Alaska Airways introduced this previous spring it was teaming up with Taiwanese startup provider Starlux, taunting vacationers that they might finally use Alaska Mileage Plan miles to e book flights to Taipei (TPE) and past – at ultra-reasonable charges, in addition. That day has lastly come.
The flexibility to e book Starlux flights with Alaska miles formally went on-line Wednesday. And it is an unimaginable deal: we’re seeing wide-open enterprise class availability on Starlux’s nonstop route from Los Angeles (LAX) for simply 60,000 miles … virtually each single day from late July by mid-June 2024! And that is for 2, 4, or extra passengers, too.
Alaska tacks on nominal charges: Simply $18 and alter for a one-way to Taipei and $46 for the flight again to the States.
Learn extra on different nice methods to redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles!
Return availability for two-plus passengers in enterprise class is wide-open, too. And flying Starlux economic system is a steal as effectively: Simply 20,000 Mileage Plan miles every means!
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.
Its first nonstop flight to the U.S. started in late April with service to Los Angeles, with day by day flights operating every means at the moment. The airline is reportedly concentrating on San Francisco (SFO) for its subsequent U.S. route this winter.
At simply 60,000 miles every means, that is an exceptional deal for what appears to be like like a stellar enterprise class expertise. They teased that low mileage fee again when the 2 airways introduced their partnership, however we did not anticipate to see this type of availability proper off the bat.
Sadly, connecting past Taipei is not fairly nearly as good of a deal: Alaska is charging 130,000 miles every means for Starlux enterprise class flights to Japan, Vietnam, Bangkok (BKK), and Singapore (SIN).
Alaska has left the door open to charging extra for these flights down the street: The airline used the phrases “beginning at” and “restricted time” when it first detailed its framework for Mileage Plan redemptions on Starlux. So if you wish to get to Taipei in fashion, e book now.
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 area with a sliding door, 4K seatback screens, and seats that convert into a totally lie-flat mattress and are geared up with a “zero gravity” characteristic.
Top quality shouldn’t be bookable with Alaska miles, however enterprise class appears to be like like nothing to scoff at. Our Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal guru Jon flew Starlux between Taipei and Cebu (CEB) within the Philippines earlier this yr and stated it was a top-notch flight – even on that comparatively brief flight.
Backside Line
It is a win-win-win for vacationers with Alaska miles.
Months after their partnership was introduced, now you can redeem these Mileage Plan miles on Starlux flights. At simply 20,000 miles every means in economic system or 60,000 miles in enterprise class, it is a stellar deal. And better of all, enterprise class availability to e book these seats to or from Taiwan is wide-open from now by the top of the calendar subsequent June!
All pictures courtesy of Starlux