Alaska Airlines has been restricting booking award flights within 72 hours of travel. That’s a big deal, because often the best award availability comes close to departure. You can book a ticket and then improve your award as travel approaches, to get a more manageable itinerary. Or you might be stuck somewhere, maybe you get sick abroad, and need to delay your return home with a last minute change.
The airline says this is temporary and this restriction will be lifted within days. But it’s not the only issue affecting Mileage Plan members right now. For several weeks, the airline has been unable to offer award space on oneworld partner Qantas and, more recently, also on British Airways. A spokesperson tells me, “we’re trying to figure out what’s going on.”
British Airways Business Class
Fortunately, at least for British Airways, I’m now also told that “BA has a fix in progress.” They expect that award space on BA will be restored “early next week.”
These issues have been frustrating, but the good news is that there’s no intention to leave them in place. They recognize this limits the value of their miles and that’s not something they want to allow. Often with airlines, issues – especially IT-related – persist for months with little communication but here they’re willing to acknowledge them and promise swift resolution.
The issue with regard to Qantas award seats is simple.
Qantas introduced a new tier of award seats without thinking things through – these awards were redeemable for a higher number of Qantas points vs their Classic awards inventory, however they presented both in an undifferentiated way to partners.
Yah, given how long this issue has been going on, I have a hard time viewing this as an accident. AS’s redemption options and rates across the Pacific have gone to pure garbage over the past year, especially in J/F.
Agree with Steve Mileage Plan once a legend of a FF program is now a dumpster fire
Pricing for awards has skyrocketed higher than other One World Partners
From First to about the worst.I now no longer fly Alaska and fly Delta with more non stops
I earn and burn with Flying blue as Delta is the one every FF program has copied with extortionate redemption rates
As for Qantas awards its been a few years since I’ve even seen a seat except in coach
sad state of affairs
When will Singapore awards be available again? It’s been months. Alaska has turned into a third world loyalty program.
@Dave,
The only Singapore redemptions I can find on AS are intra-Asia from SIN…that’s it.
Interesting and insightful as I was wondering. I missed out on the cheap awards for StarLux Biz , but recently found a ‘cheaper’ award through to SIN but requires Coach DCA SEA I’m in 6F so should get to enjoy the better snacks and drinks Ben wrote about yesterday
Flying SQ Suites to FRA then seat 1K on LH B747-8i to SFO.
I’ve been a top tier Mileage Plan member for over 20 years. It sure would be nice to see First Class on JL and CX return, not to mention ANY class on Hainan or Singapore. As for Qantas, you’ve practically won the lottery if you score transpac First or Business award seats over the years.
@Elton,
Then I guess I should thank my lucky stars I got TWO J seats on the A380 SYD-LAX back in March!
The Qantas rewards fiasco on MP is more to do with MP not having skilled negotiators able to strike a deal with the Queen of Mean (a.k.a Qantas).
Admitedlly a hard task as Qantas even screws its own QFF members, with in effect, the best premium seats going to its top status members, with mere crumbs for the hoi poloi to pick over.
Elitism at its finest.
Again, so many know-it-alls here who just come across as self serving and whiners
David,
It’s OUR miles…we earned them and expected to use them in a certain manner. So why aren’t we allowed to be dismayed when the airlines start altering the redemption terms and values?
Any updates on BA availability using Alaska Mileage Plan? Still don’t see any BA availability on Alaska for flights which I can see award availability on BAEC, Qatar Privilege Club, even American AAdvantage for that matter. Not sure why it is taking so long to find a fix, especially if they envisage this being resolved early this week!
According to Alaska this AM when I inquired, “We do not have any updates on that at this time. We will have the space listed on the website as soon as British Airways gives us space.” Beyond frustrating.