Bummer. My wife is flying on Sunday - she is an authorized user on my Alaska card but that perk doesn't begin until March. Worst part is that the 2 suitcases are essentially empty -- she is flying back after dropping off my daughter at college.

If one suitcase is smaller than the other, see if you can put one inside the other--we've done this when bringing back virtually empty bags. Helps protect the bags too from collapse.

Yep.... I moved to Hawaii a few years ago and did this numerous times on the way back to the mainland and it worked great. Small roller back inside of carry one type inside of large suitcase. With shipping rates to Hawaii it likely cheaper to just buy a plane ticket sometimes.

I just received the updated terms in the mail and it says "effective immediately": Free first checked bag for authorized users.

Hope the change was rolled out smoothly!

This is the first time I've dipped my toe into the partner award pool.

Just snagged a couple J seats on SYD-NAN-LAX for June on FJ's A350. My understanding is that I can add a positioning segment on AS to get back to SEA; however, this didn't seem to work and the website kept saying nothing was available if I tried to extend the itinerary onwards to SEA.

Given how hard it is to find reasonable J space to/from Australia, and how easy it is to get from LAX to SEA, I just went ahead and booked tonight instead of futzing with the website to add the segment from LAX to SEA. Can I add this segment on for free, assuming there's award space available? Is there a specific booking class on AS that needs to be available to do this?

Thanks!

Nice find! I have the same trip booked for October. If space becomes available, you can add the LAX-SEA segment for no additional miles, there may be some extra taxes/fees. You need saver award space, either E (First) or T (Economy), to be available to combine with a partner award ticket. The online change feature for award bookings is finicky, so you might need to call in and ask them to add the segment if space is available. If the agent you get isn't helpful/doesn't seem familiar with partner award bookings, hang up and call back and hope for someone else.

That explains it - no E or T space. I guess I'll wait for it to open up and call to make a change to add it once it does. Thanks a bunch!

I have been poking around looking for long-haul Qsuites availability for my partner and I to take a trip somewhere (anywhere) just for fun, using AS mileage plan miles. I keep seeing that J class seats start at 85k miles for flights from N America to Doha and beyond. However, I can't find a single date in 2023 where seats are available for less than 170k miles. Is that the "real" going rate? I know that there are better ways to book these flights, but I don't currently have Aveos or other ways to redeem points other than AS mileage plan miles. Thanks for any insights!

I see on the AA website that Platinum Pro/Executive Platinum upgrades to first class on Alaska can start clearing "up to 120 hours from departure" but what's the realistic amount of time before departure for an upgrade to clear for AA elites?

I've personally had the majority of my upgrades clear after the 24 hour check in window over the last few months as an AS elite.

"After the 24 hour check in window" so you mean basically once you're at the airport? Or did you mean *at* the 24 hour mark?

For the last few months the majority of upgrades to F have cleared shortly after I check in through the app when it opens up 24 hours before departure.

You might want to have a backup plan in the back of your mind. SEA-LAX/LAX-SEA in T or E is a rare find, especially when you're already locked into specific dates. Not sure why this is, but I have my theories.

The few upgrades that I have received all happened within the 24 hour window. Some close to checkin. Others in the final hour, and one on board the plane.
We are not a particularly high status - we (75K and 100K) come behind their Exp Plat and Plat Pro (75K level). So upgrades are highly route and day of week dependent - basically only routes or dates that don't have many elite travelers. Higher chances on lower travel spokes and on Sat-Tue-Wed flights.

Eh, I would not be broken up if I had to pay for this segment... getting the long haul segment from Fiji in J would be worth it regardless.

It does make me wonder if FJ will tag bags through or not on separate tickets? I know AS will do this but they are one of the few that does. I'm less worried about baggage fees (as an MVP) and more focused on not having to schlep them across terminals at LAX. I've yet to see any AS staff at the counter after clearing customs at LAX.