Is it possible to use Alaska Airline mileage to Africa, specifically Namibia? I am planning my first trip in 2010 and can use all the help I can get! Thanks!

Dave

call alaskan airlines and see if they have a partner airline to get you to africa.

quote:

Originally posted by tradewinds:
call alaskan airlines and see if they have a partner airline to get you to africa.

I want to say that alaskan airlines partners with Delta which does fly the RSA.

Dave,

When I lived in Alaska I used mileage with Alaska Airlines to fly to Africa several times. They partner with British Air who can get you to South Africa and you then can transfer to SAA for the flight to Namibia.

You would take Alaska Air to Seattle from Alaska. Tranfer to BA in Seattle to London and on to South Africa.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by 1BigDeer:
Is it possible to use Alaska Airline mileage to Africa, specifically Namibia? I am planning my first trip in 2010 and can use all the help I can get! Thanks!

Dave

Dave,

I didn't see this thread until now but I too plan on using Alaska Air miles to get to Africa in 2010. Mark has laid out pretty much the plan I was using above.

From Jo-berg you will have to pick up the flight to Windhoek.

Jim

I used Alaska miles in 06 to get to zambia from Denver. Flew Biz Class on BA.

Will be using them to fly from Denver to Zim on Delta in 09. Flight through london is a long trip with layovers.

I used AA airmiles this past May/June to get over to Africa (Namibia for the hunt itself. I called the AA reservation folks and they made my flight reservation on BA using my miles (got a Buisnees class ticket, man was that great flying, not only the seats and service but was soooooo easy with guns on the BA flights, tho went into and out of Heathrow and that made it easy too). Once I got to Joberg then I had to fly another airline with a ticket I HAD TO PAY FOR. This was on SAA and thats where the nightmare began. That short less than 2 hr flight cost me roundtrip at $1,000.00, two flight changes that SAA did to their schedule of flights, $120.00 in excess baggage fees with SAA since that flight was NOT part of my international flight that started in Seattle.

So it was doable in some respects with lots of perks and comfort on the BA flights, but the SAA connecting flights were a royal pain in the ass. In the end I completed my hunt and probably with a lot less hassle than some others Ive read about on the AR this summer here.

One jsut has to be flexible, have ;lots of patience sometimes, do as much research on aurline regs irt to firearms as one can and STILL be prepared when individual ticket agents and others make/demand changes on the spot to get your trip to go off with the least amount of trouble.

If I weer to hunt Namibia again, I plan on researching a route that AVOIDS going thru South Africa. Look at teh new psot from Kathi about hte new passport blank page requirement that the South African government wants now.

Doesn't get easier, but its still all doable.

I used Delta who was/is? an AlaskaAir partner all the way from Anchorage to Windhoek. 80,00 miles plus about a $65 fee back in 2005. I don't remember, but I may have booked everything through Delta at the time so that might have made a difference on why I was able to get all the way to Windhoek on mileage alone.

Thanks for all the replys. I will contact one of the often mentioned travel agents to find the best/smartest way to use my miles. I can't wait for DSC in January!

quote:

Originally posted by 1BigDeer:
Thanks for all the replys. I will contact one of the often mentioned travel agents to find the best/smartest way to use my miles. I can't wait for DSC in January!

Remember it will cost you a couple hundred bucks to use the travel agent even if you use miles.

quote:

Originally posted by 1BigDeer:
Thanks for all the replys. I will contact one of the often mentioned travel agents to find the best/smartest way to use my miles. I can't wait for DSC in January!

I tried one of the often mentioned travel agents and they came up with terrible routes. Called myself and got much better routes.

quote:

Originally posted by akpls:
I used Delta who was/is? an AlaskaAir partner all the way from Anchorage to Windhoek. 80,00 miles plus about a $65 fee back in 2005. I don't remember, but I may have booked everything through Delta at the time so that might have made a difference on why I was able to get all the way to Windhoek on mileage alone.

Alaska Airlines and Delta are codeshare partners. So, you should be able to use your miles on Delta. However, last year or 18 months ago, Delta disolved their relationship with South African Airways, which is why you can no longer use miles to get all the way to Windhoek using just miles. Hence, the reason bisonhunter had to buy a SAA ticket once he hit JoBurg.

When I checked the British Airways site, there was flights from the US into WDH going through JNB. I should be able to use my Alaska Airlines miles, so would this be a good option?

quote:

Originally posted by 1BigDeer:
When I checked the British Airways site, there was flights from the US into WDH going through JNB. I should be able to use my Alaska Airlines miles, so would this be a good option?

I guess it all depends on what you might use your miles for. For example: personally, I would rather buy a ticket to Africa and get the miles from the trip and the upgrade for future domestic flights here in the U.S. My wife and I use the miles for vacation, going home (back to Oklahoma), etc. So, for me I see it as a benefit to get the miles to/from Africa and upgrades on future flights (I fly about 2-3 weeks a month). Basically, it is a yearly perk for me as opposed to a one time trip.

But then again, I can see the other side of the coin and see why people want to save the airfare and spend that money on something else like an extra trophy or two, taxidermy expenses, etc.

So, it is really your choice as to how you want to spend your miles.

Big Deer

It would be good to talk to one of the specialist agents. Your BA flights may go through London. Into one airpport and out of another which will be a problem if you are taking firearms.

I'd say get the best Delta seat you can with your miles through Atlanta direct to Johannesburg and pay for the connection ticket. Looks like +/- $400 today. Might need to stay overnight in Johannesburg though!