Booking flights on American Airlines using your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles is a fantastic way to maximize your award travel. Thanks to their partnership within the oneworld alliance, you have access to a vast network. This guide will walk you through the process, step by step, to help you secure that dream trip!
Your Miles, Your Adventure: Booking American Airlines with Alaska Miles
Hey there, frequent flyer! Ready to turn those hard-earned Alaska miles into an incredible journey on American Airlines? You're in the right place. Many people don't realize the power of airline partnerships, and using your Alaska Mileage Plan miles for American Airlines flights is a prime example of leveraging your rewards. Let's dive in and get you soaring!
Step 1: Confirm Your Mileage Plan Balance and Eligibility
Before you start dreaming of destinations, it's crucial to know what you're working with.
Check Your Balance: Log in to your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account on alaskaair.com. Make sure you have enough miles for your desired redemption. Alaska's award charts (which we'll discuss later) will give you a good idea of the mileage requirements.
Understand the Partnership: As members of the oneworld alliance, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines have a close partnership. This means you can often book American Airlines flights directly through the Alaska Airlines website or by calling Alaska Airlines. You cannot transfer Alaska miles directly to American Airlines AAdvantage, or vice versa. Instead, you redeem your Alaska miles for American Airlines flights through Alaska's platform.
Step 2: Strategically Search for Award Availability
This is where the hunt begins! Finding award availability can sometimes feel like a treasure hunt, but with a bit of strategy, you can increase your chances.
Sub-heading: Online Search via AlaskaAir.com
Your first stop should always be the Alaska Airlines website.
Navigate to the Booking Section: Once logged in, click on "Book" and then select the option to "Use miles."
Input Your Itinerary: Enter your desired departure and arrival cities, dates, and the number of passengers.
Specify "Use Miles": Ensure the "Use Miles" checkbox or equivalent option is selected.
Browse Results: The search results will display available flights. Look for flights operated by American Airlines. Sometimes, partner flights might not immediately jump out, so pay close attention to the operating carrier.
Sub-heading: The Power of the Phone Call (When Online Fails)
Sometimes, not all partner award space is displayed online. This is where a quick call to Alaska Airlines reservations can be incredibly valuable.
When to Call: If you don't see the American Airlines flight you want online, or if you're looking for more complex itineraries (like multi-city trips or specific premium cabin availability), it's highly recommended to call Alaska Airlines. Their agents often have access to a wider range of partner award inventory.
Be Prepared: Have your desired dates, routes, and flexibility in mind before calling. The more information you can provide, the easier it will be for the agent to assist you.
Taxes and Fees: Be aware that award bookings come with taxes and fees. For international travel, these can be more significant. A non-refundable partner award fee of $12.50 per person, each way, typically applies when booking American Airlines flights with Alaska miles.
Step 3: Understanding Award Charts and Redemption Values
Alaska Airlines uses a distance-based award chart for partner airlines, including American Airlines. This means the number of miles required depends on the distance of your flight.
Sub-heading: Key Factors Influencing Mile Cost
Distance: Longer flights generally require more miles.
Cabin Class: Economy class will naturally be the cheapest, followed by Premium Economy, Business Class, and then First Class. First Class awards on American Airlines can be a fantastic redemption for Alaska miles.
Availability: "Lowest" or "Saver" award space is the most desirable and requires fewer miles. These seats are limited and can be difficult to find, especially for popular routes and dates.
Dynamic Pricing (for some routes): While Alaska generally adheres to award charts for partners, prices can still fluctuate based on demand and availability.
Sub-heading: Consulting the Award Charts
While Alaska has recently simplified its partner award charts, it's still good practice to consult them on the Alaska Airlines website under the "Mileage Plan" -> "Award Charts" section. This will give you a baseline for what to expect in terms of mileage costs for various regions and distances.
Step 4: Booking Your American Airlines Flight
Once you've found the ideal American Airlines flight using your Alaska miles, it's time to finalize the booking.
Online Booking: If you found availability online, simply proceed through the booking steps on alaskaair.com. You'll enter passenger details and pay any applicable taxes and fees.
Phone Booking: If you called Alaska Airlines, the agent will guide you through the booking process. They will confirm the mileage deduction and collect the taxes and fees. Remember the non-refundable call center booking fee of $15 might apply if you couldn't book online.
Step 5: Confirmation and Managing Your Reservation
Congratulations! You've successfully booked your American Airlines flight with Alaska miles.
Confirmation Email: You'll receive a confirmation email from Alaska Airlines with your itinerary and a confirmation code.
American Airlines Confirmation Code: Alaska Airlines typically issues its own confirmation code. You might also receive a separate American Airlines record locator (PNR) in your confirmation email, or you may need to call Alaska Airlines to get the American Airlines PNR.
Manage on American Airlines: Once you have the American Airlines PNR, you can often go to aa.com and use their "Manage My Trip" section to select seats (if not already done), check flight details, or make minor changes (subject to American Airlines' policies).
Adding Your AAdvantage Number (Optional): If you also have an American Airlines AAdvantage account, you might be able to add your AAdvantage number to the reservation on aa.com. However, remember that you will not earn AAdvantage miles on an award flight booked with Alaska miles. This is primarily for status benefits or to ensure your correct frequent flyer number is on the reservation.
Step 6: Tips for Success and Maximizing Value
Flexibility is Key: The more flexible you are with your travel dates and times, the better your chances of finding award availability at lower mileage rates.
Book in Advance: Especially for popular routes and premium cabins, award space can be limited. Booking well in advance significantly improves your odds.
Consider One-Way Bookings: Alaska Airlines allows one-way award redemptions, which can be useful for mixing and matching airlines or finding specific availability.
Utilize Stopovers: Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan allows for one free stopover on international one-way award tickets, and two stopovers on international round-trip award tickets. This can add incredible value to your trip! To use this, select the "multi-city" option when searching for award flights.
Be Patient: Finding the perfect award flight can take time and persistence. Don't get discouraged if your first few searches don't yield the desired results.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to check my Alaska Mileage Plan balance?
You can easily check your Mileage Plan balance by logging into your account on alaskaair.com. Your mileage total will be prominently displayed on your account summary page.
How to find American Airlines flights on the Alaska Airlines website?
On the Alaska Airlines website, go to the "Book" section, select "Use miles," and then enter your desired origin, destination, and dates. The search results will show flights, and you can look for those operated by American Airlines.
How to know if a specific American Airlines flight is bookable with Alaska miles?
The best way is to search directly on alaskaair.com. If it doesn't show up, call Alaska Airlines reservations as they may have access to more inventory.
How to deal with limited online award availability for American Airlines?
If online availability is limited, your best bet is to call Alaska Airlines reservations directly. Their agents can often find and book partner award space not visible on the website.
How to understand the cost of American Airlines flights with Alaska miles?
The cost depends on the distance of the flight and the cabin class (economy, business, first). Refer to Alaska Airlines' partner award charts on their website for a general idea of mileage requirements.
How to avoid phone booking fees?
The $15 nonrefundable call center booking fee can usually be avoided by booking your award flight online if the availability is there. However, for complex itineraries or if online search fails, a phone call might be necessary.
How to add my American Airlines AAdvantage number to an Alaska miles booking?
Once you have the American Airlines PNR (record locator), you can often go to aa.com and manage your reservation, where you may be able to add your AAdvantage number. However, remember you won't earn AAdvantage miles on an award ticket.
How to make changes to an American Airlines award ticket booked with Alaska miles?
Most changes to Mileage Plan award reservations can be made online or by calling Alaska Airlines reservations. Be aware that some changes may incur fees or require re-pricing of the award.
How to cancel an American Airlines award ticket booked with Alaska miles?
You can cancel online or by calling Alaska Airlines reservations. If you cancel before departure, your miles will typically be redeposited into your account, and taxes paid will be refunded. Non-refundable fees like the partner award fee are usually not refunded.
How to use the free stopover perk on international itineraries?
When searching for an international award flight on alaskaair.com, select the "multi-city" option. This allows you to add a stopover in a city on your way to your final destination, often for no additional miles.