alaska award booking on fiji change
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 3
alaska award booking on fiji change
I was able to book LAX->NAN->AKL and MEL->NAN->SFO->LAX with the long legs being in business and the remainder in economy on Fiji via Alaska miles (55k one-way). Anyone have experience with changing the economy legs (NAN->AKL or MEL->NAN) to business within the same booking? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. So far no luck. I'm a noob.
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,922
I was able to book LAX->NAN->AKL and MEL->NAN->SFO->LAX with the long legs being in business and the remainder in economy on Fiji via Alaska miles (55k one-way). Anyone have experience with changing the economy legs (NAN->AKL or MEL->NAN) to business within the same booking? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. So far no luck. I'm a noob.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...s_destinations Fiji also flys to BNE, SYD, WLG & CHC (but may not be up to date)
A map from the Great Circle Mapper - Great Circle Mapper
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,308
unless you’re stopping over in NAN, this is probably married-segment availability (FJ has to have award space available for booking LAX-NAN-AKL as an entire trip; what’s available on the individual segments is unfortunately irrelevant)
#5
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 258
OP,
I had a similar itinerary to MEL with the second leg from NAN to MEL in economy. I kept monitoring the economy flight and when I saw saver business class open up I phoned Alaska.
The agent said the same thing, she couldn't see the space. I told her if you try to make a separate booking for just the NAN to MEL the J space is indeed there.
She did see that and said the best she could do was put in a request for the economy leg to be upgraded to business. She put me on hold and about 10 minutes later returned to the line and said to her surprise the request was approved. In fact, since exchange rates worked in the USD favor I was given a small refund as well of the taxes!
Idk if it is a HUCA situation until you get an agent who can do it, but it's definitely doable IMO.
I had a similar itinerary to MEL with the second leg from NAN to MEL in economy. I kept monitoring the economy flight and when I saw saver business class open up I phoned Alaska.
The agent said the same thing, she couldn't see the space. I told her if you try to make a separate booking for just the NAN to MEL the J space is indeed there.
She did see that and said the best she could do was put in a request for the economy leg to be upgraded to business. She put me on hold and about 10 minutes later returned to the line and said to her surprise the request was approved. In fact, since exchange rates worked in the USD favor I was given a small refund as well of the taxes!
Idk if it is a HUCA situation until you get an agent who can do it, but it's definitely doable IMO.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 26
OP,
I had a similar itinerary to MEL with the second leg from NAN to MEL in economy. I kept monitoring the economy flight and when I saw saver business class open up I phoned Alaska.
The agent said the same thing, she couldn't see the space. I told her if you try to make a separate booking for just the NAN to MEL the J space is indeed there.
She did see that and said the best she could do was put in a request for the economy leg to be upgraded to business. She put me on hold and about 10 minutes later returned to the line and said to her surprise the request was approved. In fact, since exchange rates worked in the USD favor I was given a small refund as well of the taxes!
Idk if it is a HUCA situation until you get an agent who can do it, but it's definitely doable IMO.
I had a similar itinerary to MEL with the second leg from NAN to MEL in economy. I kept monitoring the economy flight and when I saw saver business class open up I phoned Alaska.
The agent said the same thing, she couldn't see the space. I told her if you try to make a separate booking for just the NAN to MEL the J space is indeed there.
She did see that and said the best she could do was put in a request for the economy leg to be upgraded to business. She put me on hold and about 10 minutes later returned to the line and said to her surprise the request was approved. In fact, since exchange rates worked in the USD favor I was given a small refund as well of the taxes!
Idk if it is a HUCA situation until you get an agent who can do it, but it's definitely doable IMO.
#7
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 56
Bumping this, I've got a y booking YVR-NAN and now see that Alaska shows J space, and confirmed that AA shows J space. When I tried to change it online it says cannot select seat, and the agent supposedly called the partner desk and said there's nothing they can do. Thinking should I cancel my Y ticket and try to rebook into J or try calling back and asking for the partner desk? It seems like there is plenty of Y space so not too concerned if I cancel but there's the $25 partner fee that won't be refunded.
edit: looks like someone else had perhaps booked it but had not ticketed as now it's gone, darn!
edit: looks like someone else had perhaps booked it but had not ticketed as now it's gone, darn!
Last edited by ellipsicon; May 3, 2023 at 10:37 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Bumping this, I've got a y booking YVR-NAN and now see that Alaska shows J space, and confirmed that AA shows J space. When I tried to change it online it says cannot select seat, and the agent supposedly called the partner desk and said there's nothing they can do. Thinking should I cancel my Y ticket and try to rebook into J or try calling back and asking for the partner desk? It seems like there is plenty of Y space so not too concerned if I cancel but there's the $25 partner fee that won't be refunded.
Essentially, you are canceling your first itinerary and booking a new one even though the PNR won't change. The search will offer you options and will show any differences in miles and Fees & Taxes; those can be either add/collect or redeposit/refund. Select the new flights you want and proceed to check-out.
Since this is an effective change the partner award booking fee won't be collected again as you already paid that fee on the original booking.
James
#9
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 56
How did you try to change it online? If you choose "Cancel this trip and use the value toward a new trip," you can just book a "new" itinerary in J with the same date. Make sure to set "Shop for" to First / Business from the drop down list.
Essentially, you are canceling your first itinerary and booking a new one even though the PNR won't change. The search will offer you options and will show any differences in miles and Fees & Taxes; those can be either add/collect or redeposit/refund. Select the new flights you want and proceed to check-out.
Since this is an effective change the partner award booking fee won't be collected again as you already paid that fee on the original booking.
James
Essentially, you are canceling your first itinerary and booking a new one even though the PNR won't change. The search will offer you options and will show any differences in miles and Fees & Taxes; those can be either add/collect or redeposit/refund. Select the new flights you want and proceed to check-out.
Since this is an effective change the partner award booking fee won't be collected again as you already paid that fee on the original booking.
James
edit: Called again and got to the partner desk, definitely phantom space!
Last edited by ellipsicon; May 3, 2023 at 11:40 am Reason: updated