If Australia and Fiji are in your journey want checklist, this could possibly be the proper candy spot award for you.
A nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Sydney takes round 15 hours, however a stopover in Fiji can break up your transpacific journey and allow you to go to Australia and Fiji on the identical journey.
In right this moment’s candy spot put up, I am going to inform you how you can e book a one-way award from the U.S. to Australia with a stopover in Fiji utilizing Alaska Airways Mileage Plan miles.
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Why it is particular
Alaska’s new award chart states that one-way awards from the U.S. to the South Pacific begin at 30,000 miles in financial system, 45,000 miles in premium financial system, 55,000 miles in enterprise and 70,000 miles in first. Behind the scenes, although, award costs are nonetheless principally based mostly on which companion operates the flights.
The candy spot we’re specializing in right this moment is the power to fly Fiji Airways one-way between the U.S. and Australia for 40,000 Alaska miles in financial system or 55,000 miles in enterprise. That is an interesting candy spot as a result of the Alaska Mileage Plan gives a free stopover on one-way awards. So, you’ll be able to cease in Fiji, which I extremely suggest for its tradition, lovely island panorama and the power to interrupt up your lengthy transpacific journey.
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Sadly, it is not all excellent news: Enterprise-class award availability from the U.S. and Fiji is virtually nonexistent. You will discover restricted availability from Fiji to the U.S. and spotty availability between Fiji and Australia. Resulting from restricted business-class award availability for this candy spot, we’ll concentrate on financial system awards on this information.
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Associated: Flight overview: Fiji Airways financial system class from Nadi to Los Angeles on the A350
Tips on how to e book this award
Listed below are the steps you may must observe to seek for and e book this candy spot.
Discover award availability
Discovering award availability that matches your dates and journey plans will doubtless be essentially the most difficult a part of reserving this award, particularly if you wish to fly in enterprise class. As I famous above, there’s at present little or no availability in enterprise class, however in case you’re blissful to fly financial system, you may doubtless discover availability.
You possibly can’t use a number of Alaska Airways companions on the identical award. So, you may want to make use of flights operated by Alaska Airways and Fiji Airways for this candy spot.
Regardless that you may e book your award via the Alaska Airways Mileage Plan web site, I like to recommend utilizing American Airways’ calendar search to seek out award availability.
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First, use American Airways’ calendar search to seek out availability on a Fiji Airways-operated flight between San Francisco or Los Angeles and Nadi, Fiji.
Then, use American Airways’ calendar search to seek out availability on a Fiji Airways-operated flight between Nadi and Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide, Australia.
If you wish to originate someplace moreover Los Angeles or San Francisco, you can too search on the American Airways web site to seek out availability on a flight operated by Alaska Airways.
You will want to seek out award availability on your return flights as nicely, however now you’ve got a good suggestion of how to take action.
Associated: Your final information to looking award availability for the most important airways
Search on Alaska Airways’ web site
Now that you already know what dates, origin and vacation spot to go looking, go to Alaska Airways’ web site. Under the place you’d sometimes enter your search info, click on “All search choices.” You will need to click on right here as a substitute of trying to find a one-way award because of your Fiji stopover.
As soon as you have made that adjustment, click on “Multi-city,” choose “Use miles” and enter the knowledge on your outbound flights. Theoretically, you could possibly additionally enter your return flight info right here. however for now, let’s assume you need to e book a one-way award. Click on “Discover flights.”
On the subsequent display screen, it’s best to see the flights you discovered utilizing American Airways’ calendar search.
If there is a seat picture subsequent to the award price, you are taking a look at a combined cabin award. For instance, this is a combined cabin business-class award from Sydney to Los Angeles the place the leg from Sydney to Nadi is in coach and the leg from Nadi to Los Angeles is in enterprise.
You’d must comply with proceed with the combined cabin award in case you needed to e book that choice.
Let’s assume you determine to go ahead with the 40,000-mile financial system award we looked for above. You possibly can add this award to your cart by clicking “Add to cart.” As soon as the award is in your cart, you’ll be able to examine the flight particulars. Click on “Subsequent” when you’re prepared to maneuver ahead.
You will must sign up to your Alaska Airways Mileage Plan account after which enter or verify passenger names and speak to info. You possibly can choose seats on any Alaska-operated flights in your reserving earlier than getting into your cost info and buying your award.
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Tips on how to earn miles for this award
- Alaska Airways Visa® bank card: Get a $100 assertion credit score, 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Well-known Companion Fare from $122 ($99 fare, plus taxes and charges from $23) with this supply. To qualify, make $2,000 or extra in purchases throughout the first 90 days of opening your account.
- Alaska Airways Visa® Enterprise card: Get 50,000 bonus miles, a $100 assertion credit score and Alaska’s Well-known Companion Fare from $122 ($99 fare, plus taxes and charges from $23) with this supply. To qualify, make $3,000 or extra in purchases throughout the first 90 days of opening your account.
You can even switch Marriott Bonvoy factors to the Alaska Mileage Plan at a 3:1 ratio, however take into account that you should switch not less than 3,000 factors. TPG values Marriott factors at 0.84 cents every and Alaska miles at 1.8 cents every. So, with the three:1 switch ratio, you are giving up a price of about 0.6 cents per Alaska mile earned whenever you switch Marriott factors to Alaska.
Lastly, there are numerous different methods to earn Alaska Airways miles. For instance, you’ll be able to fly Alaska Airways and its companions. Or, you’ll be able to click on via the Alaska Airways Mileage Plan Procuring portal earlier than buying on-line. You can even enroll in Mileage Plan Eating and eat at taking part eating places.
Associated: When does it make sense to switch Marriott factors to airways?
Backside line
If you wish to fly to Australia, redeeming Alaska miles to fly Fiji Airways is a superb choice. The taxes and charges are tolerable, you’ll be able to stopover in Fiji and the award pricing is healthier than you’d get with most different packages.
I liked Fiji when my husband and I visited in 2019 to overview the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton. Resort Fiji – Sonaisali Island and the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa.
Nevertheless, incomes Alaska miles for this award may be difficult since Marriott Bonvoy is the one main transferrable forex you’ll be able to switch to Alaska. An added problem is that business-class award availability may be tough to seek out.
