Ever dreamed of exploring a new city, visiting family across the country, or embarking on an international adventure, all while leveraging your hard-earned loyalty points? If you're sitting on a stash of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles and have American Airlines flights in your sights, you're in the right place! While it might seem a bit counter-intuitive to use one airline's miles for another, thanks to their oneworld® Alliance partnership, it's entirely possible. Let's dive into how you can make this happen, step by step, and unlock some fantastic travel opportunities.
Ready to turn those miles into memories? Let's get started!
Step 1: Confirming Your Mileage Plan Account & Understanding the Partnership
Before you do anything else, let's ensure you're all set up.
Sub-heading: Do You Have Enough Miles?
First things first, log in to your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account on the Alaska Airlines website (alaskaair.com). Take a look at your current mileage balance. While there's no fixed number for American Airlines redemptions, award flights can start from as low as 5,000 miles for short-haul trips. However, domestic and international routes on American Airlines will generally require more miles. It's always good to have a target in mind for your desired destination and class of service.
Sub-heading: Understanding the Alaska-American Partnership
Alaska Airlines joined the oneworld® Alliance in 2021, which includes American Airlines. This means that as a Mileage Plan member, you can both earn and redeem miles on American Airlines flights. However, it's important to note that award availability on partner airlines can be more limited than on the operating airline itself. This often requires a bit more flexibility and strategic searching.
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| How To Book American Airlines Flight With Alaska Miles |
Step 2: Searching for American Airlines Award Availability
This is often the trickiest part, as not all American Airlines award space is readily visible on the Alaska Airlines website.
QuickTip: Pause at lists — they often summarize.
Sub-heading: Online Search (Your First Attempt)
Navigate to the "Book" section on the Alaska Airlines website.
Select the "Use miles" option.
Enter your desired departure and arrival cities, travel dates, and the number of passengers.
Crucially, on the search results page, look for a filter or option to display flights operated by "Partner Airlines" or specifically "American Airlines."
Browse the results. If you find flights that work for your dates and mileage budget, congratulations! You've found easily bookable award space.
Sub-heading: The Phone Call Method (Your Best Bet for Success)
Often, the best way to find American Airlines award availability using Alaska miles is by calling Alaska Airlines directly. This is because:
Not all partner award inventory is loaded online. An agent might be able to see and access more options.
They can help you piece together complex itineraries or find mixed-cabin awards (e.g., economy for one leg, business for another).
Here's how to approach it:
Prepare your desired itinerary: Have your departure city, destination, preferred travel dates (with some flexibility), and desired class of service ready.
Call Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan reservations: Find their contact number on the Alaska Airlines website under "Contact Us" or "Mileage Plan Support." Be prepared for potential wait times, especially during peak hours.
Be specific: When you speak to an agent, clearly state that you are looking to book an award ticket on American Airlines using your Alaska Mileage Plan miles.
Provide your itinerary details: Give them your desired dates, routes, and preferred class.
Be flexible and ask about alternatives: If your first choice isn't available, ask the agent to search for slightly different dates, times, or even connecting cities. Sometimes shifting your travel by a day or two can open up a lot more options.
Confirm the mileage cost and fees: The agent will tell you the total miles required and any associated taxes and fees (which are typically low for award tickets, usually just government-imposed taxes).
Step 3: Booking Your American Airlines Flight
Once you've found the perfect itinerary, it's time to finalize the booking.
Sub-heading: Online Booking
If you found your American Airlines award flight directly on the Alaska Airlines website:
Select your desired flight(s).
Proceed to the checkout page.
Review the mileage cost and any taxes/fees. Ensure all details are correct before proceeding.
Confirm your booking and pay any applicable taxes and fees using a credit card.
You should receive an email confirmation with your booking details and a confirmation code.
Sub-heading: Phone Booking
If you booked your flight over the phone with an Alaska Airlines agent:
QuickTip: Pause when something clicks.
The agent will confirm the mileage deduction from your account.
They will then ask for your payment information for the taxes and fees. Have your credit card ready.
Once the payment is processed, the agent will provide you with a confirmation number. Make sure to write this down!
You should also receive an email confirmation shortly after the call.
Step 4: After Booking - What to Expect and Do
You've successfully booked your flight! But the journey doesn't end there.
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Sub-heading: Receiving Your Confirmation
Within a few minutes to a few hours, you should receive a confirmation email from Alaska Airlines. This email will contain your flight details, ticket number, and the American Airlines confirmation code (sometimes called a PNR or Record Locator). This American Airlines confirmation code is extremely important.
Sub-heading: Managing Your Booking on American Airlines
Go to aa.com (American Airlines' website).
Look for a "Manage Trip" or "My Trips" section.
Enter the American Airlines confirmation code you received from Alaska Airlines, along with your last name.
You should now be able to view your reservation directly on the American Airlines website. This allows you to:
Select or change your seats.
Check baggage policies and add pre-paid bags.
View any potential flight changes or delays.
Add your AAdvantage number (if you have one and wish to earn miles on this flight with American, though this is rare on partner award redemptions and often not allowed). However, if you have American Airlines elite status, you might be able to add your AAdvantage number to potentially receive benefits like upgrades or lounge access. Be aware that policies around this can be tricky, and it's best to confirm with American Airlines if this is a priority.
Key Considerations and Tips:
Flexibility is King: The more flexible you are with your travel dates and times, the better your chances of finding award availability, especially on American Airlines.
Book in Advance: Award seats, particularly in premium cabins, are released in limited quantities. Booking well in advance significantly increases your odds.
Check Different Routes: If your preferred direct flight isn't available, consider connecting flights through American Airlines hubs.
Understand Award Charts: While Alaska Airlines has moved to more dynamic pricing, they still publish "starting at" mileages for various regions. This can give you a general idea of how many miles you'll need. However, actual costs can vary.
Taxes and Fees: Be prepared to pay nominal taxes and fees, which are typically low for most award flights, especially domestic ones. International flights may incur higher carrier-imposed surcharges.
Cancellation and Change Policies: Familiarize yourself with Alaska Airlines' policies regarding changes or cancellations to award tickets. While change fees have largely been eliminated by many airlines, specific rules may apply.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to find out how many Alaska miles I need for a specific American Airlines flight?
Tip: Use the structure of the text to guide you.
You'll generally need to search for award availability on the Alaska Airlines website or call their reservations line. While Alaska has "starting at" mileage charts, the exact amount can vary based on demand, route, and time of booking.
How to know if an American Airlines flight is eligible for booking with Alaska miles?
Generally, any American Airlines operated flight can potentially be booked with Alaska miles. The key is finding "saver" level award availability, which is the inventory shared with partners. The best way to confirm eligibility is by searching on Alaska's website or calling them.
How to deal with limited American Airlines award availability on Alaska's website?
If you're struggling to find flights online, your best bet is to call Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan reservations. Agents often have access to a wider range of partner award inventory.
How to ensure my American Airlines confirmation code is linked to my Alaska Airlines booking?
Once you book the flight through Alaska Airlines, they will issue you an American Airlines confirmation code (PNR). You can then use this code on aa.com to access and manage your reservation directly with American Airlines.
How to add my American Airlines AAdvantage number to an Alaska miles booking?
Once you have the American Airlines confirmation code, you can typically go to aa.com's "Manage Trip" section and add your AAdvantage number to the reservation. This can be beneficial for elite status recognition and benefits, though you generally won't earn AAdvantage miles on a flight booked with Alaska miles.
QuickTip: Don’t rush through examples.
How to change or cancel an American Airlines flight booked with Alaska miles?
You must contact Alaska Airlines directly to make any changes or cancellations to a flight booked with your Alaska miles, even if the flight is operated by American Airlines. Their policies will apply.
How to use Alaska miles for American Airlines international flights?
The process is the same as for domestic flights: search on alaskaair.com or call Alaska Airlines reservations. International award availability can be more competitive, so flexibility and booking in advance are highly recommended.
How to find out about baggage policies for an American Airlines flight booked with Alaska miles?
Once you have your American Airlines confirmation code, you can go to aa.com and use the "Manage Trip" section to view the specific baggage policies for your flight, which are determined by American Airlines.
How to use Alaska miles for upgrades on American Airlines flights?
Generally, you cannot use Alaska miles to upgrade American Airlines flights that were not originally booked with Alaska miles. If you booked an award ticket, the class you booked (economy, business, first) is what you're ticketed for. Upgrades are usually handled directly by American Airlines for their own paid tickets or AAdvantage members.
How to combine Alaska miles and cash for an American Airlines flight?
Alaska Airlines offers a "Money & Miles" option for Alaska-operated flights, but this typically does not apply to partner airline award bookings. American Airlines flights booked with Alaska miles are generally a full mileage redemption, plus taxes and fees.
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