Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Loyalty Program Review (2024)

Alaska Airlines Overview

Alaska Airlines Mileage Planis an award-winning program that is valued by travelers for a couple of reasons. Frequent flyer miles are earned based on miles flown rather than dollars spent, and premium cabin awards are redeemable on Alaska’s partner airlines such as Cathay Pacific and Emirates.

In fact, many travelers use Mileage Plan as a collection point for their travel with these partners—without even flying Alaska Airlines much!

Joining Mileage Plan

To join Mileage Plan,sign up for free.

How To Sign in to Your Mileage Plan Account

Sign in on the alaskaair.com homepage. You’ll need to enter your user ID and password.

Viewing Your Account Activity

You can see your mileage balance and elite progress on the overview and tier status page.

Here, you can view your trips, mileage activity, wallet, and discount/companion certificates.

Points Expiration

Mileage Plan miles expire after 24 months of inactivity.

Any miles earning or redeeming activity counts, so you have many options beyond taking flights. This includes using an Alaska Airlines credit card or using the Alaska Airlines shopping portalanddining program.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Program

Mileage Plan Elite Status

The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program has 3 status tiers:

  • MVP
  • MVP Gold
  • MVP Gold 75K
  • MVP Gold 100K

MVP:

  • Complimentary preferred seats
  • Instant complimentary first class upgrades on certain fare classes (Y, S, or Z)
  • Instant complimentary premium class upgrades on certain fare classes (Y, S, B, or Z)
  • Complimentary upgrades 48 hours from departure
  • 2 free checked bags
  • Priority check-in and boarding
  • 50% bonus miles on Alaska and Elite Qualifying Partners
  • Alaska Lounge discounted membership (50% off initiation, $25 off annual membership)
  • Oneworld Ruby status

MVP Gold:

All MVP benefits, plus:

  • Instant complimentary upgrades on more fare classes (Y, S, B, M, or Z)
  • Instant complimentary premium class upgrades on more fare classes (Y, S, B, M, H, Q, L, V, N, K, or Z)
  • Complimentary upgrades 72 hours from departure
  • Complimentary inflight premium beverage if not upgraded
  • 4 one-way companion upgrade certificates
  • Complimentary same-day flight changes
  • Standby and waitlist for full flights
  • Priority security
  • 100% bonus miles on Alaska and Elite Qualifying Partners
  • Alaska Lounge discounted membership (waived initiation, $50 off annual membership)
  • Oneworld Sapphire status

MVP Gold 75K:

All MVP Gold benefits, plus:

  • Instant complimentary upgrades on even more fare classes (Y, S, B, M, H, or Z)
  • Instant complimentary premium class upgrades on all fare classes
  • Complimentary upgrades 120 hours from departure
  • Complimentary inflight entertainment
  • 125% bonus miles on Alaska and Elite Qualifying Partners
  • Gift of 50,000 miles
  • Gift MVP status to a family member or friend
  • 4 annual Alaska Lounge day passes (now limited to member and companions traveling with the member)
  • Oneworld Emerald status

MVP Gold 100K:

All MVP Gold 75k benefits, plus:

  • Instant complimentary upgrades on even more fare classes (Y, S, B, M, H, or Z)
  • Instant complimentary premium class upgrades on all fare classes
  • Complimentary upgrades 120 hours from departure and highest waitlist priority
  • Complimentary inflight entertainment
  • 150% bonus miles on Alaska and Elite Qualifying Partners
  • Gift MVP status to a family member or friend
  • 4 annual Alaska Lounge day passes (now limited to member and companions traveling with the member)
  • Oneworld Emerald status

After flying 1 million miles on Alaska Airlines (excluding bonus miles and partner flights), travelers are granted lifetime MVP Gold status.

Lifetime MVP Gold members receivea complimentary meal or picnic pack whenever they fly in the main cabin.

Check Alaska’s site for thefull lineup of benefits.

Partner Elite Status Benefits

Alaska Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance, and its benefits with the Oneworld member airlines are as follows:

MVP:

  • Priority check-in
  • Access to preferred or pre-reserved seating
  • Priority on waitlists and when on standby
  • Access to Main Cabin Extra seats when flying American Airlines 24 hours before check-in
  • 1 complimentary checked bag when flying American Airlines

MVP Gold:

All MVP benefits plus:

  • Priority boarding
  • Access to Oneworld business class lounges
  • Extra baggage allowance
  • Priority baggage handling
  • Access to Main Cabin Extra seats when flying American Airlines at booking
  • 2 complimentary checked bags when flying American Airlines

MVP Gold 75K:

All MVP Gold benefits plus:

  • Access to Oneworld first class lounges
  • Fast track at security lanes
  • Access to Main Cabin Extra seats when flying American Airlines at booking
  • 3 complimentary checked bags when flying American Airlines
  • Complimentary access to domestic upgrades when flying American Airlines
  • Complimentary same-day flight changes with American Airlines
  • International upgrade certificates with American Airlines

MVP Gold 100K:

All MVP Gold 75k benefits plus:

  • Access to Oneworld first class lounges
  • Fast track at security lanes
  • Access to Main Cabin Extra seats when flying American Airlines at booking
  • 3 complimentary checked bags when flying American Airlines
  • Complimentary access to domestic upgrades when flying American Airlines
  • Complimentary same-day flight changes with American Airlines
  • International upgrade certificates with American Airlines

Additionally, Alaska Airlines elite members receive the following benefits with these non-Oneworld partners:

  • Complimentary access to Emirates business class lounge in Dubai (DXB)
  • Complimentary access to select Hainan lounges in Beijing (PEK), Xi’an (XIY), Haikou (HAK), Guangzhou (CAN), and Ürümqi (URC)
  • Complimentary access to Icelandair Saga lounges at Reykjavík (KEF)

Value of MVP Elite Status

Mileage Plan elite status is one of the highest-regarded programs among travelers for its mileage earning rates and benefits.

Compared to competitors, Mileage Plan is lucrative for earning miles by distance rather than spending.

Mileage Plan elite status is especially strong on companion benefits and customer service.

Earning Mileage Plan Elite Status

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan elite status is more straightforward than some of its competitors, and there is no dollar spend threshold.

You can earn status by any 1 of 3 ways:

  • Eligible miles on Alaska
  • Eligible miles on a combination of Alaska and qualifying partner airlines (all airline partners except Ravn)
  • Segments flown on a combination of Alaska and qualifying partner airlines (all airline partners except Ravn)

Eligible miles include class of service bonuses, but they exclude elite status bonuses.

Class of service bonuses range from 0% to 50% in economy and are 75% for first class. This means cheap first class fares can be a shortcut to earning elite status.

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Annual Qualification Period
January 1 to December 31
MVPMVP GoldMVP Gold 75KMVP Gold 100K
Miles on Alaska and Qualifying Partner Airlines20,00040,00075,000100,000
Segments on Alaska and Qualifying Partner Airlines306090140
Minimum Number of Segments Flown on Alaska to Earn/Retain Status24624

How To Earn Alaska Miles

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan boasts many partnerships that attract members who don’t even fly Alaska Airlines itself. For those who do fly Alaska Airlines, Mileage Plan is a rare U.S. airline program that continues to treat a mile flown as a mile earned.

Earning Miles by Flying Alaska Airlines

When flying Alaska Airlines, you’ll earn miles by flight distance and fare class. On short flights, travelers earn a minimum of 500 miles.

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CabinClasses of ServiceBase Mileage EarnedBonus Miles
First ClassF or P100%75%
Main (Economy)Y or S100%50%
Main (Economy)M or B100%25%
Main (Economy)H, Q, L, V, K, G, T, or R100%

Earning Miles by Flying Oneworld & Other Partners

Alaska Airlines has numerous airline partnerships for earning miles; check its partners page for earning rates by partner and flight:

  • Aer Lingus
  • Air Tahiti Nui
  • American Airlines
  • Bahamasair
  • British Airways
  • Cape Air
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Condor
  • EL AL
  • Emirates
  • Fiji Airways
  • Finnair
  • Hainan Airlines
  • Iberia
  • Icelandair
  • Japan Airlines
  • Kenmore Air
  • Korean Air
  • LATAM Airlines
  • Malaysia Airlines
  • Mokulele Airlines
  • Qantas
  • Qatar Airways
  • Ravn Alaska
  • Royal Air Maroc
  • Royal Jordanian
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Southern Airways Express
  • SriLankan Airlines
  • STARLUX Airlines

Earn Miles With Credit Cards

The Alaska Signature card (and its business version) both earn 3 miles per dollar on Alaska Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar everywhere else. The card includes an annual $99 + taxes companion certificate and a free checked bag.

For everyday spending, your best option is earning Marriott Bonvoy points with one of the Marriott Bonvoy credit cards. Every transfer of 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account earns you a bonus of 5,000 miles.

Earning Bonus Miles in Other Ways

We have step-by-step guides for the Alaska Airlines Mileage Planshopping portalanddining program, which can both earn you quick bonus points.

Plus, there are other retail and travel partners that earn miles. See our article on the best ways to earn lots of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles for more.

Branded and Partnered Credit Cards

There are several credit cards that can help you quickly collect Alaska miles to redeem for some amazing flights.

Alaska Airlines Credit Cards

Bank of America’s co-branded cards with Alaska Airlines allow you to earn Mileage Plan miles directly:

  • Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card
  • Alaska Airlines Visa® Business Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

While earning Alaska miles directly might seem like the best way to go, we’d actually suggest considering Marriott Bonvoy points. Every chunk of 60,000 points you transfer to Alaska Airlines earns you a bonus of 5,000 Alaska miles.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Loyalty Program Review (4)

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

30,000 points

$0

21.49%–28.49% Variable

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Pros

  • Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
  • 2x points per $1 on travel purchases
  • 15 Elite Night Credits each year (automatically gives you Silver Elite status)

Cons

  • Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
  • Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier

Read Full Review

  • Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase®!
  • Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
  • 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 21.49%–28.49% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees:None

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Marriott Bonvoy

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Loyalty Program Review (5)

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.

Earn 3 Free Nights

$1,050

$95

21.49%–28.49% Variable

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

Pros

  • Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
  • Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
  • Automatic Silver Elite Status

Cons

  • $95annual fee
  • Marriott Silver Elite Status is the lowest status tier

Read Full Review

  • Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
  • Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
  • Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
  • 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
  • Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
  • Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 21.49%–28.49% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees:None

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Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Learn More

(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved withno credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

85,000 points

$595

$250

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

Pros

  • 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
  • 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X points)
  • 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

  • $250 annual fee(rates and fees)
  • Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit

Read Full Review

  • Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
  • Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
  • Marriott Bonvoy 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit, available for Qualifying Rates.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
  • Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees:None

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Learn More

(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved withno credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

95,000 bonus points

$665

$650

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Cardis a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros

  • 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoyprogram
  • 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
  • 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

  • Steep annual fee of $650 (rates and fees)
  • 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

Read Full Review

  • Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
  • With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
  • Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
  • $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
  • Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
  • With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
  • $650 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees:None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Other Hotel Partner Credit Cards

A few other hotel programs will let you transfer points to Alaska Airlines. However, this is almost always a poor use of hotel points.

Unless you are really in a bind, save your hotel points for award stays at your destination, where they’ll likely be worth more.

How To Redeem Alaska Miles

Alaska Airlines hasmultiple ways to redeem your milesonce you have earned them.

Awards on Alaska Airlines Flights

Alaska Airlines recently lowered the price of short-distance domestic flights. These are now as cheap as 5,000 miles one-way!

Award Levels for Travel on Alaska Airlines

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Within Contiguous U.S. & AlaskaMiles Required
Trips less than 700 miles
Main Cabin5,000 to 30,000
First Class15,000 to 40,000
Trips between 701 and 1,400 miles
Main Cabin7,500 to 30,000
First Class25,000 to 60,000
Trips between 1,401 and 2,100 miles
Main Cabin10,000 to 40,000
First Class25,000 to 60,000
Trips longer than 2,101 miles
Main Cabin12,500 to 50,000
First Class30,000 to 70,000

*Price ranges are all for one-way flights. The highest price in each range is a refundable award.

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Contiguous U.S./Alaska to MexicoMiles Required
Trips between 701 and 1,400 miles
Main Cabin10,000 to 35,000
First Class30,000 to 50,000
Trips between 1,401 and 2,100 miles
Main Cabin15,000 to 40,000
First Class30,000 to 60,000
Trips longer than 2,101 miles
Main Cabin17,500 to 50,000
First Class30,000 to 70,000

*Price ranges are all for one-way flights. The highest price in each range is a refundable award.

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Contiguous U.S./Alaska to HawaiiMiles Required
Main Cabin15,000 to 50,000
First Class40,000 to 80,000

*Price ranges are all for one-way flights. The highest price in each range is a refundable award.

Free Stopovers — Even on One-Ways!

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan allows free stopovers on awards, which is a benefit eliminated by almost all other airline programs. Even better, you get a free stopover on a one-way, or 2 on a round-trip booking!

First Class Upgrades

Within 24 hours of departure or at check-in, you can request an upgrade with miles or cash. Miles upgrades cost 15,000 miles regardless of trip distance. Cash upgrades can be better value for short flights:

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One-Way Trip DistanceUpgrade Price
0 to 1,250$50
1,251 to 2,500$100
2,501 to 3,750$150
3,751+$200

Money & Miles

Use miles for up to a 50% discount off Alaska Airlines coach airfare.

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Award TypeOne-WayRound-Trip
Money & Miles — 50% discount up to $10010,00010,000
Money & Miles — 50% discount up to $20020,00020,000

Hot Tip: You earn 100% of miles from Money & Miles awards!

Awards on Partner Airlines

Each Alaska Airlines partner has its own award chart. Only award routes listed on the chart can be booked.

To locate the pricing for each partner, head to the award charts page on the Alaska Airlines website, punch in your destinations, and you’ll see all the pricing for each available partner.

American Airlines:

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One-Way Trip DistanceCoachBusiness/First
Continental U.S. only12,50025,000

Other Airline Partner Awards:

Alaska Airlines has fantastic partner awards that are among the most sought-after by travelers. Each partner has its own award chart and available routes.

See our article on the best ways to redeem Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan for ideas.

Non-Flight Awards

Finally, miles can be used outside of the airline, including for magazine subscriptionsand other household and travel goods.

The information regarding the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card, and Alaska Airlines Visa® Business Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

The information regarding the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding Alaska Airlines Visa® Business Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Loyalty Program Review (2024)

FAQs

How good is the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan? ›

Rankings. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is ranked No. 1 in the Best Airline Rewards Programs. U.S. News evaluated 10 frequent flyer programs offered by airlines based in the United States across several indicators of excellence.

How much is 100,000 Alaska miles worth? ›

How much are 100,000 Alaska miles worth? Based on our analysis, 100,000 Alaska miles are worth about $1,400.

Does Alaska have a loyalty program? ›

Mileage Plan is Alaska's loyalty program for anyone who loves to travel. Earn miles with us, oneworld® Alliance member airlines and our Global Partners, experience award travel, and gain MVP® elite status sooner than you think. Best of all, Mileage Plan is free to join.

How many miles equals a free flight Alaska? ›

Normally, Alaska Airlines requires 25,000 miles for a one-way economy award ticket, 40,000 miles for a one-way business class award ticket, and 50,000 miles for a one-way first class award ticket. However, you may find most tickets will require more than this amount due to high demand.

How do I keep my Alaska Airlines miles from expiring? ›

Technically, Alaska Mileage Plan miles don't expire. However, if your Mileage Plan account is inactive for more than two years, Alaska will close your account and you'll forfeit all of your miles. If this happens to you, all is not lost. You have one year to reinstate your account without a charge.

Are travel loyalty programs worth it? ›

Points schemes look as if they save you money, but they can actually end up costing you more than you save because they tie you to certain airlines, meaning you don't shop around for the best deals. At best, they're just not that valuable.

Which airline has the largest loyalty program? ›

Summary. United MileagePlus has over 110 million members, making it the most popular loyalty program in the world. Delta SkyMiles is a close competitor, with 109 million members and the potential to surpass United. American Airlines' AAdvantage rounds out the US Big Three, with about 100 million members.

Is it worth signing up for airline rewards? ›

If you travel often or would like to travel more, earning frequent flyer miles or points with an airline and its participating partners can help you get free flights and enjoy such perks as airport lounge access, free checked bags and priority boarding.

Can I use Alaska miles on Delta? ›

SEATTLE, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alaska Airlines announced today that it has entered into a new partnership with Delta Air Lines that allows members of its Mileage Plan frequent flyer program to earn and redeem miles on Delta flights.

Can I cash out my Alaska miles? ›

Yes. If you have an excess of Alaska Airlines miles in your account, you can earn instant cash by selling your miles through our MilesBuyer trading platform. Your unused miles can help someone in need of a free seat on their next flight.

Can you convert Alaska miles to American? ›

Unfortunately, most airline programs don't allow transfers to other airline or hotel programs. So, no, you can't transfer miles from Alaska to American or from American to Alaska. However, travelers can redeem Alaska miles for flights on American and vice versa.

Can I transfer Alaska miles to Hawaiian? ›

A reciprocal frequent flyer agreement will allow members of Alaska's Mileage Plan and Hawaiian's HawaiianMiles program to earn mileage credits and be able to use awards across their respective route networks.

Which points can be transferred to Alaska Airlines? ›

You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 rate, and if you transfer at least 60,000 points, you will receive a bonus 5,000 miles, turning those 60,000 Bonvoy points into 25,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles.

Can you combine miles and cash on Alaska? ›

You can pay for your entire stay with miles or use a combination of miles and cash. Plus, Alaska Airlines credit cardholders can redeem using fewer miles.

Does Alaska Airlines have a good reputation? ›

With six points more than last year, Alaska Airlines is the best airline in the US in terms of customer satisfaction. That's a big improvement for the airline, which ranked sixth in 2022, and third in 2021.

Is buying miles worth it Alaska? ›

Is it worth buying Alaska Miles? Generally, no. Unless you have a specific redemption in mind that will net more value per mile than average, it's better to have cash than Alaska miles (or any airline miles). Even when Alaska runs promotional sales on purchased miles, it's still usually not worth it.

Which airline has most valuable miles? ›

But other airlines started catching up over the past three years. In 2022, Southwest, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and JetBlue all tied for the most valuable miles. And this year, Southwest has finally lost its crown to … American Airlines.

What does 40000 miles get you on Alaska? ›

Alaska Airlines: $560

The cost to redeem your Alaska miles will depend on your carrier; you'll find different rates depending on whether you're flying Alaska or one of its partners. Overall, we value Alaska Mileage Plan miles at 1.4 cents each, which means 40,000 miles will be equal to $560 worth of travel.

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