Airline Miles Redemption Update - The Airline Responds

Just under the 48-hour deadline, I received the following reply from the Alaska Partner Desk:

Dear Mr. Gilroy,

Thank you for using Alaskaair.com Partner reservations. Unfortunately, there are no award seats available for your desired destination and dates of travel, on any of our partner airlines. If you have additional dates or destinations please submit a new request at your earliest convenience or contact the Partner Desk directly at 1-800-307-6912. Please be advised that the only date I saw available for the return was on September 17th, I did check up to October 3rd. By chance have you tried contacting Qantas Airways? They are our only partner that you actually have to contact directly to book award travel using your Alaska Miles. Just in case here is there number 1-800-227-4500. Please let them know you will be using your Alaska Airlines miles. If you are an MVP/MVP Gold, please use the Partner Desk phone number on the back of your MVP card.

If you are requesting space for domestic travel on American Airlines you can also shop and book award seats online at Alaskaair.com. Click on Mileage Plan at the top of the page, then select Award Reservations.

Please do not reply to this email as we can only process new award requests at this Web address.

Thank you,
Bobbie L.
Alaska Partner Desk

Things to note:
1. I removed the full name of Bobbie L. because I don't know who Bobbie is but I'd doubt she (I assume the feminine gender because of the "ie" ending) would appreciate her name splashed over the internet when the poor thing is just doing her job.

2. I have previously contacted Qantas Airways and they are also lacking in available seats, which works just fine as we really want to fly with Cathay Pacific after reading the Forbes review of their airline service.

This means, of course that the plight of trying to redeem airline miles continues. The next step is to take Bobbie's advice and call the number on the back of Darr's Alaska Airlines MVP/Gold card. I shall return with notes on that assuming I don't get frustrated and hang up while waiting to speak with a live person.