Search for International Awards That Only Show All Premium Segments? (No)
Mar 1, 2019, 5:55 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 12
I'm looking at Portland, OR to Venice in Oct. Business class would be great too but I have the same problem with those. Searches on Alaska's website return mixed fares and the one that is coach is always the shorter connecting domestic flight.
It's odd that Alaska's website can't sort for 1st or business class only legs. Unless as I said they want to make it harder to redeem miles. A few months ago I tried to find Australia flights, even a year out, and gave up.
Thanks for you reply!
It's odd that Alaska's website can't sort for 1st or business class only legs. Unless as I said they want to make it harder to redeem miles. A few months ago I tried to find Australia flights, even a year out, and gave up.
Thanks for you reply!
Mar 1, 2019, 6:01 pm
#17
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: ENA
Programs: AS - MVP Gold, Bonvoy - Silver, Star Citizen - Concierge
Posts: 102
I have found this infuriating as well. It is frustrating searching for business or international first award space then seeing that mixed icon and finding everything in coach with the exception of one 1 hour leg in domestic first!
Mar 1, 2019, 6:08 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,992
I'm looking at Portland, OR to Venice in Oct. Business class would be great too but I have the same problem with those. Searches on Alaska's website return mixed fares and the one that is coach is always the shorter connecting domestic flight.
It's odd that Alaska's website can't sort for 1st or business class only legs. Unless as I said they want to make it harder to redeem miles. A few months ago I tried to find Australia flights, even a year out, and gave up.
It's odd that Alaska's website can't sort for 1st or business class only legs. Unless as I said they want to make it harder to redeem miles. A few months ago I tried to find Australia flights, even a year out, and gave up.
BA may be your best(?) option.
You will not get all First class to Venice as BA do not fly first to VCE.
BA business class in Eu is the same as economy with the middle seat blocked
Only EK will/may have first class to VCE (but the long way).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice_Marco_Polo_Airport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portla...tional_Airport
Look at starting from a large gateway, SEA, YVR, LAX, PHL or ?
Try for the long haul first then add on secondary flights (e.g. SEA LHR)
For any award to Eu look for a flight to anywhere in Eu half close to your final destination and then a train or airline (cash paid)
VCE is very much a popular leisure destination
Trans Altlantic premium seats (First - business) are very hard to get with any ffp.
And USA Australia much harder again - AS QF thread--->Consolidated Qantas (QF) Awards Availability/Booking/Routing Thread
Consider these Award booking services - a list and some reviews
Best of luck for the hunt
Mar 1, 2019, 6:52 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,992
https://www.emirates.com/english/boo...john-f-kennedy
As AA is an AS ff award partner this AA thread may be of interest-->Where exactly does AA fly to Europe? Which routes have good business seats?
But there are endless complaints on the AA forum on the lack of premium awards USA Eu
Mar 2, 2019, 11:49 am
#21
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,695
Sorry to bump an old thread but I am looking for confirmation of something...
I am trying to book AA using AS miles on SLC-PHX-PVR and I see different availability on AA.com vs AS.com. I know that AA uses married segment control for awards. Does AS pull AA availability as an O&D or do they piece it together by segment? It appears to be the latter but I am looking for confirmation. If it is by segment, why does AA allow that?
I am trying to book AA using AS miles on SLC-PHX-PVR and I see different availability on AA.com vs AS.com. I know that AA uses married segment control for awards. Does AS pull AA availability as an O&D or do they piece it together by segment? It appears to be the latter but I am looking for confirmation. If it is by segment, why does AA allow that?
Mar 2, 2019, 2:22 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,992
Basically the same question as this recent AS thread
Last edited by dayone; Mar 3, 2019 at 12:56 am Reason: Remove circular link after merge.
Mar 4, 2019, 4:19 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Does anyone have an effective way to search for international flights using miles (with multiple legs) so that the search results on Alaska include only first class flights? Whenever I search, the short domestic connecting flight is first class but the international leg (the one I care about) is economy. Finding a first class international fare to book is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Even when I search 8-12 months out, I can't find the needles.
Customer Care on the phone tells me they have to do it the same way. It's a MASSIVE waste of time for and for them. But maybe a great way to keep me from ever using a million+ miles.
Does anyone have a better way?
Thanks
Customer Care on the phone tells me they have to do it the same way. It's a MASSIVE waste of time for and for them. But maybe a great way to keep me from ever using a million+ miles.
Does anyone have a better way?
Thanks
Mar 4, 2019, 4:31 pm
#25
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Does anyone have an effective way to search for international flights using miles (with multiple legs) so that the search results on Alaska include only first class flights? Whenever I search, the short domestic connecting flight is first class but the international leg (the one I care about) is economy. Finding a first class international fare to book is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Even when I search 8-12 months out, I can't find the needles.
Customer Care on the phone tells me they have to do it the same way. It's a MASSIVE waste of time for and for them. But maybe a great way to keep me from ever using a million+ miles.
Does anyone have a better way?
Thanks
Customer Care on the phone tells me they have to do it the same way. It's a MASSIVE waste of time for and for them. But maybe a great way to keep me from ever using a million+ miles.
Does anyone have a better way?
Thanks
Mar 4, 2019, 4:35 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
If you uncheck the airline that never has business on the international leg (eg AA) then it simplifies the search. Also do a search on only the international long leg - that will tell u if the class of service you want is available on the date u want. Then search again for the whole trip - you'll know which airline to look for.
I find that the best thing to do, if you know which gateways are options, is to search for the TATL/TPAC segments individually (one search for each gateway) and use calendar view, setting the CoS to what you want.
Then once you know which segments have availability, it should be easy to do a point-to-point search and connect it to an AS domestic flight.
Mar 4, 2019, 5:21 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
I'm looking at Portland, OR to Venice in Oct. Business class would be great too but I have the same problem with those. Searches on Alaska's website return mixed fares and the one that is coach is always the shorter connecting domestic flight.
It's odd that Alaska's website can't sort for 1st or business class only legs. Unless as I said they want to make it harder to redeem miles. A few months ago I tried to find Australia flights, even a year out, and gave up.
Thanks for you reply!
It's odd that Alaska's website can't sort for 1st or business class only legs. Unless as I said they want to make it harder to redeem miles. A few months ago I tried to find Australia flights, even a year out, and gave up.
Thanks for you reply!
Another tip is AS does not search for AA married segments on the website. I have seen some married segment awards on AA that do not show up on AS. You can use AA advanced search and limit results to AA only then use the calendar. If you can identify a married segment award on aa.com (AA metal) then hopefully AS agents could ticket it but you will not find it on the website.
Mar 4, 2019, 8:48 pm
#28
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,695
This limitation makes AS miles significantly less useful for trips on AA.
Mar 4, 2019, 8:56 pm
#29
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: 7,441
Based on the pricing I'm seeing on AA for a J award on their metal (135K-180K) on a bad day plus APD taxes in some cities, the BA option is is much more appealing than in previous years. I'm flying FCO-LHR-SEA for 373 USD and 70K in miles v. 135K in AA miles plus 70 bucks in taxes for J and a lovely three to six hours in CLT or PHL on the way home.
Mar 4, 2019, 9:24 pm
#30
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
AA has business on international legs. I'm on AA metal SFO-LHR and return, booked with AA miles (saver business; same award inventory is available on AS)
I find that the best thing to do, if you know which gateways are options, is to search for the TATL/TPAC segments individually (one search for each gateway) and use calendar view, setting the CoS to what you want.
Then once you know which segments have availability, it should be easy to do a point-to-point search and connect it to an AS domestic flight.
I find that the best thing to do, if you know which gateways are options, is to search for the TATL/TPAC segments individually (one search for each gateway) and use calendar view, setting the CoS to what you want.
Then once you know which segments have availability, it should be easy to do a point-to-point search and connect it to an AS domestic flight.