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Tips to booking Alaska Airlines award flights like A PRO

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It’s no secret that Alaska Airlines offers some of the sweetest sweet spots in the game ( don’t worry – we included a list of our faves.)  These sweet spots are why I abandoned American, and why a lot of people buy their miles to capitalize on it. 70k for Cathay First… CAHMON, that is just so tasty.  But, in order to fully understand how to take advantage of those sweet spots we thought it’d be helpful to put together a list of our tips to booking Alaska award tickets like a PRO. You’ll be booking that bad mamajamma of a flight you’ve been pining over in no time – and if you need some help – don’t forget we offer an award booking service 🙂

Photo Tour of some dope ways you can use your Alaska Miles

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Crunching the numbers of dope deals with Alaska miles

Check out Cathay Biz and First to Africa and Australia – unreal deals.

  • To Asia
    • Cathay Biz is 50k One way
    • Cathy First is 70k One way
    • Japan Biz to Asia is 60k
    • Japan First to Asia is 70k
    • Japan Biz to S.E. Asia is 65k
    • Japan First to S.E. Asia is 75k
  • Europe
    • Air France biz is 62.5k
    • BA Biz is 60k
    • BA First is 70k
  • Middle East
    • BA Biz is 70k
    • BA First is 80k
    • Cathay Business is 62.5k 
    • Cathay First is 70k
  • Australia – 70k miles to fly First Class from the States to Australia!
    • Qantas Biz is 55k
    • Qantas First is 70k
    • Cathay Biz is 60k
    • Cathay First is 80k
    • Fiji Biz is 55k
  • Africa
    • Air France Biz is 70k
    • British Airways Biz is 70k
    • British Airways First is 80k
    • Cathay Biz is 62.5k
    • Cathay First is 70k

OK – let’s get to those tips…

Most partners can be found using Alaska Airlines

I think Alaska has a pretty proficient search engine for partner flights that are accessible for booking. However, it doesn’t show all availability and it doesn’t allow for very complex bookings.  If you can piece together a trip segment by segment, but the search engine can’t price it, it doesn’t mean a rep can’t do it. So call in and ask for them to do it, and request the phone fee to be waived.  Cathay and LATAM can’t be booked online, let’s address that:

Cathay Pacific Space:

One of the very best redemptions for Alaska miles is Cathay Pacific.

  • Cannot be searched on Alaska’s website
  • Alaska doesn’t have access to all Cathay Pacific space
    • Search BA
    • Then Qantas at 5-7 day mark
    • Then Asia Miles

Cathay Pacific prioritizes inventory for their own loyalists, so searching via Asia Miles should be a last minute strategy and avoided initially because it will show space Alaska may not have access to. Therefore…

Search on British Airways to find space until 5-7 days prior to departure. BA blocks space on Cathay within that timeframe. So then switch to Qantas to search, but not all space shows up there either. So if you really want to see potential space, search on Asia Miles, but Alaska may not have access to it.

LATAM:

LATAM is the result of a merger between LAN and TAM. Alaska is a technically partner of LATAM, but only on flights that are operated by what was once LAN…where Alaska established the partnership. Confused? Don’t worry – here’s the easy hack: Look at the flight number

  • If it starts with JJ, Alaska won’t have access because it used to be a TAM flight
  • If it starts with LA, Alaska does have access because it used to be a LAN flight
the inside of an airplane
courtesy of Latam

You can search using BA.com, but it doesn’t truly show all the space, so if you really want to see saver space search on LATAM itself.

 

Add in a stopover for more value

Alaska allows you to bake in a stopover on award tickets for no additional charge. This could be used during your trip or at the end of your trip in preparation of another one…

  • Example: You want to go to Bangkok from Los Angeles
    • You could fly fly via Tokyo on Japan Airlines and stopover in Tokyo for a few days to experience another city
      • simply make sure there is space on the days you prefer, and call in to book.
  • Example 2: You’re flying home from Bangkok to Los Angeles, but have a trip months later to NY.
    • You could fly from Bangkok through Tokyo ( without a stop) to Los Angeles ( with a stopover), and then months later continue on to New York all on the same ticket.

The main caveat of this perk is that the airline mix must be on partner only, or partner + Alaska. So if you want to fly back from Bangkok via Asia and stopover in LA, but continue on months later to New York, the flight from LA to NY must be on Alaska metal.

Changing a booking

  • Outside of 60 days….no fee
  • Inside of 60 days – a $125 fee
    • Unless you are Gold or Gold75k – then the fee is waived

*Pro Tip – changing in the middle of your itinerary to get a better cabin*

Example: You booked a trip in business class from BKK-HKG-LAX with a stopover in HKG

  • While in Hong Kong you notice first class space to LAX has opened up

You can change your booking in the middle of an itinerary, you’ll just need to pay a change fee and any difference in points, taxes, fees, etc.

You see space available online – here’s how to guide the rep to finding it too

If you’ve constructed a fare, break it down into components and ask the rep to search individually. Then request it to be assembled.

Example: You live in Chicago and want to go to Bangkok and you’ve found ORD-LAX-HKG-BKK mixing Alaska and Cathay

If you ask the rep to find space from Chicago to Bangkok it may result in them saying it’s not available because the system can’t support the complex search.

However.

If you say ” Can you confirm space from LA to Hong Kong on Cathay Business on April 2nd.” You’ll have much better luck. Then ask, ” what if we added on Hong Kong to Bangkok…etc”

Hope these tips help you plan and book your dream trip. If you need help – we offer an award booking service 🙂

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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35 Comments

  • […] Alaska partners with some of the best airlines in the world offering incredible, jawdropping experiences in both business and first class.  Experiences I’ve actually reviewed and can’t wait to do again. Those experiences are why I’ve been loyal to the brand for my paid tickets as well.  I spent two years as a top tier, MVP Gold 75k, and currently maintain Gold status. […]

  • […] such as these can be highly advantageous in reducing your travel expenses. Alaska is one of my favorite airline currencies because they offer incredible access to aspirational business and first class products – […]

  • […] Alaska Airlines is my favorite airline reward program. In fact, for the last two years I’ve been MVPG75, their highest status. The biggest reason is the value of their points when used to fly in super fancy partner airlines. From Cathay to Qantas, American, and BA, I’ve used Alaska miles to fly in some of the best cabins the air offers. You can read more about booking Alaska miles like a pro here. […]

  • Tigris23 September 9, 2018

    Miles I’m loving blog and reviews! This is very informative & a bit different than other blogs. Be great if you can also include what cards (or how to earn Alaska miles or any miles—for newbs like me). Questions: so with that 1) what cards earns Alaska miles & 2) has there been a recent change lately to Alaska & Cathay or JAL booking rules? Thanks!

    • Miles September 9, 2018

      Thanks so much! Best cards for AS are going to be the Bank of America co-branded cards. But make sure you understand their application ruleshttps://monkeymiles.boardingarea.com/broad-strokes-getting-approved-credit-card-repeat-sign-bonuses/

  • Tony April 13, 2018

    Do AS redemptions always have to start or end in the US?

    • Miles April 13, 2018

      Nope, plenty options outside the US

      • Tony April 14, 2018

        They never seem to show online. Do you have to call for these? (Or maybe I’ve just never performed a search where there actually is availability).

        • Husky April 14, 2018

          I believe AS redemption must originate, and possibly terminate, in the U.S. Other blogs have mentioned this. And, as Tony states, one cannot book or find an itinerary that does NOT originate in the U.S.

    • Lisa October 13, 2018

      Awesome! gonna call up Alaska to change my flight 🙂

  • Lisa April 4, 2018

    Awesome tips! This is super helpful

    Can I do Taipei to Los Angeles with a stopover in Hong Kong?

    • Miles April 4, 2018

      Lisa – thanks! And yes, as long as you fly on Cathay for the whole itin, or if you connect in the states it needs to be on Alaska

      • Lisa May 27, 2018

        I was able to book this route 🙂

        • Lisa October 12, 2018

          Hi there!

          I’ve got a quick question for you. If I need to change my TPE – HKG segment, will that affect my HKG – LAX segment?

          Thanks!

          • Miles October 13, 2018

            lisa – nope shouldn’t at all – you’re allowed a free stopover so the long haul should stay in tact you’ll just end up paying a change fee

  • Jed April 2, 2018

    Do you think Cathay releases the same award space to Alaska that they release to their oneworld partners?

    • Miles April 2, 2018

      Jed – unfortunately they don’t, and I don’t think it’s possible to know which seats they have access to, and which they do not without calling

  • […] Tips to booking Alaska Airlines award flights like A PRO. […]

  • Allen Wing March 31, 2018

    I was able to book PHL, SFO, HNL, SFO as a one way ticket and use my companion pass for my son….. I paid 365 for myself and 121 for him…FYI Alaskian has awards one way PHL TO HNL for 17.5k on JULY 4…its random but someone my take advantage of it

  • Gymrat March 30, 2018

    Nice info – thanks!

    • Miles March 31, 2018

      thanks! glad it could help

  • Ilidra March 30, 2018

    Can I do Us to South Africa with stopover in Hong Kong. Thanks

    • Miles March 30, 2018

      Yep – that’s a great one too! Note that CX has opened up routes to Cape Town as well as JNB.

  • KIKi March 30, 2018

    GOod article. I like that it’s possible to add a segment for free as long as it’s 60 days out. DO you know what time of day Alaska updates their award calendar?

    • Arnaud Dumarchelier March 31, 2018

      Varies by partner, but usually around 6am PT

      • CXFlyer April 1, 2018

        For CX it is midnight HKG time, which is 9AM PT, midday ET

  • […] Award Booking Tips for Alaska Airlines:  I love Alaska Airlines miles!  They allow for some pretty awesome award bookings.  While the Alaska Airlines website is easy to use, not all award possibilities are available through there.  Here are some tips that will help you on your next award flight using Alaska Airlines miles. […]

  • Val March 30, 2018

    I believe Cathay is 60k J to asia.

  • Scott March 30, 2018

    And AF is ending in April? That is a huge loss

  • Christopher March 30, 2018

    You have a picture of Finnair business class. Please tell me how you can book that and how many miles it requires from the US to Europe. That doesn’t seem to be active on my account.

    • Miles March 30, 2018

      Christopher – You can’t book it yet, I should remove the pic ( it’s a great sweet spot for earning miles, but they haven’t released details on redemption quite yet).

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