.
Last edited by flyingeph12; Dec 28, 2018 at 12:37 pm
Dec 28, 2018, 1:29 pm
#1714
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PacNW (SEA)
Programs: AS, IHG and post-loyal
Posts: 523
Absolutely!
I have fondness for the D lounge, but really the one that’s closest to your gates is probably best, unless you have time to kill & like to lounge hop. There’s not much difference in the food or drink between the two as far as I can tell. Same with N lounge.
I have fondness for the D lounge, but really the one that’s closest to your gates is probably best, unless you have time to kill & like to lounge hop. There’s not much difference in the food or drink between the two as far as I can tell. Same with N lounge.
Dec 28, 2018, 1:31 pm
#1715
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PacNW (SEA)
Programs: AS, IHG and post-loyal
Posts: 523
This will probably sound obvious but I'd choose any F seat first, then row 6 or 7 (row 6 has more legroom but row 7 has movable armrests, which I appreciate on an aisle seat as it provides a bit more space. After that, I'd choose the second exit row because it can recline and has good legroom.
I did the same. I opted for second exit row over premium on my most recent flight w/o F upgrade. I'll have to try row 6 or 7 for a comparison. The real obvious answer might just be fewer red eyes.
Dec 28, 2018, 1:48 pm
#1716
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Any chance that CX will let you into their lounge (since you are arriving in CX J and have a connection with a partner?)
Dec 28, 2018, 4:47 pm
#1717
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 13
Hi! Couldn’t find this particular route so maybe it’s impossible - but is there a way to use AS miles from Seattle to Europe via Tokyo stopover? Or to get to europe, do I need to fly eastward? For example, JAL to Tokyo, then jal to Europe. Thank you!
Dec 28, 2018, 5:15 pm
#1718
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
You can do US-TYO(stopover)-HKG on JL // HKG-Europe on CX (or three awards with the TYO-HKG segment on CX). Or US-TYO JL // TYO-HEL(-Europe) on AY.
Dec 28, 2018, 5:31 pm
#1719
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 290
My understanding is that the CX lounge is airside in the international terminal. Since my outgoing flight is domestic, I don't think I would be able to access it. If I can't use the AA lounge, the alternatives seem to be PP lounges in terminal 3. Is there an airside connection between terminals 2 & 3? If not, can you access T3 airside with a T2 boarding pass?
Dec 28, 2018, 5:38 pm
#1720
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
My understanding is that the CX lounge is airside in the international terminal. Since my outgoing flight is domestic, I don't think I would be able to access it. If I can't use the AA lounge, the alternatives seem to be PP lounges in terminal 3. Is there an airside connection between terminals 2 & 3? If not, can you access T3 airside with a T2 boarding pass?
Whether CX lets you into the lounge is another question entirely. It's not an "arrivals lounge" but you are connecting and flew CX J to get there. I have no idea (1) what their policy is, and (2) whether they make exceptions to their policies.
Dec 28, 2018, 6:28 pm
#1721
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 318
I'm sure this question has been asked before, and the answer I'm sure is in here somewhere but I haven't seen it...
Can I make a reward booking on a partner airline and then call in to have the connecting Alaska flight added to the booking?
(reason: I see that it's a valid routing/ticket but not offered on the day I'm looking at, because I'm looking at the edge of availability)
Can I make a reward booking on a partner airline and then call in to have the connecting Alaska flight added to the booking?
(reason: I see that it's a valid routing/ticket but not offered on the day I'm looking at, because I'm looking at the edge of availability)
Dec 28, 2018, 6:41 pm
#1722
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: ANC
Programs: Alaska 100k
Posts: 1,012
I'm sure this question has been asked before, and the answer I'm sure is in here somewhere but I haven't seen it...
Can I make a reward booking on a partner airline and then call in to have the connecting Alaska flight added to the booking?
(reason: I see that it's a valid routing/ticket but not offered on the day I'm looking at, because I'm looking at the edge of availability)
Can I make a reward booking on a partner airline and then call in to have the connecting Alaska flight added to the booking?
(reason: I see that it's a valid routing/ticket but not offered on the day I'm looking at, because I'm looking at the edge of availability)
Dec 28, 2018, 7:48 pm
#1723
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Denver
Programs: AS, AA, UA, Hilton, Marriott, Caesars DE
Posts: 2,070
My understanding is that the CX lounge is airside in the international terminal. Since my outgoing flight is domestic, I don't think I would be able to access it. If I can't use the AA lounge, the alternatives seem to be PP lounges in terminal 3. Is there an airside connection between terminals 2 & 3? If not, can you access T3 airside with a T2 boarding pass?
Dec 30, 2018, 10:27 am
#1724
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 259
Companion Fare - Stopover & Multi Segments
Hi. Could I use my Companion Fare for the following:
YYJ-SFO (Stop over 3 nights) - PSP
and with the return leg PSP-YYJ?
Thanks in advance & a very Happy New Year everyone.
YYJ-SFO (Stop over 3 nights) - PSP
and with the return leg PSP-YYJ?
Thanks in advance & a very Happy New Year everyone.
Dec 30, 2018, 11:33 am
#1725
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263