OMG, I’m so excited, and must take a deep breath… whew.
Redeem Alaska miles for Starlux enterprise class
In April 2023, Alaska Airways and Starlux Airways introduced a brand new partnership, coinciding with Starlux launching flights to the USA (Los Angeles is the primary vacation spot, and San Francisco will launch later this yr).
With this partnership, the airways will provide reciprocal mileage incomes and redemption alternatives. Whereas the partnership at first simply included reciprocal mileage incomes, we’ve now seen reciprocal mileage redemptions rolled out (due to @findflightsforme for flagging this).
There’s some nice information — not solely is award pricing extremely enticing (a minimum of between Los Angeles and Taipei), however availability is wonderful.
In the meanwhile I see Starlux enterprise class award availability on nearly each single flight, which is so cool to see. Alaska is Starlux’s first main airline accomplice, so I believe Starlux doesn’t understand simply what number of redemptions are about to be booked.
For instance, check out the beneath award calendar in enterprise class between Los Angeles and Taipei.
Alaska Mileage Plan not publishes award prices, so what’s pricing like? For bookings via August 31, 2023, there’s particular introductory award pricing when you’re touring completely between Los Angeles and Taipei (although not past there). You may anticipate to pay the next variety of miles for a one-way journey:
- 20,000 miles in economic system
- 40,000 miles in premium economic system
- 60,000 miles in enterprise class
That’s an exceptional deal, particularly given the shortage of surcharges.
What’s pricing like in different markets (pricing is one-way, and remember that Alaska permits stopovers on one-way awards)?
- Awards between the USA and Asia price 65,000 miles in economic system, 85,000 miles in premium economic system, or 130,000 miles in enterprise class
- Awards between Taipei and Southeast Asia price 25,000 miles in economic system, 32,500 miles in premium economic system, or 50,000 miles in enterprise class
- Awards between Taipei and North Asia price 10,000 miles in economic system or 15,000 miles in enterprise class
- Awards between Southeast Asia and North Asia price 35,000 miles in economic system or 60,000 miles in enterprise class
As you may see, you would truly save miles by reserving your two segments individually, a minimum of for a restricted time. You’d pay 110,000 miles one-way in enterprise class, reasonably than 130,000 miles.
Ultimately award pricing between Los Angeles and Taipei is predicted to extend, and I believe it would then be extra according to the opposite pricing.
Why that is such an thrilling alternative
Starlux continues to be a comparatively new airline startup, and the corporate describes itself as a “detail-oriented luxurious airline.” I flew Starlux’s A321neo enterprise class shortly after the airline launched, and was amazed by the service’s inflight product. The lengthy haul expertise ought to take Starlux’s product to the subsequent degree, and I’m certain I’m not alone in being enthusiastic about this.
Moreover, at present award availability throughout the Pacific is just about non-existent, so it’s particularly thrilling to have an possibility with plentiful award availability.
Take into account that when you don’t have Alaska Mileage Plan miles, you should purchase them. By means of August 20, 2023, you may purchase them for as little as 1.85 cents every. At 1.85 cents every, you would purchase 60,000 Mileage Plan miles at a value of ~$1,100. That’s a heck of a deal!
Backside line
Alaska Mileage Plan has lastly added award redemptions on Starlux Airways. That is now Starlux’s solely airline accomplice with redemptions, so that is an unimaginable alternative to redeem for Starlux’s premium cabins. I can’t wait to fly Starlux between Los Angeles and Taipei, and I’m certain I’m not alone!
So, who’s headed to Taiwan on Starlux Airways?!