As first reported by One Mile at a Time, in recent weeks, travelers have reported difficulties booking Alaska Mileage Plan partner flights within 72 hours of departure. This restriction has been frustrating, as last-minute awards often provide great availability and value.
Alaska Airlines hasn’t formally announced this change, but speculation suggests it may be a temporary measure to address increased fraud, possibly influenced by the recent influx of miles transferred indirectly from American Express Membership Rewards.
While there’s no clear timeframe for the restriction, some workarounds may be available to bypass the block.
My Personal Experience Starlux Airlines Through Alaska
I recently faced this issue firsthand while trying to book a Starlux Airlines flight within the 72-hour window. Attempting to secure the booking online, I encountered the “Too Close to Departure” error. Determined to find an alternative, I called Alaska Airlines customer service directly, hoping they could complete the booking over the phone.
To my relief, the representative was able to make my booking without issue. Despite a short hold time, the phone process was smooth, and I successfully secured my flight. This worked for me twice, on two separate last-minute bookings with Starlux Airlines, both to and from Bangkok. This experience suggests that while Alaska’s online system may block close-in partner bookings, agents still have the ability to process them manually.
If you’re interested in booking a similar redemption, you can check out how I booked the Starlux flight from San Francisco to Taipei to Bangkok for 85,000 points here.
Another Data Point: Changing Flights Within 72 Hours of Departure
Just a couple of weeks ago, I was also able to change an award redemption flight within 72 hours of departure. Originally, I had booked a mixed-cabin award, with business class from San Francisco (SFO) to Taipei (TPE) and economy from TPE to Bangkok (BKK). Within 72 hours of my travel, I wanted to change this to an all-business class itinerary, but I couldn’t make the adjustment online due to the 72-hour block.
However, when I called Alaska Airlines, the agent was helpful and transferred me to a specialist responsible for international redemptions. It took about 40 minutes from start to finish, but I was able to successfully change my redemption to a full business class flight on Starlux from SFO to TPE to BKK for 85,000 miles.
Additional Workaround: Booking Outside the 72-Hour Window and Changing Later
A member of our Facebook group shared another effective workaround:
By booking a flight outside the 72-hour window, even in a different fare class (like premium economy), they could later call in and change it to their desired flight within the 72-hour period. This workaround leverages Alaska’s flexible change policies to bypass the 72-hour booking restriction, allowing you to secure the last-minute award flights you want.
A Few Tips for Calling Alaska Airlines
If you encounter the online booking block, calling in can be effective. In case an agent says the booking can’t be made, consider a quick “HUCA” (Hang Up and Call Again). Policies like these are often unfamiliar to some agents, and willingness to help can vary. Persistence can be key—if the first (or even second) agent declines, try again to increase your chances of finding someone willing to assist.
You can call the Alaska Airlines customer service number at 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522).
Final Thoughts
While the apparent blocking of close-in partner award bookings by Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is an inconvenience, it doesn't necessarily mean you can't book your desired flight. Between calling customer service and using the workaround of booking outside the 72-hour window and changing to a closer-in flight, you may still secure that last-minute award ticket. Until Alaska Airlines provides official clarification, utilizing these workarounds can help you make the most of your mile and book deals you find on SkyView.
