Last edit by: Joeykins
AS is a long standing BA partner and, as of 31st March 2021, a full member of oneworld. You can book AS flights using your Avios through BA: prior to AS joining oneworld this was only possible on the phone through your local service centre, but it is now possible to book online with some caveats, specifically that at this time (August 2022) it's not possible to retrieve the AS PNR via ba.com - the chat function on alaskaair.com is staffed by helpful and responsive agents though who can get your AS PNR issued quickly. You can book flights up to 330 days in advance.
It has been reported that flights operated by Skywest "Skywest operating as Alaska Airlines" for flights like SEA-SLO are not possible to book with Avios. The system may initially allow agents to grab inventory but then will send back an error message when going further even with the telephone booking.
Avios Cost
The cost should be in line with the normal BA reward price banding. To get an idea of what your flight may cost check the distance with the BAEC flight calculator or using gcmap, and then have a look at the avios banding here.
Note that all AS flights (just like any other non-BA flights) are priced at the peak avios rates. Also note that from 2 February 2016, redemption rates for travel on American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and TAM will start at 7,500 Avios rather than 4,500 Avios, effectively pricing Distance Band 1 flights as Band 2.
If the flight includes a number of stops under the same flight number then the avios charge is for a non-stop flight from the departure point to the destination. For example, for Seattle to Juneau AS65 the service makes three stops enroute. However, the avios rate charged is as if it were non-stop Seattle to Juneau flight (7,500 avios) and not the avios total for four segments.
Taxes, Fees, and Charges
As with other non-BA reward bookings you need to pay the taxes, fees, and charges. You should be able to predict what this will be by having a look at the taxes, fees, and charges on the AS website or on itamatrix.
BA policy is to charge £15/US$25 for offline award tickets but there has been consistent and sustained reports for years of agents waiving fees. As recently as 1/2017, there have been confirmatory reports that the telephone fee has been consistently waived. When initially calling the call center let your first sentence be, "Can you help me with an Alaska booking that I cannot complete online." The agents have all proactively waived fees in every circumstance. If they do not, HUCA (hang up and call again - or ask supervisor to waive)
Can I Check Reward Availability Online?
You can attempt to make a booking on ba.com and this should at least show Alaska mainline routes. You can also check AA website and the AS website. If AS reward flights show as available on aa.com, then they should be bookable with BA using avios. Check MileSAAver availability not AAnytime availability. AA may be better to check as this should show partner reward availability.
Checked Bags?
AS charges for checked bags on all economy fares, however oneworld ruby & sapphire members are entitled to 2 free bags and emerald members to 3 free bags. Note that oneworld elite baggage allowance is only applied to the passenger with the elite status: 1 GCH and 3 blue members on the same booking only provides 3 bags free, not 12. See the baggage information here. Note that you can only add bags at OLCI, at the airport, or on the phone no earlier than 24 hrs before the flight. Baggage fees are also waived for Alaska Credit Card holders and up to 6 companions on the same booking.
Redemptions in First include 2 checked bags per passenger as the base entitlement.
oneworld Benefits?
AS joined oneworld on 31st March 2021: priority check-in, priority boarding, baggage allowance* and lounge access for passengers with status all apply per the normal oneworld/AS policies. Alaska's table is here.
(* see the Checked Bags question above for an important detail)
Does the 24 hour Cooling Off Period Apply?
Yes it does. However, you must cancel by phone - it is not possible to do it online. Miles are refunded immediately into your Avios account, taxes (if returned) just take a few days to be credited.
Can I Amend the Booking?
Yes, subject to fees and reward availability on the flight you want to move to. You need to do it on the phone. Fees (both the offline fee and change fee) are shown here.
Because of the fee structure of BA Avios - it is often beneficial to book two one ways instead of one roundtrip if you are unsure about either your departure or return dates.
Can I Cancel the Booking?
Yes you may subject to the usual fees here Fees (both the offline fee and change fee) are shown here. If the taxes, fees, and charges you paid were less than the cancellation fee due then you simply forfeit the taxes and fees paid and that serves as your effective cancellation fee. If taxes, fees, and charges you paid were more than the cancellation fee then you would pay the cancellation fee USD55 but get back your taxes in full as well as your miles. (Rather they debit USD55 from your taxes and fees and return to you the balance remaining to your form of payment.)
Can I SDC Same Day Confirm on an AS Avios Ticket?
Yes, AS Avios tickets are eligible for AS same day confirmed change benefits as detailed on the AS website. If AS agent tells you differently HUCA. But AS website should allow you to do this regardless.
Are AS Avios tickets upgradeable with cash?
Yes, AS Avios tickets can be upgraded by paying a fee at 24hr check in, "U" inventory allowance, space available. Please note upgraded U fare class tickets are not eligible for lounge access.
Do AS Elite Benefits apply to AS Avios tickets?
Yes, if you are AS MVP Gold for instance your AS Avios ticket is eligible for Complimentary Upgrades and as long as your AS FFN is in the reservation, you will be automatically added to the AS complimentary upgrade list (AS in 12/05/16 changed policy to allow complimentary upgrades to apply to award tickets - including Avios awards) Gold Guest Upgrades, however, have never been allowed to be applied to AS Avios tickets.
Can I book Virgin America flights now using avios?
As of 25 April 2018, Virgin America no longer exists as far as reservations systems are concerned. Former VX flights are now AS flights and can be booked with Avios.
Booking Alaska Airlines with Avios
#811
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
It definitely seems to me that ba.com does not have the full range of AS inventory (T class) available/loaded.
looking in expertflyer at AS flights, many are = T7 but do not show up at all on ba.com.
Anyone else experiencing this?
I am going to call in and see. Maybe the agents are able to access all inventory? (T)
looking in expertflyer at AS flights, many are = T7 but do not show up at all on ba.com.
Anyone else experiencing this?
I am going to call in and see. Maybe the agents are able to access all inventory? (T)
Just checked ba.com for BOI-SAN flts. for late Sept. AS has two a day each way. No love. It only shows AA flts via PHX.
Last edited by philemer; May 23, 2021 at 9:34 pm
#812
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 30
#813
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 30
It definitely seems to me that ba.com does not have the full range of AS inventory (T class) available/loaded.
looking in expertflyer at AS flights, many are = T7 but do not show up at all on ba.com.
Anyone else experiencing this?
I am going to call in and see. Maybe the agents are able to access all inventory? (T)
looking in expertflyer at AS flights, many are = T7 but do not show up at all on ba.com.
Anyone else experiencing this?
I am going to call in and see. Maybe the agents are able to access all inventory? (T)
#814
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 42
that sucks. Come on BA. Work this out.
#815
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
On mainland to Hawaii you're looking at only 20K mile flts. This is my best guess.
Last edited by philemer; May 24, 2021 at 6:27 pm
#816
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 42
Think I might be onto something...
consider Sept 3 SEA-OGG.
Expertflyer shows T7 for all 4 flights.
All 4 available as 20k awards on AS website.
Yet only 2 available on ba.com
the only difference I can see?
The two missing from ba.com are overnight flights.
anyone else seeing similar? Any thoughts?
consider Sept 3 SEA-OGG.
Expertflyer shows T7 for all 4 flights.
All 4 available as 20k awards on AS website.
Yet only 2 available on ba.com
the only difference I can see?
The two missing from ba.com are overnight flights.
anyone else seeing similar? Any thoughts?
#817
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Lafayette, CA
Programs: UA Gold, AA PLAT, SPG PLAT,Marriott Plat, HYATT PLAT, National Exec
Posts: 32
Hi, I’ll be using avios to book 6 reward tickets to Hawaii. Wondering if I sign up for the Alaska Visa card if my reservation will qualify for the free checked bag. The website mentions a free checked bag for up to 6 passengers as long as the card holders mileage plan number is on the reservation (which I will provide to BA at booking). Has anyone tried this with success? Thanks for your insight.
#819
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: BA Avios, UA MP, AA, Choice, Club Carlson
Posts: 1,096
I thought the web booking would be a welcome change for simple flights like SFO-SEA or SEA-LAS but these flight are among the hardest to book with avios/miles even at unpopular travel times.
#820
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: BA Avios, UA MP, AA, Choice, Club Carlson
Posts: 1,096
Hi, I’ll be using avios to book 6 reward tickets to Hawaii. Wondering if I sign up for the Alaska Visa card if my reservation will qualify for the free checked bag. The website mentions a free checked bag for up to 6 passengers as long as the card holders mileage plan number is on the reservation (which I will provide to BA at booking). Has anyone tried this with success? Thanks for your insight.
This was asked a month ago but at least pre-OW you would book your Avios ticket then call AS line to swap out your BA number for your AS Mileage Plan number on the reservation.
As long as your AS MP number was on there then you would bet the bennies from the credit card association like free bags.
This was asked a month ago but at least pre-OW you would book your Avios ticket then call AS line to swap out your BA number for your AS Mileage Plan number on the reservation.
As long as your AS MP number was on there then you would bet the bennies from the credit card association like free bags.
#821
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,093
Now that AS is in OneWorld, what is the actual checked bags allowance for flights booked with avios?
BA.com says it's hand baggage only*, but Alaska has this exception written on its website.
*BA.com states the same for AA avios flights, but checked bags are indeed included
BA.com says it's hand baggage only*, but Alaska has this exception written on its website.
Baggage fee waivers
MVP Gold 75K level Mileage Plan™ / oneworld Emerald members*, and companions traveling in the same reservation - 1st bag Free | 2nd bag Free
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...rs-exceptions#
MVP Gold 75K level Mileage Plan™ / oneworld Emerald members*, and companions traveling in the same reservation - 1st bag Free | 2nd bag Free
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...rs-exceptions#
#822
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: UA 1K; LY Gold; DL Gold; BA Bronze
Posts: 2,266
I booked an AS award online. How do I figure out the AS PNR? I tried the usual tricks (looking at the eticket and looking at the seating assignments) but no luck. Also, how can I edit the seating assignments? Can’t do it on the BA website.
#823
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,832
#825
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,847
Can anyone confirm that AS flights booked with Avios can still be canceled as late as 24 hours from depature, for a refund of Avios, and only forfeiting taxes paid (if it's less than the Cancelation Fee)?
I just want to make sure nothing has changed in the past two years because of Covid (aside from now being able to book them online - yipppeee!). There is a note in the sticky, but not sure if anything had changed since then regarding cancelations.
Thanks
I just want to make sure nothing has changed in the past two years because of Covid (aside from now being able to book them online - yipppeee!). There is a note in the sticky, but not sure if anything had changed since then regarding cancelations.
Thanks