How To Credit American Flights To Alaska Mileage Plan?

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Lucky, thanks for this post. As an MVP Gold with no AA status, I credit all my AA flights to AS. However, I want to point out that mechanically it is a pain. In the past, I call ahead of time (long wait time), and then after they change it the reservation disappears from "My Reservations" on AA....but it's also not on the AS website. In addition, Admirals Club agents get very puzzled when I'm trying to check into the lounge.

For me, doing it ahead of time lets me choose a free main cabin extra seat before they fill up, but maybe I'd be wise to change the number at the airport? What do you think?

@ Daniel -- I'd say it's worth it if you can select a Main Cabin Extra seat in advance. Yes, it makes it tougher to manage your reservation online, but in my opinion that's a small price to pay for a better seat on a flight.

@ Richard -- Good catch. Fixed, thanks!

Unfortunately, my travel is down considerably since I changed jobs a couple of years ago. So despite having lifetime (of the program) Platinum status on AA, I'm crediting everything I can to AS to retain MVP Gold. It's nice to have the flexibility of booking AA, AS, or DL domestically and have them all collectively count towards status. And MVP Gold plus the BofA credit card's companion ticket have let me book inexpensive coach fares to Hawaii the past couple of years for my husband and myself, and confirm first class upgrades at the time of booking. Pretty sweet!

Thanks Ben for clarify this confusing process.
Qualifying for MVP gold has got difficult since DL earnings are cut back. I don't fly short haul enough to qualify MVP gold without long flights... DL flights came in handy (even it means flying Y) since it provides international nonstop from SEA, but after the cut back, it is hard.
Having EXP with AA, Platinum with UA, I thought for a sec I may not wanna retain AS MVP anymore.. (work gets in a way) but the idea of buying the cheapest fare for short weekend trips domestically (especially bay area or LA) and call 10pm the night before to move to the time you actually prefer and still get first class.. and not even have to take time off from work... nothing can beat that...

Interesting post. I have this predicament a lot based out of Seattle, and having status with both programs. The AA agents a lot of times are apathetic, and don't know how to switch numbers out. They AS staff can be a little more accommodating and nice. For example I was on the waiting list for an upgrade on an AA flight as an AA PLAT. I was #10 with 3 seats left in F, so it was unlikely I was going to get the upgrade. I asked the agent at the gate to please take out my AA number, and to move in my AS number. First she said it wasn't working because I was on the upgrade list, and handed me back my boarding pass. I slid the boarding pass back to her and said, 'well then take me off the list, and put the AS number in there please.' (This was at JFK)

After asking for help from her colleague at the gate, she got me a new BP with my AS number printed on it. I always figured it was important to get an AA ticket stock BP with the AS number on it. The reasons for this is because my friend had a PHL-DFW-SEA that he was crediting to AS, and the flight from PHL to DFW got cancelled. They moved him onto a US PHL-SEA. The PHL-SEA was on a US BP, and AS did not give him credit, even for the original flight routing.

Thanks for pointing out Ben, that you can just tell them to delete the number all together and then manually request credit from AS. I had not thought of this.

One question I have is how do you get credit to AS when you are issued only US BP's, and they don't have AA BP's? (or just lie and refuse to issue you AA BP's) For example I was on a LAS-PHX-JFK flight. The PHX-JFK portion was AA operated, but all boarding passes were US. The flight ended up getting diverted, and that was another story for another time, but I did end up getting credit to AS.

Lucky do you know if I can leverage my AS MVP status on a Usairways flight?

@Ryan... No, not until they merge computers (I think October time). Until then only AA metal.

@Craig thx! and do you know about when flying AA codeshared with Usairways?

@ Ryan -- Nope, unfortunately not. You'll have to wait until October when the reservations systems merge.

I have no status on either so no upgrade option, but I do get a free bag as an AA citicard holder. Will the system not know I am entitled to a free bag if I change the airline to which I earn the miles to Alaska? Or can I get both my free bag and credit the miles towards Alaska not AA? Thanks.

I was once told by an AA agent that AA miles to Hawaii could not be credited to AS since AS also flew that route (SFO-HNL). Is that still true?

Don't leave out the part that some AA flights are not eligible to earn miles on AS. Pay attention to those flight number bands on the AS site.

I was on DAY-DFW a couple of months ago and changed flights for operational reasons. My flight didn't credit to AS properly even though the second leg from the same itinerary did. When I pinged AS CSRs, they pointed out my flight (AA 2195) was not eligible.

I tried to go back to AA and ask them to credit this particular segment to AA. I know it's not easy but they could have given me some RDMs. Instead, they morphed this into an epic message exchange which culminated with a voicemail I received from a CS manager from AA customer service center in Phoenix, AZ (yes, our new educated agents) who stated AS is a Star Alliance airline. Too bad I couldn't talk to this lady but calling her back is not worth the miles.

@ Suz -- Definitely not true.

@ Pat -- You'll want to have your AAdvantage number on the reservation until you check-in, and then you can switch your number at the gate.

I'm trying to add my AS number to my AA reservation, but it's all grayed out and I can't change it in the My Trips section of aa.com. I tried calling, but the agent said that I can only credit to AS if AS is part of the entire reservation. I can't find anything online to back up her statement. The flight number, AA 2872, definitely falls within an eligible AA flight. I was hoping to do OLCI instead of waiting in line to check-in. Suggestions?

I want to credit my AA flights to my AA or AS account (no status), but I do have OW Sapphire giving me access to Main Cabin Extra at booking. Would I lose my seat assignments if I change to my AA/AS number after ticketing? How do I do this?

@ George -- I'd recommend just changing day of departure at the airport. That's probably the easiest way to do it while making sure you don't get kicked out of seat.

A few have mentioned that they credit all their AA flying to AS. But isn't it the case that any discount AA fares (for instance E and T) don't earn credit at all? See http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/partners/american.aspx

Hi Lucky, this is exactly the post I was looking for, but I'm confused by this:

"Again, you technically won’t be able to change your mileage number to Alaska if you received a complimentary or sticker upgrade on American on account of your status."

It seems like it contradicts everything else, but maybe I don't understand there's a difference between upgrades? For example, if I am AA Sapphire and my 500 Mile Upgrades are confirmed - can I change my number to Alaska? Or for an International leg, where I cannot use 500 Mile Upgrades, and I'm upgraded due to oversold seats? Thanks.

@Derek - What he means is that when you receive a complimentary upgrade, which does not include using your Systemwide Upgrade, you cannot switch out your AA number for your AS number. When using a systemwide upgrade however, you can do the swap. However, just be sure you have confirmed your systemwide upgrade BEFORE switching out your AA number to your AS number.

However...I have a question now along those lines. Say you've just confirmed your systemwide upgrade on the outbound portion of your flight. You now want to switch out your AA number for your AS number. If you do that, though, will it not affect your position on the upgrade list for your return trip?

And also, what if you have received a complimentary upgrade on just one segment of your entire roundtrip itinerary...does that now mean the entire itinerary cannot be credited to AS?

The heading says "HOW TO CREDIT THE MILES". I've read it twice and I don't see any instructions on how to enter my milage number from one plan to the other. Just a bunch of fluff about IF i should do so. Grrr.

Will it become possible to have the AS plan number associated with my AA account, maybe when computer systems are aligned? Right now, if I try to add my AS account online, the system thinks I am trying to add a new passenger. I have AS status but not AA status.

As an Alaska Airlines MVP Gold, when I'm making a reservation via aa.com for a paid ticket on American, where do I put my Alaska Airlines mileage number? I called AA and they said "in the reservation" but I get to the payment stage and the AS number has not been collected. I don't want to buy the AA ticket if it is a hassle to get my travel credited to Alaska Airlines. I've searched online and I'm not finding the answer. Thanks, G in Alaska

Why did I only get 1000 miles credit for a flight from Miami to portland. I flew on AA, upgraded to first class when it was offered and asked for mileages to go to AS… and I only got 1000 miles?

Its a bit confusing at first. I have an AA account but booked flights WITHOUT logging into my AA account. After that, I managed the flight and clicked the area that allows me to enter my AA account. A pop-up appears and choose Alaska Air in the airline and enter your AS number. However, once you enter and save, it will not allow you to make any change