7 Awesome Alaska Awards w/Free Stopovers & How to Book Them

I'm a big fan of Alaska miles, because of the free stopovers on one way awards and great mix of partners from multiple alliances.
Alaska Mileage Plan Basics
Before we get into potential redemptions and stopover destinations, let's go over some basics about the program.

Partners

Alaska has a varied array of oneworld, SkyTeam, and non-allied airline partners:

Here are the award charts for flying Alaska and its partners.

LATAM and Cathay Pacific award space cannot be found on alaskaair.com. Search with British Airways award search engine instead.

Change to United Free One Way Rules

You can no longer tack on an Excursionist perk, the essentially free segment within one region that United gives you on a "roundtrip", to the end of an itinerary any more.

New United Free One Way Rules as of October 2016

Edited 12/19/16 because of this change.

United Free One Ways are now more powerful than ever. A few weeks ago, United tried to cripple free one ways, but has unintentionally made the new rule that you can add a free one way almost anywhere in the world onto your international awards.

First, a short history lesson.

On October 6, 2016, United drastically changed its stopover rules. Before you could basically book any three one way awards as a "roundtrip award," using your stopover to tack on a free one way or to make a Three One Ways award.

United Guts Free Stopover Rules October 6 and Other Changes

United is removing round-the-world awards, Free One Way awards, and Three One Ways awards on October 6, 2016. That means you have just five more days to book Free One Way awards and Three One Ways awards! You will still be able to book simple stopover awards under the new name "Excursionist Perk."

In addition to those negative changes, we get some positive and mixed changes.

Alaska Airlines Miles Can Book Some Off Peak American Airlines Awards at Off Peak Prices

American Airlines off peak awards are one of the best deals with miles. At the moment, for between two and seven months a year, American Airlines miles can book discounted economy awards from the United States to (one way price):

Mexico: 12,500 miles
Caribbean: 12,500 miles
Central America and Northern South America: 15,000 miles
Hawaii: 17,500 miles
Southern South America: 20,000 miles
Europe: 20,000 miles
Korea and Japan: 25,000 miles

Read more about American Airlines off peak awards here.

Glitch Causing United Free One Ways or Cheap One Ways on Domestic Awards

Out & Out notices that some United awards are pricing cheaper than they should on united.com. It seems a glitch is causing domestic awards to allow free or cheap one ways.

For instance, look at this roundtrip from Los Angeles to Newark (by the way, this new flat bed service STILL has amazing award availability) with a one way from Los Angeles to Houston two months later.

This should price at 75,000 miles because all legs are in Saver First Class, which is 25,000 miles one way for a domestic award.

Your Three Best Stopover/Open Jaw/Free One Way Options on United Awards to Europe

Last month, I helped my friend book a bread-and-butter United award to Europe. She flew from Newark to Rome to spend a few days, continued to Madrid for a few days, then returned home to Newark. All of it was booked as one award for 60,000 United miles + $110 in taxes.

Source: gcmap.com

I had helped her book one of the three highest value United awards to Europe, the "Stopover (Complete Two City)" award.

Your Three Best Stopover/Open Jaw/Free One Way Options on United Awards to Europe

Last month, I helped my friend book a bread-and-butter United award to Europe. She flew from Newark to Rome to spend a few days, continued to Madrid for a few days, then returned home to Newark. All of it was booked as one award for 60,000 United miles + $110 in taxes.

Source: gcmap.com

I had helped her book one of the three highest value United awards to Europe, the "Stopover (Complete Two City)" award.

Current State of Free Oneways

This blog became famous because I was the first to articulate how to book free one ways on United and US Airways awards.

A free one way is a one way trip to or from your home airport that is tacked onto another award for no extra miles.

Tomorrow is Your Last Day to Book a Free Stopover or Free One Way on a Delta Award

December 31, 2014 is the last day to book a free stopover on a roundtrip Delta award. That means it is the last day to book a free one way on a Delta award.

January 1, 2015, stopovers will be eliminated on Delta awards. Free one ways require a stopover at your home airport, which means that free one ways will be eliminated.