Fiji, Maldives & More: Book Alaska’s 1st Global Gateways Sale from 30K Miles RT

If you've got your sights set on a beach vacation later this year, whether in the Caribbean or the other side of the world, Alaska Airlines is running an exciting award sale that can get you there for even fewer miles.
Alaska unveiled its first-ever Global Gateways award sale Wednesday, slashing award rates – how many miles you need to book a flight – to six beach destinations: The Bahamas (NAS), Fiji (NAN), Tahiti (PPT), Zanzibar (ZNZ), Bali (DPS), and the Maldives (MLE). Now through the end of the month, you can book flights for next fall on Alaska or partner airlines for as few as 15,000 Alaska miles one-way – or 30,000 miles roundtrip.
 

 
The sale runs through April for travel this September through November. And we're not talking about just a few dates you can book here and there. You can find these award rates available flying anywhere Alaska flies on nearly every date during the sale period.
Alaska says it will offer these Global Gateways promotions quarterly, which is a boon for travelers with Alaska miles. And with Bilt Rewards recently adding Alaska as a transfer partner , there are more ways to earn them now, too.
 
Alaska Global Gateways Sale Details
Booking window : April 3-30
Travel window : September – November 2024
Destinations: Nassau, Bahamas (NAS); Nadi, Fiji (NAN); Papeete, Tahiti (PPT); Zanzibar (ZNZ); Bali, Indonesia (DPS); Male, Maldives (MLE).
How to Book
First, visit the Global Gateways sale page and select the destination you're interested in visiting.
From there type in your desired home airport and check the box for “Flexible Dates” to see the lowest fares. The exact dates you put in don't matter that much, just make sure they're in the sale period (September to November) so you can see a calendar view with the best fares.
 

 
From there, you'll see a full calendar of search results which you can change using the month-by-month drop-down box.
 

 
From there, you simply choose your desired dates, pick your desired flights, and book the flights directly through the Alaska website.
If you run into issues pulling up the calendar, try searching for one-way flights. When you book award tickets through Alaska, there is no downside to booking one-way awards. The change and cancelation policies are the same and you don't get a discount for booking roundtrip.
 
The Bahamas for 30K Miles RT
While the best value in this sale is for long-haul beach destinations, the Bahamas still beckons right off the coast of Florida, and it will only cost you 15,000 Alaska miles each way to get there.
 

 
These fares aren't the most competitive we've seen for flights to the Bahamas. In some cases, American Airlines has offered similar flights for just 10,000  to 15,000 miles roundtrip, making that a much more economical use of points. But if you only have Alaska miles, this is still a solid way to use them.
Plus, many of these fares were booking into domestic first class on the short leg between Miami (MIA) and Nassau (NAS), too, which is a nice little treat to cap off your journey, too.
 
Fiji for 40K Miles RT
The islands of Fiji are about as remote as it gets in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but thanks to Fiji Airways and its partnership with Alaska, just 40,000 Alaska miles could get you there and back this year.
 

 
These flights from Seattle (SEA), connecting on Alaska to Fiji Airways' nonstop from San Francisco (SFO) still clock in only at 40,000. You won't be paying extra for connections on this sale!
 
Tahiti for 40K Miles RT
A visit to Tahiti is one of the easiest Pacific island retreats you can book from the U.S., thanks, in part, to airlines like Air Tahiti Nui.
Alaska's partnership with Air Tahiti Nui can lead to big savings, including these nonstop economy flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Papeete (PPT) for just 40,000 miles roundtrip.
 

 
Once you're there, we highly recommend booking the Conrad Bora Bora with some Hilton points for a luxurious stay on the islands of French Polynesia. If you're transiting back through Papeete on your way in or out of French Polynesia, the Intercontinental Tahiti might be the best airport hotel in the world, too.
 
Zanzibar for 60K Miles RT
The semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar is a unique gem of the Indian Ocean. Just off the coast of Tanzania, the island is technically a part of the African nation but has its own unique flavor and style. Plus, it's home to some impossibly beautiful beaches and so much more.
Flights to Zanzibar aren't always easy to find – with cash prices creeping north of $1,200 in many cases. But now, just 60,000 Alaska miles will get you there and back on one of the best airlines in the world: Qatar Airways.
 

 
With many of these Qatar routes, there are some tricky connections through Doha (DOH) that could lead to longer layovers. But Doha has some beautiful hotels right inside the airport to make those layovers a breeze if you so choose.
While in Zanzibar, use a few World of Hyatt points to stay at the Park Hyatt Zanzibar . The glamorous seaside property helped make my honeymoon a few years ago incredibly special. I still think about the service (and the breakfast!).
 
Maldives for 60K Miles RT
The Maldives are an expensive place to visit, so any savings you can get on flights can help in the long run. That's another reason why this sale is so valuable.
Just 60,000 Alaska miles will get you to the Maldives (MLE) and back this fall.
 

 
Bali for 60K Miles RT
Bali, Indonesia (DPS) can also be a hard place to find cheap flights, but by booking during this award sale, just 60,000 Alaska miles roundtrip will get the job done.
 

 
Even on a 2-stop itinerary like this one, you only have to pay 30,000 miles each way. In my experience, the roundtrip searches didn't quite work on Alaska's site, but if you search and book one-way flights to Bali, you can find fares like this with no problem.
 
Bottom Line
Alaska's first Global Gateways sale offers huge savings on Alaska MileagePlan mile flights this fall.
If you want to fly to the Bahamas, Fiji, Tahiti, Zanzibar, Bali, or the Maldives this fall, use your Alaska miles to book flights during this sale to save big.