olindacat

I'm sure I'm not alone in that I built up an AS nest egg with Marriott TCs, xfers, etc., always intending to do the long haul to HKG and onward. We once had pulled it off with JNB as the final destination. We never went to JNB however, cancelled that leg.

Was hoping to go back out but as mentioned earlier in the year, mid year found it difficult to find anything that the AS partner operator would see. I realize it requires cross-referencing, speed, luck, etc. Gotta say I adore all of you your patience and hard work. I am embarrassed at how poorly I am doing in this adventure, but am very thankful for this forum, and your replies. Thanks a ton.

frudd38

Thanks. I ask because I was able to successfully price online CAN-TPE(stop)-PEK-USA on HU as one award.

Flying for Fun

It is nice when you can book a partner online. What is offered is sometimes a head scratcher, but happy to book it. I have seen EK F DXB-JFK offered as DXB-LAX-JFK. I was looking for HKG-LAX and was offered JL HKG-HND-JFK-LAX in J,F,F. Thank you! I later added a 2 month stopover in JFK and added PVR, all online. Thank you very much! Since CX needs to be booked by an agent, flexibility usually isn't quite as generous.

James

HiAperture

Trying to get on the CX JFK-YVR service in F before it ends next year. I have located an award on aa.com for MIA-JFK-YVR in F for 50,000 AA miles, with the MIA-JFK segment being operated by AA. Since this will be before the "breakup" next year, can I get the same routing on AS miles for 35k miles, or will they not book me the MIA-JFK segment on an award?

Flying for Fun

CX YVR<->JFK is a unique standalone redemption. You cannot have more than one partner on an AS award so your AA/CX itinerary is not possible. CX F is 35K Mileage Plan miles. You could book the MIA-JFK on AS as a separate award for 25K if AA has made that redemption available to AS. You would be looking at 60K total as two awards on AS.

Since AS allows a stopover on one-way redemptions, you may want to consider an AS redemption on AA as MIA-JFK/stopover/JFK/EWR-XXX (on AA or AS) giving you an extra segment in the futute if that would be of use to you.

James

eponymous_coward

Read the wiki.

HiAperture

Thanks both for the info and sorry for overlooking that line on the wiki.

bambikatz

I was trying to get creative and add a US stopover on my one-way award trip IAD-HKG-TPE, but business class space has been scarce so when it opened up, I jumped on it without adding any stop overs.

Now that it is booked, is it possible to add a IAD-LAX to take place after the trip, even though the one-way award tickets originates in North America and ends in Asia? It would seem like a no and I'd only have the option of adding a domestic segment pre US departure, but thought I'd check with the experts here.

For example:
November 20 IAD-HKG-TPE (booked as a married one-way award on CX)
January 10 IAD-LAX (on AS)

flytoeat

Really?

skimthetrees

No. That is not a stopover. It is two separate trips. If you wanted a US stopover on your IAD-TPE award it would obviously have to stopover at IAD on the way to TPE which would mean LAX-IAD (or SOMEWHERETHATASFLIES-IAD) before the IAD-TPE flight.

If you had a TPE-IAD award you could add a stopover in IAD and later continue IAD-LAX.

bambikatz

Okay, thanks for confirming.

tnim

Hello! I'm just digging into the Alaska Airlines miles and had a few questions about flying from Toronto (YYZ) to Hong Kong (HKG).

Based on the link at the top it says Canada to Asia is 30K economy one way. Dug through a few pages and most comments were from the western cities (Vancouver, SF, etc) to HKG.

Does anyone know if you can fly direct on Cathay - Toronto to Hong Kong for 30K/one way as well?

I usually fly to HK once or twice a year and have been using Avios points, but am finding it harder and harder to book a flight with Avios points. Hoping Alaska Miles are another option!

Thanks in advance!

Flying for Fun

You can fly CX from any North American gateway city, including YVR & YYZ. You will see the MP miles requirement is the same on CX if you query awards between the regions of Canada to Asia & beyond. YVR has the advantage that it is served by AS from SEA & PDX so it gets more attention as AS will fly you on their metal to the partner gateway without additional miles. YYZ doesn't have that luxury.

Also consider PE for marginally more miles if you can't reach a J redemption. Economy is 30K, PE is 35K. For ~17% more miles you can fly in a seperate, more comfortable cabin that usually prices out at more than 100% of a discounted Y on revenue flights. If you need 5K additional miles, you can purchase them for USD $137.50 + taxes (and GST if your MP account is domiciled in Canada). I wouldn't hesitate purchaing 5K miles to fly in PE. Purchases under 10K miles are never discounted during sales but 10K would be a sweet spot if you needed 10K more for a return.

Click here, enter Canada & Asia for the regions. You actually have a lot of options. Don't forget that you can have a stopover at the international gateway.

You can also consider ORD, BOS, IAD & JFK especially for your return. If you returned to ORD, you could add a US stopover and then continue on to Hawaii or Mexico as a one-way for no additional miles on AS. Also if starting in ORD, AS will fly you to LAX, SFO, SEA & even YVR to connect to CX. AS is pretty flexible. That would allow for a US stopover either way if not using one in Asia. All you would need is a return revenue ticket YYZ-ORD.

James

tnim

Oh wow. Thanks for the detailed and informative response! Great tip on the PE option. It's only a slight premium to get the upgraded flight.
In terms of flight availability, since there's no online option for Cathay, are people checking availability on Qantas or some other site? Or would it be the old school way of calling in for everything?

The US starting option sounds like it opens up even more perks! Will need to read more on this to understand.

Thanks again.

Flying for Fun

QF is what I use, others prefer BA. For Y & PE, you shouldn't have difficulty finding what you want/need.

James