Learn About Alaska Air Transfer Partners

Understanding Alaska Airlines' Transfer Partner Network

Alaska Airlines runs one of the most flexible loyalty programs in the travel industry, and a key feature is the ability to transfer your miles to partner airlines. When you accumulate Mileage Plan miles through credit card spending, flights, or other activities, you have the option to send those miles to various airline partners around the world. This guide covers how this transfer system works and what you should know about the different airlines in Alaska's network.

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As of 2024, Alaska Airlines has partnerships with more than a dozen international carriers. These partnerships allow members to use their miles for award flights on partner airlines, often with different award charts and availability than Alaska's own flights. The transfer process itself is straightforward once you understand the mechanics: you log into your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account and initiate a transfer to your chosen partner program. Transfers typically complete within 24 hours, though some airlines process them more slowly.

The value of transfer partners varies significantly depending on which airline you choose and what you're trying to book. Some transfer partners offer better value for specific routes, while others might provide access to destinations that Alaska Airlines doesn't serve directly. For example, if you want to fly to a European city, transferring miles to a partner airline that operates there might be your best option, whereas Alaska Airlines itself has limited international service.

Understanding the differences between partner airlines is important because each one has its own award chart, rules about fuel surcharges, and policies on things like seat upgrades and stopover rules. One airline might charge 60,000 miles for a business class ticket on a specific route, while another partner might charge 70,000 or more for the same flight. Taking time to research your options can result in either getting more value from your miles or finding availability when Alaska's own awards are sold out.

Practical takeaway: Before transferring miles to a partner, spend time researching current award prices on multiple airlines for your desired route. This comparison work upfront can help you make transfers that get you more value than simply booking through Alaska Airlines' own award chart.

Major International Airline Partners

Alaska Airlines maintains transfer partnerships with several major international carriers that span different regions of the world. These partnerships include airlines from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. Each region's airlines offer different networks and award availability, so understanding which partners serve your preferred destinations is valuable when planning redemptions.

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British Airways is one of Alaska's most popular transfer partners for travelers heading to Europe or the Middle East. BA operates an extensive network across Europe, Africa, and Asia, with hubs in London. When you transfer miles to BA's Executive Club program, you can search for award flights across their network. BA's award chart often has sweet spots for premium cabin travel at reasonable mileage levels. However, BA charges fuel surcharges on many awards, which means the total cost might include both miles and cash. As of 2024, a transatlantic business class award might range from 115,000 to 150,000 BA Avios miles depending on the specific route, though fuel surcharges can add hundreds of dollars.

Japan Airlines (JAL) is valuable for travelers planning trips to Asia. JAL's award chart tends to offer competitive pricing for flights within Asia and between Asia and North America. JAL operates from Tokyo and other major Asian hubs with significant domestic and international service. Transfer rates to JAL are straightforward, and the airline generally has reasonable award pricing. A round-trip flight from the U.S. West Coast to Japan might cost around 60,000 to 80,000 JAL miles in economy, depending on the specific cities and travel dates.

Cathay Pacific serves Asia, Australia, and connects these regions to Europe and North America through their Hong Kong hub. The airline is known for good availability and reasonable award pricing on many routes. Transfers to Cathay Pacific's Marco Polo Club complete relatively quickly, typically within 24 hours. Award prices tend to be competitive, though fuel surcharges apply on some bookings.

Qantas Airways connects Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific region to North America and Asia. For travelers planning trips down under, Qantas can offer good value, particularly on regional flights within Australia and New Zealand. However, fuel surcharges are common on Qantas awards, which can increase the total cost significantly.

Practical takeaway: Match your destination to the partner airline's network strength. If you're traveling to Europe, British Airways usually makes sense. For Asia, consider JAL or Cathay Pacific. For Australia or the South Pacific, Qantas may be your best option.

European and Middle Eastern Partners

Beyond British Airways, Alaska Airlines has partnerships with several other European and Middle Eastern carriers that provide different options for various travel scenarios. These airlines serve different regions of Europe and the Middle East, with varying award availability and pricing structures. Understanding which European partner might work best for your trip requires knowing their hubs and service areas.

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Turkish Airlines represents an interesting option for travelers heading to Europe, the Middle East, or beyond. Turkish Airlines operates from Istanbul with an extensive network spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The airline's award chart can offer competitive pricing on many routes, and the Istanbul hub provides good connectivity for complex itineraries. Transfers to Turkish Airlines' Miles&Smiles program are straightforward, and award availability is often decent on their network. A ticket from North America to Turkey or the Middle East might range from 60,000 to 100,000 miles depending on the cabin and specific route.

Air Berlin, historically a major European carrier, has changed significantly in recent years, so current availability and partnership terms should be verified directly with Alaska Airlines. European airline partnerships can shift as the aviation industry consolidates and alliances change.

Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, operates an extensive network across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and beyond. For travelers interested in the Middle East or using the Abu Dhabi hub for connections, Etihad can provide alternative routing and award availability. The airline's award chart varies by route, and transfers to their Etihad Guest program typically process within one to two business days.

Some Alaska partnerships may also include regional European carriers that operate primarily within Europe or specific regions. These can be valuable if you're planning a complex European trip and need to reach smaller cities that major international carriers don't serve. Regional carriers often have lower mileage requirements for shorter flights, making them potentially valuable for that segment of a longer journey.

Practical takeaway: For Middle East gateways, Turkish Airlines and Etihad offer reasonable alternatives to traditional European carriers, and they can sometimes provide better award availability or pricing for specific routes. Consider them if you're flexible on routing or want to explore a particular region.

Latin American and Caribbean Partners

Alaska Airlines operates significant service to Latin America and the Caribbean, and its transfer partnerships in this region complement its own network. Several Latin American carriers and Caribbean-focused airlines are available as transfer partners, offering additional award options for travel throughout the region.

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LAN Airlines, now part of LATAM Airlines Group, operates throughout South America, Central America, and has connections to North America and Europe. This is particularly valuable if you're planning trips to Chile, Argentina, Peru, or other South American destinations. Award availability and pricing on LAN can sometimes offer better value than booking directly through Alaska Airlines. A roundtrip from the continental U.S. to Lima, Peru might cost 60,000 to 75,000 miles in economy through LAN, depending on dates and availability.

TAM Airlines is another South American carrier that provides service to Brazil, Argentina, and regional destinations. Brazil in particular has limited Alaska Airlines direct service, so TAM can provide an alternative routing option. TAM's Multiplus frequent flyer program accepts transfers, and award pricing tends to be reasonable for flights originating in or passing through Brazil.

TACA Airlines (Avianca) serves Central America and provides connections throughout the region. If you're planning a trip to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, or other Central American countries, TACA can provide award options that complement Alaska's existing network in the region. Award availability is often reasonable for regional flights within Central America.

For Caribbean travel, Alaska's partnerships may include regional carriers or focus on connecting through major hubs. The Caribbean requires careful route planning since no single airline serves all the islands, and award availability can be limited and variable. When planning Caribbean trips with partner miles, research specific routing options well in advance since island-hopping often requires connections.

Practical takeaway: If you