Alaska Airways already companions with almost two dozen airways worldwide … and now they’re including one other one: Starlux Airways, a comparatively new airline based mostly in Taiwan. And as Starlux begins nonstop flights to the U.S., this partnership will give vacationers yet one more manner to make use of their Alaska Mileage Plan miles to fly to Asia.
Starlux is a Taipei-based boutique provider that launched in 2020 flying a handful of routes all through Asia from its hub in Taipei (TPE), competing with two different top-notch Taiwanese carriers like EVA Air and China Airways. The airline now flies to 18 locations from its hub in Taipei. As of right this moment, that features the US: The primary nonstop flight to Los Angeles (LAX) took off right this moment, April 26.
It is the airline’s first nonstop path to the U.S. – and it is probably not the final. Flights to and from Los Angeles are scheduled to run 5 instances per week via Might, with day by day service starting in June.
Alaska introduced its new partnership with Starlux on Wednesday. Beginning right this moment, Alaska Mileage Plan members can now earn Alaska miles on their Starlux flights. Quickly, they will have the ability to redeem these miles to guide Starlux’s transpacific flights to Taipei and to different locations all through Asia like Bangkok (BKK), Hanoi (HAN), Singapore (SIN), and extra.
These redemptions are anticipated to go stay someday this summer time – together with for Starlux’s fancy enterprise class suites at affordable award charges.
Once they go stay, Alaska stated redemptions to make use of Alaska miles to guide Starlux flights will begin on the following charges for one-way flights:
- 20,000 miles for economic system
- 40,000 miles for premium economic system
- 60,000 miles for enterprise class
- Firstclass redemptions will not be obtainable
These are phenomenal offers. In fact, Alaska is utilizing the phrases “beginning at” and “restricted time,” leaving the door open for the airline to cost far more for these flights finally. After utilizing a separate award chart for every of its accomplice airways for years, the provider unveiled a brand new, streamlined award chart for all of its accomplice airways late final 12 months.
Given the steep money fares for these transpacific flights, you are still more likely to nonetheless come out far forward.
Starlux’s new transpacific path to the U.S. is being flown on its new Airbus A350-900 plane with 4 cabins: First, enterprise, premium economic system, and economic system. First and enterprise class suites on these planes every have a personal house with a sliding door, 4K seatback screens, and seats that convert into a completely lie-flat mattress and are outfitted with a “zero gravity” function. Premium economic system seats are among the most spacious you may discover on any plane with 40 inches of legroom.
Our Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal guru Jon just lately flew Starlux between Taipei and Cebu, Philippines (CEB) in a lie-flat enterprise class seat. Whereas it wasn’t the very same seat you may discover flying between Los Angeles and Taipei, it is nonetheless a glimpse into what it is like flying Starlux enterprise class.
Backside Line
With the addition of the Taiwanese provider Starlux, Alaska now companions with two dozen airways – together with among the world’s finest comparable to Cathay Pacific, Japan Airways, Singapore Airways, and Qantas, to call just some.
Alaska Mileage Plan members can already earn Alaska miles once they pay money for a Starlux flight. And shortly, you’ll redeem Alaska miles for (almost) free flights on a Starlux flight abroad.
Lead photograph courtesy of Starlux Airways