You can now combine American Airlines and British Airways flights when redeeming Alaska Airlines miles — but should you?
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members can now combine award flights operated by both American Airlines and British Airways as a single redemption.
Previously, Mileage Plan had only allowed members to mix and match redemptions across partner airlines when one of the operating airlines was Alaska Airlines. So, redeeming miles for an itinerary involving travel from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) that included a combination of Alaska Airlines and Starlux flights could be booked as a single award — while flying the same itinerary but with American Airlines and Starlux could not.
As first reported by Upgraded Points, Mileage Plan members can now combine two non-Alaska partners on the same redemption — though, for the time being, this is limited to American Airlines and British Airways.
TPG was unable to combine other partners — such as from the program's impressive roster of Asian airline partners, including Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines — on a single redemption without Alaska as one of the operating airlines. For now, only American and British Airways appear to be bookable as a single redemption.
Related: Cathay Pacific unveils its swanky new 'Aria Suite' business-class seat
TPG contacted Alaska Airlines about the possibility of adding more airlines as multipartner redemptions but did not hear back in time for publication.
It's worth noting that these combined American and British Airways redemptions are priced higher than booking redemptions operated by just one airline partner. For example, flying British Airways for the entire journey from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is more affordable than combining British Airways flights with those operated by American Airlines.
This pricing anomaly appears to be because although Mileage Plan permits the combination of these two carriers in a single award, it still prices the awards separately and combines the costs, charging 27,500 miles for a flight of 3,501 to 5,000 miles in length, plus 7,500 miles for a flight of less than 750 miles in length.
However, there are benefits of paying the extra mileage to ensure a smooth journey when you have to change planes somewhere like London's Heathrow Airport (LHR). Your baggage will be checked through to your final destination, which some airlines would refuse to do on separate tickets — even for a partner airline in the same global alliance — and you will be protected should a delay on one flight cause you to miss a later flight on the same itinerary.
Bottom line
The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program has improved its redemption options by allowing the booking of two airline partners as a single award. Currently, the only two carriers permitted are American Airlines and British Airways, though we hope more partners will be added to this perk.
Members will save miles by sticking with one partner for the entire journey, as the multicarrier awards are priced as two separate awards. Still, if you cannot find availability with a single carrier, it makes sense to book American Airlines and British Airways together as one award to enjoy a seamless travel experience for the same price as booking separately.
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