The relationship between Alaska Airlines (AS) Mileage Plan and American Airlines (AA) AAdvantage has evolved significantly since Alaska joined the Oneworld alliance. While you can't transfer miles directly from your Alaska Mileage Plan account to your American AAdvantage account, or vice-versa, you can earn miles in one program when flying on the other airline. This guide will walk you through how long it typically takes for those miles to post and what to do if they don't.
Ready to earn those valuable miles? Let's dive in!
Step 1: Understanding the Partnership – It's Not a Direct Transfer!
First things first, it's crucial to understand that Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and American Airlines AAdvantage are separate loyalty programs. You cannot directly transfer miles from your Mileage Plan account into your AAdvantage account, or the other way around. This is a common misconception, but it's important to clarify.
What you can do is earn miles in one program when flying on the other airline due to their partnership. Since Alaska Airlines joined the Oneworld alliance, of which American Airlines is a founding member, members of both loyalty programs can accrue miles when flying on eligible flights operated by either airline. This means if you fly on an American Airlines flight, you can choose to credit those miles to your Alaska Mileage Plan account, and similarly, if you fly on an Alaska Airlines flight, you can choose to credit those miles to your American AAdvantage account.
Key Takeaway: You're earning miles in your preferred program, not transferring them between accounts.
Step 2: Ensuring Proper Mileage Earning - Before You Fly
To ensure your Alaska miles (or American miles, if you're crediting an AS flight to AA) post correctly, preparation is key. This step is absolutely critical to avoid any delays or missing miles.
2.1 Provide Your Preferred Frequent Flyer Number at Booking
The most important thing you can do is to enter your desired frequent flyer number (either Alaska Mileage Plan or American AAdvantage) at the time of booking your flight.
Booking on American Airlines, Earning Alaska Miles: When booking a flight on AA.com, ensure you select "Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan" as your frequent flyer program and enter your Alaska Mileage Plan number.
Booking on Alaska Airlines, Earning American Miles: Similarly, if you're booking on AlaskaAir.com, select "American Airlines AAdvantage" and input your AAdvantage number.
2.2 Double-Check Before Departure
Before your flight, log into your reservation (either on the airline's website or app) and verify that your frequent flyer number is correctly associated with your booking. Mistakes happen, and it's much easier to correct this before you fly than after.
2.3 Keep Your Boarding Pass and E-Ticket Confirmation
Even if everything seems correct, always keep your boarding pass and e-ticket confirmation. These documents are your proof of travel and will be essential if you need to request missing miles later. A digital copy is usually sufficient, but a physical one doesn't hurt.
Step 3: The Typical Posting Timeline for Miles
Now, for the main question: how long does it take? The timeline for miles to post from partner airlines can vary slightly, but here's a general guideline:
3.1 For Flights on American Airlines Crediting to Alaska Mileage Plan
Generally, miles earned on American Airlines flights that are credited to your Alaska Mileage Plan account should post within 1 to 3 days after your flight. However, some sources suggest it can take up to 30 days. It's often quicker, especially for direct flights.
3.2 For Flights on Alaska Airlines Crediting to American AAdvantage
For miles earned on Alaska Airlines flights that you're crediting to your American AAdvantage account, American Airlines states that partner airline activity is generally credited within 30 days. While many users report seeing them post within a few days or a week, it's prudent to allow the full 30-day window.
3.3 Factors That Can Influence Posting Time
Several factors can influence how quickly your miles appear:
Fare Class: Some lower fare classes may take slightly longer to process or may not be eligible for mileage earning at all. Always check the earning chart for your specific fare.
Connecting Flights: Multi-segment itineraries might take a little longer for all segments to be processed.
System Delays: Occasionally, there can be unforeseen technical glitches or system updates that temporarily delay mileage posting across all partner airlines.
Weekend/Holiday Travel: While less common with automated systems, sometimes travel around weekends or holidays might see a slight lag in processing.
Step 4: What to Do If Your Miles Haven't Posted
If the typical timeframe has passed and your miles are still nowhere to be found, don't panic! There's a clear process to follow.
4.1 Wait the Full Allotted Time
Before taking action, ensure you've waited the full recommended period (e.g., 30 days for partner flights to AAdvantage). Submitting a request too early might just result in being told to wait longer.
4.2 Gather Your Documentation
This is where those boarding passes and e-ticket confirmations come in handy! You'll need:
Your Frequent Flyer Number: The one you intended to use.
Ticket Number: Usually a 13-digit number found on your e-ticket.
Flight Number(s): The specific flight numbers you took.
Date(s) of Travel: The dates of your flight segments.
Origin and Destination Cities: For each segment.
Fare Class: This can usually be found on your e-ticket or receipt.
4.3 Submit a Missing Mileage Request
Both Alaska Airlines and American Airlines have online forms for requesting missing miles.
For Missing Alaska Miles (from an AA flight):
Visit the "Request Missing Miles" section on the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan website. You'll typically need to log into your Mileage Plan account.
Follow the prompts to enter your flight details.
For Missing American Miles (from an AS flight):
Go to the "Request flight miles" section on the American Airlines AAdvantage website. You will need to log into your AAdvantage account.
American Airlines states you can request AAdvantage mileage and Loyalty Points for past, eligible transactions up to 12 months from the flight date. However, they also note that you can request miles for eligible flights if it's been at least 3 days since you completed travel. So, wait at least 3 days before submitting.
4.4 Follow Up if Necessary
After submitting your request, keep a record of the confirmation number or any communication. If you don't see the miles post within a few weeks after your request, you may need to follow up with customer service for the respective airline. Be patient but persistent.
Step 5: Proactive Tips for Future Travel
To minimize the chances of missing miles, consider these proactive measures for all your future flights:
5.1 Consistently Use Your Preferred Number
Make it a habit to always enter your preferred frequent flyer number (AS or AA) during the booking process. Don't rely on airport agents to add it last minute, though they usually can.
5.2 Check Your Boarding Pass at Check-in
When you receive your boarding pass, quickly glance to confirm your frequent flyer number is printed on it. If it's missing or incorrect, ask the agent to correct it before you board.
5.3 Enroll in Both Programs
If you haven't already, it's a good idea to enroll in both Alaska Mileage Plan and American AAdvantage. This gives you flexibility in where you credit your miles based on the flight and your earning goals. Remember, you can't be earning on both programs for the same flight.
By following these steps, you'll be well-equipped to ensure your Alaska miles (or American miles from an Alaska flight) post efficiently and effectively, helping you reach your next award redemption sooner!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions related to Alaska Miles and American Airlines, answered quickly:
How to check if my Alaska miles posted to American Airlines? You cannot check if Alaska miles posted to American Airlines, as direct transfers are not possible. Instead, you check your American Airlines AAdvantage account summary for miles earned from Alaska Airlines flights that you chose to credit to AAdvantage.
How to request missing American Airlines miles from an Alaska flight? Visit the "Request flight miles" section on the American Airlines website (aa.com), log into your AAdvantage account, and submit the details of your Alaska Airlines flight.
How to find my Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan number? You can find your Mileage Plan number by logging into your account on alaskaair.com, checking the back of your Alaska Airlines credit card (if you have one), or by calling Alaska Airlines Guest Care.
How to find my American Airlines AAdvantage number? Your AAdvantage number is available when you log into your account on aa.com, on your AAdvantage credit card, or by contacting American Airlines customer service.
How to ensure I earn miles on partner airlines? Always provide your frequent flyer number for the program you wish to earn miles in at the time of booking, and verify it's on your boarding pass before departure.
How to know if my fare class is eligible for earning miles? Both Alaska Airlines and American Airlines have earning charts on their websites that detail which fare classes are eligible to earn miles and at what rate for partner airlines. Check these charts before booking.
How to avoid mileage posting delays? The best way is to ensure your frequent flyer number is correctly added to your reservation before travel and to keep all your travel documents handy in case a manual request is needed.
How to contact American Airlines about missing miles? You can use their online "Request flight miles" form, or if issues persist, contact American Airlines AAdvantage customer service directly.
How to contact Alaska Airlines about missing miles? Utilize their "Request Missing Miles" form available on the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan website, or reach out to their Guest Care team.
How to merge duplicate frequent flyer accounts? Both Alaska Airlines and American Airlines have processes for merging duplicate accounts. You'll typically need to contact their respective customer service departments directly to initiate this.
