Alaska Airlines & British Airways: London Flights + Deals

Travelers looking to cross the Atlantic have a compelling new reason to check alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines has significantly expanded its international reach by partnering with British Airways to sell nonstop London flights directly on its platform — and layered on top of that is a generous mileage promotion that's turning heads among frequent flyers. Whether you're a Mileage Plan loyalist or simply hunting for the best transatlantic deal, here's everything you need to know about what Alaska Airlines is offering right now.

Alaska Airlines Now Sells British Airways Flights to London

In a move that marks a meaningful expansion of Alaska's global footprint, the airline announced on June 11, 2024 that guests can now purchase British Airways nonstop flights to London Heathrow directly at alaskaair.com, with service beginning June 18, 2024. This means U.S. travelers no longer need to visit a separate booking platform to access one of the world's most storied transatlantic routes.

Gateway airports from which you can book these flights include:

• Seattle
• Portland
• San Francisco
• Los Angeles
• San Diego
• Chicago
• New York JFK

British Airways operates an impressive up to 8 daily nonstop flights from New York JFK and 3 daily nonstop flights from Los Angeles to London Heathrow — all of which are now bookable directly through alaskaair.com. For travelers on the West Coast especially, this is a game-changer that simplifies the booking process considerably.

According to Breaking Travel News, this development is part of Alaska's broader strategy to make international travel more accessible to its customer base through its oneworld alliance and additional global partnerships.

How Mileage Plan Members Benefit From Booking Partner Flights

One of the most attractive aspects of this expanded partnership is the mileage earning potential. When Mileage Plan members book British Airways flights — or any partner flights — directly through alaskaair.com, they earn:

• 100% of miles flown credited to their Mileage Plan account
• 100% elite qualifying miles (EQMs), which count toward elite status tiers

This is a substantial benefit compared to booking the same flights on a partner airline's own website, where earning rates and EQM accrual can vary significantly. For members chasing elite status or top-tier redemption thresholds, funneling partner bookings through alaskaair.com is a straightforward way to accelerate progress.

Beyond standard earning, Alaska Airlines cardholders get an additional boost: all flights purchased on alaskaair.com using the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card earn triple miles — including on partner flights. Stack this with the 100% EQM earning and you have a compelling case for booking international travel through Alaska's platform rather than through partner airline sites.

Global Getaways: Up to 50% Off International Award Redemptions

On April 3, 2024, Alaska Airlines launched "Global Getaways," a quarterly promotion designed to reward Mileage Plan members with dramatically reduced award costs for international destinations. The headline number: up to 50% savings on award redemptions to select international destinations throughout April for fall travel.

The promotion targets the premium use case for frequent flyer miles — international redemptions — which have historically required large mile balances. By cutting redemption rates by up to half, Alaska is making it more feasible for everyday travelers to use their accumulated miles for aspirational trips rather than short domestic hops.

As detailed by Seeking Alpha, Global Getaways is structured as a quarterly event, meaning members who miss one window can plan ahead for future cycles. This predictability adds strategic value for travelers who like to plan well in advance.

Key takeaways from the Global Getaways promotion:

• Discounts of up to 50% on international award redemptions
• Available to all Mileage Plan members
• Structured as a recurring quarterly promotion
• Best used for fall travel bookings (based on the April 2024 launch window)

A Massive Global Network Now at Your Fingertips

The British Airways partnership is just one piece of a much larger international puzzle. Through alaskaair.com, travelers can now purchase flights to more than 500 destinations across 24 oneworld and additional global partner airlines. This puts Alaska in direct competition with the major legacy carriers when it comes to international booking convenience.

The oneworld alliance — which includes American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, SriLankan Airlines, and others — gives Alaska customers access to an extraordinary range of routes without needing to juggle multiple loyalty programs or booking platforms.

For the leisure traveler, this means you can book a multi-leg international itinerary with Mileage Plan miles, earn on every leg, and manage everything from a single platform. For business travelers, the EQM-earning benefit on partner bookings accelerates the path to elite status that unlocks upgrades, lounge access, and priority services.

Simplified Award Charts Make Redemption Easier Than Ever

In March 2024, Alaska Airlines rolled out new streamlined award charts specifically designed to simplify mile redemptions for partner travel. Previously, navigating the complexity of partner award redemptions could be a deterrent — different zones, varying mileage rates, and confusing surcharge rules made it difficult for even savvy travelers to know if they were getting good value.

The updated charts reduce this friction by presenting cleaner, more predictable redemption rates organized by region and cabin class. Combined with the Global Getaways promotion, these simplified charts give Mileage Plan members both the clarity to understand their options and the financial incentive to act on them.

This is part of a broader trend among U.S. airlines to make loyalty programs more transparent and user-friendly — a response to years of criticism from frequent flyers frustrated by opaque devaluation cycles and hard-to-use miles.

How to Maximize Your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan for International Travel

With these new tools in place, here's a practical framework for getting the most out of the Mileage Plan ecosystem:

1. Book partner flights on alaskaair.com — Earn 100% miles flown and 100% EQMs instead of booking on the partner airline's own site.
2. Use the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card — Triple miles on all alaskaair.com purchases, including partner bookings, creates outsized earning potential.
3. Time redemptions around Global Getaways — Watch for quarterly promotions offering up to 50% off international award flights and plan your travel windows accordingly.
4. Explore the full 500+ destination network — Don't limit yourself to Alaska-operated routes; the oneworld and partner network opens up destinations across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
5. Study the new streamlined award charts — Understanding the updated redemption rates helps you identify sweet spots and avoid overpaying in miles for premium-cabin travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book British Airways flights on alaskaair.com?

Yes. As of June 18, 2024, Alaska Airlines guests can purchase British Airways nonstop flights to London Heathrow directly on alaskaair.com from gateway cities including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, and New York JFK.

Do I earn Mileage Plan miles when booking partner flights on alaskaair.com?

Yes. When you book eligible partner flights directly through alaskaair.com, you earn 100% of miles flown and 100% elite qualifying miles (EQMs) credited to your Mileage Plan account.

What is the Global Getaways promotion?

Global Getaways is a quarterly promotion launched by Alaska Airlines on April 3, 2024. It offers Mileage Plan members up to 50% savings on award redemptions to select international destinations, making it one of the most significant discount opportunities for international award travel in the Mileage Plan program.

Does the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card earn bonus miles on partner flights?

Yes. All flights purchased on alaskaair.com with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card earn triple miles, including flights operated by partner airlines like British Airways.

How many destinations can I access through alaskaair.com with partner airlines?

Through alaskaair.com, you can access flights to more than 500 destinations across 24 oneworld and additional global partner airlines, making it a comprehensive platform for both domestic and international travel planning.

Conclusion

Alaska Airlines is making a compelling case that its Mileage Plan and booking platform deserve serious consideration for international travel — not just West Coast domestic routes. The ability to book British Airways nonstop flights to London Heathrow directly on alaskaair.com, combined with full Mileage Plan earning and the Global Getaways discount promotion, creates a genuinely attractive value proposition for transatlantic travelers.

Whether you're planning a first trip to London or looking for a smarter way to use accumulated miles for fall international travel, now is an excellent time to explore what Alaska Airlines has built. The streamlined award charts, expanded partner network, and triple-mile earning on the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card all point in the same direction: Alaska is investing seriously in becoming a go-to platform for global travel, not just a regional carrier.