BOS - SFO with Virgin booking through Alaska
Apr 5, 2017, 4:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 25
BOS - SFO with Virgin booking through Alaska
I have BA Silver with executive club.
I am looking at booking some flights from BOS to SFO.
There are no direct flight with AA so I am considering Virgin which I can book through Alaska Airlines.
If I do this will I get:
a) lounge access ? (either BA or Alaska?)
b) aviois?
c) TP?
Does it make sense to book through Alaska for the Avios if yes to above?
any things I should look out for ?
or am I better off booking direct with Virgin?
I am looking at booking some flights from BOS to SFO.
There are no direct flight with AA so I am considering Virgin which I can book through Alaska Airlines.
If I do this will I get:
a) lounge access ? (either BA or Alaska?)
b) aviois?
c) TP?
Does it make sense to book through Alaska for the Avios if yes to above?
any things I should look out for ?
or am I better off booking direct with Virgin?
Apr 5, 2017, 4:58 pm
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 25
Follow on question: booking this flight through Alaska what will the bike fee be?
according to this website https://www.adventurecycling.org/adv...-baggage-fees/
Alaska charge $75, Virgin $50
according to this website https://www.adventurecycling.org/adv...-baggage-fees/
Alaska charge $75, Virgin $50
Apr 6, 2017, 8:32 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 479
For status benefits and bag fees, you need to look at the policies of the operating carrier, not the one who sold you the ticket. Since VX and BA are not partners, you wouldn't earn any points, and you wouldn't have any lounge access (VX gate area at BOS doesn't even have a lounge). You would be charged $50 for the bike.
Apr 6, 2017, 8:40 am
#6
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Apr 6, 2017, 8:41 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 479
AS doesn't fly BOS-SFO direct. If this were me I would probably favor the direct flight over the points, however if they really wanted Avios and were willing to connect I would choose AS over AA due to their much more reasonable bike fee. They would miss out on the tier points but are those really worth $75 extra?
Apr 6, 2017, 9:38 am
#8
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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An AS operated and marketed flight does not earn TP.
Also AS is an AA partner, but no combination of AS and AA marketed/operated would earn TP.
Apr 6, 2017, 8:07 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 25
wow thanks for the responses.
I have booked with VA in the end. Yes direct flights are my preference.
Bikes on AA with silver status (ie business class check in) have been free for all but one leg out three return flights, so $150/6 per flight. Seems most AA check in staff are not familiar with the rules and or how to apply them
I have booked with VA in the end. Yes direct flights are my preference.
Bikes on AA with silver status (ie business class check in) have been free for all but one leg out three return flights, so $150/6 per flight. Seems most AA check in staff are not familiar with the rules and or how to apply them
Apr 7, 2017, 1:20 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Lausanne Switzerland
Programs: BA Gold; Swiss Blue
Posts: 1,244
I have had bike free as BA GCH on AA so long as under 50lbs in its case.
Some airlines with charge bike fee of 50 USD and then add oversize bag fee too etc...
Other bike experiences, check the airline does not expect you to pre-reserve your bike too... LX does this one... it is part of my baggage allowance but must be pre-reserved.
Some airlines with charge bike fee of 50 USD and then add oversize bag fee too etc...
Other bike experiences, check the airline does not expect you to pre-reserve your bike too... LX does this one... it is part of my baggage allowance but must be pre-reserved.
Apr 7, 2017, 2:00 am
#12
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Location: San Francisco, CA
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1) Alaska grants access to their boardrooms to first class passengers, regardless of status. There is no alaska board room at BOS though so no longee access based on eithre class or service or your BA status I'm afraid. You can buy a day pass to the AA lounge however.
2) Yes. All Alaska airlines fare classes are eligable for avios (between 25% and 150% of the distance).
https://www.britishairways.com/en-us...-avios/flights
3) Not anymore sadly.
It is also worth nothing that AA offers two directs (but not nonstop) flights from BOS to SFO most days:
AA 452 16:20 - 22:33 Daily 321 (via PHX)
AA 85 17:40 - 23:30 Su,W,Th,F 32B (via JFK)
Those would give you lounge access, avios, and tier points.
Apr 7, 2017, 3:01 am
#13
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2) Yes. All Alaska airlines fare classes are eligable for avios (between 25% and 150% of the distance).
https://www.britishairways.com/en-us...-avios/flights
https://www.britishairways.com/en-us...-avios/flights
F, D, P, U, A, Y, Z, S, B, M, H, Q, L, V, K, G, T, R, N, W, and E
but these ones are not listed on ba.com as collecting avios so would not appear to earn
D, A, Z, N, W, and E
Apr 7, 2017, 7:32 am
#14
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Apr 7, 2017, 8:05 am
#15
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