(Hat Tip to Rich for the question)

Rich was looking for award space from San Diego (SAN) to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (PVR) in October, but was confused by Alaska Airline’s Saver Award Space.  He has plenty of British Airways Avios and wanted to see which Alaska Airlines flights were available using British Airways Avios.  By looking at the entire month of October, I was able to find 3 days with Alaska Airlines Saver Award Space on the outbound (Oct 11, 19, and 25) and several more dates on the return.

On the left side of Alaska Airline’s award calendar page, there is the legend.  You want to find dates on the award calendar that are either green or yellow.  White dates do not have Saver Award Space, so you will not be able to use British Airways Avios (or American Airlines miles) for those flights.

On Alaska Airline’s award calendar, Sunday October 11 had Alaska Airline’s Saver Award Space available for the price of 17,500 Alaska Airlines miles and $29 in taxes/fees.

On American Airline’s website, I was able to find the same award space for 17,500 American Airlines miles and $29 in taxes/fees.  Since I was able to find the same award space on AA.com, this is Alaska Airline’s Saver Award Space.

To show you what happens if you select a date with no Alaska Airlines Saver Award Space, I clicked on Sunday October 18.  The Alaska Airlines Standard Award Space costs 25,000 Alaska Airlines miles and $29 in taxes/fees.

Since the above flight only has Alaska Airlines Standard Award Space, I cannot find the award space on AA.com.  As you can tell from the image below, there is no economy award space available on that date, only First Class award space is available.  If you can find the Alaska Airlines Saver Award Space on AA.com, British Airways will be able to see and book the award seat for you.

The opposite is true as well.  If you cannot find the Alaska Airlines Saver Award Space on AA.com, then British Airways will not be able to see or book the award seat for you.

By looking on Great Circle Mapper, the distance from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta is only 1,109 miles, which falls into Zone 2 on British Airway’s award chart.  This flight would only cost 7,500 British Airways Avios and $29 in taxes/fees.  This is why British Airways Avios are awesome for short, non-stop flights.

All you would need to do is call British Airways and have them book the award seats for you.  For more information, please read Book British Airways Award.

If you have any questions regarding searching for award space on Alaska Airlines or American Airlines, please leave a comment below.  Have a great day everyone!