Questions and Answers

Hi friends,
Interesting question here: I’m trying to fly from PEK-Perth, Aus, on CX, which of course sends me through HKG. Found the seats on both flights (PEK-HKG/HKG-PER), and was proceeding to book, when I was told that this cannot be booked as a standard Asia-Australia award (30,000 miles one way in business), but rather must be booked as two awards (22,500 intra-Asia + 30,000 Asia to Aus)
First agent told me this, I asked to be transferred to another agent, who checked with two other people and told me the same thing. Is this true? Does anyone have any experience with this situation? Any tips for what I should do next?
Thanks for your help.

It might be. The old award charts used to say to/from Hong Kong on the Australia awards, but the new charts don’t say that (but the new charts have all kinds of errors).

I would probably call again, possibly during daytime hours. Sometimes I have to call 5-6 times to get a competent agent at Alaska these days.

It’s true. I tried this as well going from AKL-NRT. The agent saw the space open but the computer priced it the same at 52,500. Speaking to the supervisor I was told Asia rewards on CX must start/end in Hong Kong. Only North American rewards can transit Hong Kong. Shortly after that the verbiage was changed on the website.

Does Alaska allow you to put together your own itinerary? Ie if you find two one way legs on BA for Cathay can you create one award with a stopover. Eg ord to Hk then 1-2 days stopover and Hk to syd? If both one way flights available?

Yes, for Cathay you have to call but for other carriers you can get a stopover in the hub city by using the multi-city search tool. It will price out the stopover correctly

However partner rewards can only be on the partner carrier or partner carrier plus Alaska Air. You can not mix 2 partners on a single reward ticket unless it is a partner one way and a different partner on the return. I.E. BA to AMS and KLM back.