Feb 15, 2018, 4:03 pm
Last edit by: ashill
Alaska has disallowed new bookings or changes to bookings to intra-Asia award tickets less than 72 hours before departure on Cathay Pacific (CX), Japan Airlines (JL), and Hainan Airlines (HU) due to fraudulent bookings.
Initially (late January 2018 for HU; February 13, 2018 or so for CX and JL), this prohibition applied to all award bookings on these partners. On February 14, 2018, Alaska changed the rule to apply only to intra-Asia awards.
https://blog.wandr.me/2018/02/alaska...t-mileageplan/
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...artner-awards/
Initially (late January 2018 for HU; February 13, 2018 or so for CX and JL), this prohibition applied to all award bookings on these partners. On February 14, 2018, Alaska changed the rule to apply only to intra-Asia awards.
https://blog.wandr.me/2018/02/alaska...t-mileageplan/
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...artner-awards/
AS Limiting Award Bookings T-3 Days of Departure [Intra Asia Only] (CX, JL, HU)
Feb 13, 2018, 6:02 pm
#32
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
What are you talking about? One of the key stated (and aspirational) benefits of the program is for legitimate Alaska members to redeem miles for premium cabin travel on partners. If they are now withdrawing the ability for members to do that (because certain inventory only practically becomes available close-in), how is that mostly affecting your "undesireable" members overseas?
I may be making a very incorrect assumption here, but most of the posters that are the most upset about this are located in areas that are not even AS markets, or even in North America. If one isn’t even flying AS and merely using them as a means to buy/transfer/credit miles solely to use on premium cabin redemptions, how are they valuable customers to AS? I, for one, wish there was some way to stop his kind of thing.
And before you jump down my throat saying you are using the program within the rules, I get it. I just wish AS didn’t make it so easy for someone on the other side of the world who has never flown, and has no intention to ever fly AS, to open an account, buy or transfer in a bunch of miles and book CX F. Either for themselves or to sell. JMHO.
And before you jump down my throat saying you are using the program within the rules, I get it. I just wish AS didn’t make it so easy for someone on the other side of the world who has never flown, and has no intention to ever fly AS, to open an account, buy or transfer in a bunch of miles and book CX F. Either for themselves or to sell. JMHO.
Feb 13, 2018, 6:21 pm
#33
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 24
Please beware that Chinese New Year is on 16th February, HU may want to keep the inventory for the last minute traveler for PEK-SZX and PEK-PVG.
Feb 13, 2018, 6:23 pm
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Feb 13, 2018, 6:47 pm
#35
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
How to contact AS execs about this issue ? Does their email format follow the [email protected] style ?
Feb 13, 2018, 7:12 pm
#38
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,916
I don't redeem on any of those carriers, but if they do this on AA or BA, I'm going to be really pissed. My guess is that many get comped to 75K or Gold from other carriers, transfer a crap ton of points from SPG or buy a ton because they can and make it crappy for the rest of us. Alaska should require a few things --- a. four flown segments on Alaska metal to keep status for the following year, like AA used to do b. require a close in booking fee for some of these elusive awards (even I would go for that) c. stop making everyone and their mothers 75K and Golds because they think they'll jump ship
I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I'm okay with that.
I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I'm okay with that.
Feb 13, 2018, 10:44 pm
#40
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Alaska 100K - MM, defender of shoes on the carpeted bulkhead 4ever, AA LT PLT, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia
Posts: 7,446
They make everyone and their nanny elites, so there has got to be a better qualifier.
Feb 14, 2018, 12:30 am
#42
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
I know this is mentioned in the CX thread but since it applies to multiple partners, i believe it deserves its own thread.
https://blog.wandr.me/2018/02/alaska...t-mileageplan/
AS points can no longer be used on CX, HU or JL awards within 3 days of departure.
https://blog.wandr.me/2018/02/alaska...t-mileageplan/
AS points can no longer be used on CX, HU or JL awards within 3 days of departure.
Bad move, but can anyone please point me to a legitimate source of why AS did it? Bloggers claimed it's fraud protection, while the tone in this thread seemed to be speculation instead of really making a claim.
Feb 14, 2018, 12:55 am
#43
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 88
Feb 14, 2018, 7:37 am
#45
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
Just want to point out the solution some have proposed by having a waiver for Golds and 75Ks will not work. This issue is due to fraud (hacking and stealing miles or acting as an imposter to transfer points and make bookings).
A Gold or 75K’s account is as vulnerable as any member’s account. I am a gold with Marriott and I had fraudulent activity in my account a few years ago where someone made an award booking in my account but fortunately because Marriott emailed me to confirm whether I made that reservation I was able to block the transaction in matter of hours. It can happen to customers like me, uber super HVC or someone who only has an activity once every 24 months.
The best solution is implementing a two-step authentication process for bookings made under 72 hours (security question and sending a code via text/email or a verification call).
A Gold or 75K’s account is as vulnerable as any member’s account. I am a gold with Marriott and I had fraudulent activity in my account a few years ago where someone made an award booking in my account but fortunately because Marriott emailed me to confirm whether I made that reservation I was able to block the transaction in matter of hours. It can happen to customers like me, uber super HVC or someone who only has an activity once every 24 months.
The best solution is implementing a two-step authentication process for bookings made under 72 hours (security question and sending a code via text/email or a verification call).