Availability of Business or First Class Awards
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Posts: 7
Availability of Business or First Class Awards
Hello Community
Do you have some insight or tips on securing international business or first class using Alaska Airlines mileage? I have plenty of miles, but when I check availability for potential destinations like Auckland or Paris, there usually business or first on shorter domestic legs only coach on the longest legs. And this is checking 11 months out. Is there some way to find seats on the longest legs before they're gone, assuming they are even available in the first place?
Thanks in advance!
Do you have some insight or tips on securing international business or first class using Alaska Airlines mileage? I have plenty of miles, but when I check availability for potential destinations like Auckland or Paris, there usually business or first on shorter domestic legs only coach on the longest legs. And this is checking 11 months out. Is there some way to find seats on the longest legs before they're gone, assuming they are even available in the first place?
Thanks in advance!
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,032
Do you have some insight or tips on securing international business or first class using Alaska Airlines mileage?
I have plenty of miles, but when I check availability for potential destinations like Auckland or Paris, there usually business or first on shorter domestic legs only coach on the longest legs.
And this is checking 11 months out. Is there some way to find seats on the longest legs before they're gone, assuming they are even available in the first place?
I have plenty of miles, but when I check availability for potential destinations like Auckland or Paris, there usually business or first on shorter domestic legs only coach on the longest legs.
And this is checking 11 months out. Is there some way to find seats on the longest legs before they're gone, assuming they are even available in the first place?
You need to look at the award chart and which airlines fly to your destination (or some where close)
Also an ever increasing list of airlines/routes do not have first class
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...s/award-charts
As you are looking for AKL, some QF threads (QF can get you to AKL)
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
USA to Australia-New Zealand is the most sought after redemption in the FF world. You're trying to book at the absolute peak time for travel to that region (Southern Hemisphere summer season starts in December). So no surprises there; you're basically asking why airlines won't give away on miles what they can easily sell for cash. Also, Cathay Pacific availability is not visible through the website.
Alaska is probably one of the weakest programs to Europe, now that Air France/Delta/KLM are all gone; you are left with British Airways (lots of "visiting friends and relatives" demand around Christmas), Emirates (clamps down at Christmas for the same reasons) and a bunch of random LCCs like Icelandair and Condor.
My tip would be to look at different cities? SEA-TYO has some premium class availability in December on JL.
Alaska is probably one of the weakest programs to Europe, now that Air France/Delta/KLM are all gone; you are left with British Airways (lots of "visiting friends and relatives" demand around Christmas), Emirates (clamps down at Christmas for the same reasons) and a bunch of random LCCs like Icelandair and Condor.
My tip would be to look at different cities? SEA-TYO has some premium class availability in December on JL.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LON
Programs: AS MVPG, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver
Posts: 1,350
I've done SEA - LAX - HKG - SYD on CX. It's brutal, but CX has decent award availability. You can also try forcing a connection in ICN and see if KE has inventory.
Otherwise, I've gone through the award chart day by day to find QF F inventory on DFW - SYD (flown it twice now).
A lot of this is luck and willingness to search harder than most.
Otherwise, I've gone through the award chart day by day to find QF F inventory on DFW - SYD (flown it twice now).
A lot of this is luck and willingness to search harder than most.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: DTW, but drive to/from YYZ/ORD
Programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards 2MM, Diner Club points
Posts: 31,920
USA to Australia-New Zealand is the most sought after redemption in the FF world. You're trying to book at the absolute peak time for travel to that region (Southern Hemisphere summer season starts in December). So no surprises there; you're basically asking why airlines won't give away on miles what they can easily sell for cash. Also, Cathay Pacific availability is not visible through the website.
I booked ORD-HKG-AKL and BNE-HKG-ORD as two one ways (1F and 1J) on my desired dates when calendar opened. Granted, I was thinking of going to NZ for skiing over US Labor Day so ....
#10
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Thankfully CX flies to a lot more than just SYD so if you are willing to buy a separate ticket within Australia or between Australia and NZ, you have a lot more flights available
I booked ORD-HKG-AKL and BNE-HKG-ORD as two one ways (1F and 1J) on my desired dates when calendar opened. Granted, I was thinking of going to NZ for skiing over US Labor Day so ....
I booked ORD-HKG-AKL and BNE-HKG-ORD as two one ways (1F and 1J) on my desired dates when calendar opened. Granted, I was thinking of going to NZ for skiing over US Labor Day so ....
Excellent point you make. If you have flexibility to nearby airports, it definitely affords a better opportunity to find an award.
I have flown awards in J MEL-HKG and JNB-HKG followed by the TPAC F.
James
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
#12
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LON
Programs: AS MVPG, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver
Posts: 1,350