This comes with fewer benefits and rewards, but also carries a lower annual fee. Miles earned with a co-branded credit card don't count toward elite status, Alaska Airlines confirmed in an email. If you're looking to earn even more miles, Alaska Airlines offers:. Referral bonuses: 5, bonus miles for each friend or family member approved for an Alaska Airlines consumer credit card not the business credit card. Shopping portal: Earn extra miles through select merchants when you shop through the Mileage Plan shopping portal.
Seasonal promotions: These limited-time offers help you earn more miles after meeting the spending requirements. Alaska sells miles, but they cost upward of 2 cents apiece. The secret to getting amazing value out of Alaska miles? Think international. Many of its partner airlines also offer posh first-class accommodations for a relative bargain when paying in miles, compared with what it would cost in cash.
Alaska Airlines sets award ticket fares according to class of service and the length of your trip in miles. Refundable tickets are more costly than nonrefundable tickets. For flights within the contiguous U. You can see how much your award ticket might cost for your particular trip by using Alaska Airlines' award chart tool. Because the award price of a flight depends on the region you're flying to and from , you get more for each mile when using rewards on otherwise expensive trips.
That often means booking international travel with an Alaska Airlines partner. Finding available award seats isn't always easy, but if you can snag one, it can be well worth the effort. Some of the especially valuable possibilities include:. This Hong Kong-based airline offers a super-luxurious first-class experience, complete with menus developed by Michelin-star chefs and spacious seats. Instead, you have to book over the phone.
This airline flies all over the world and typically offers relatively reasonable award rates — especially for folks traveling in business and first class. Say, for example, you snagged a first-class round-trip nonrefundable flight from contiguous U. With Alaska Airlines miles, you can fly from the contiguous U.
On certain routes, redeeming Alaska Airlines miles just isn't the best option. In particular, here are some redemption options that aren't all that great. To avoid wasting points, divide the dollar cost of the flight less the amount of taxes and fees you would pay if you booked with miles by the mile cost. While the Money and Miles payment option, which lets you pay partially with miles, partially with money, promises convenience, it also offers relatively poor value.
For flights in the contiguous U. The flexibility is nice, but you can do better. British Airways has reasonably priced award travel fares in most cases, but it tends to tack on large fuel surcharges for certain routes. These can effectively tank the value of your miles. If you're planning to redeem with British Airways, be sure to watch out for this.
If the fees are excessive, it might make sense to book the trip with another partner. If you frequently fly with Alaska Airlines and its partners, you may qualify for elite status. This gets you access to a cornucopia of goodies, whether you fly with Alaska Airlines or other eligible partners.
American Airlines' elite status comes in three levels:. The higher your status, the more benefits you unlock. More on these below.
Overall, Alaska's elite status is quite generous and relatively easy to attain because of the airline's distance-based earning system. It also offers "elite leave" for new parents, who often have to put traveling on hold as they care for a newborn. To avoid seeing their elite status go to waste, new parents who show proof of pregnancy or parental leave can receive an extra year of elite status. If you're an elite member welcoming a new baby, this valuable benefit is definitely worth applying for.
The loyalty program's biggest drawback: Elite members don't get free lounge access, as they would in many other programs. However, they can purchase discounted lounge access. Starting March 31, , Alaska elites receive reciprocal Oneworld status, which offers benefits when flying on Oneworld partner airlines see below.
Alaska MVP Gold elites receive Oneworld Sapphire status: This offers seat selection benefits, business class lounge access, priority boarding and baggage allowance when flying with Oneworld airlines. Alaska MVP Gold 75k elites receive Oneworld Emerald status: This offers seat selection benefits, first and business class lounge access, priority boarding, expedited security, and baggage allowance when flying with Oneworld airlines.
Loyal flyers on Alaska Airlines and its affiliates and partners can snag free upgrades and other perks:. For you and a companion:. You can get similar benefits on partner airlines, but the details vary. Check Alaska Airlines' website for more information. You can earn Alaska Airlines elite status by collecting a certain amount of elite-qualifying miles or flying a certain number of segments within a calendar year.
Miles earned by flying on Alaska Airlines and partner airlines, when you book with your Mileage Plan number. Bonuses earned from class of service. Elite-qualifying miles do not include:. Miles earned on co-branded credit cards. The requirements are listed in the table below.
Compare that to 60, miles for Royal Air Maroc in economy and , miles for business class. For example, American Airlines AAdvantage charges 22, to 30, miles for economy awards between North America and Europe including Morocco and 57, miles for business class. Meanwhile, Etihad Guest charges a flat 22, miles in economy class and just 44, miles in business class for all nonstop Royal Air Maroc flights over 2, miles in length. Related: Fly to Morocco in business class for just 44, Etihad miles.
Unfortunately, this news only strengthens my suspicions that a devaluation of the Mileage Plan program is coming. For instance, Iberia awards between the U. Similarly, the redemption rates for Qatar Airways awards are higher than through other programs, like AAdvantage. Another issue is that many charts now only show starting award prices, meaning Alaska could devalue redemption rates without notice.
Alaska started offering mileage earning on Royal Air Maroc as soon as it joined the Oneworld alliance. Unfortunately, the redemption rates are not attractive and could suggest a devaluation is coming to the program.
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Please view our advertising policy page for more information. The contiguous U. Alaska partners with an array of carriers across all three major alliances and airlines worldwide. In addition to airlines, Alaska partners with several hotel, car rental and everyday shopping and dining programs.
Earn miles per qualifying stay at IHG properties outside of the U. Earn 4 miles per dollar and save on base rates. Earn up to 2, miles per rental at participating locations in the U. Earn 1, bonus miles with your first meal after joining Mileage Plan Dining and earn 5 miles for every dollar you spend at over 10, restaurants.
One-way awards from the U. Alaska Mileage Plan miles can also be a great way to get to Fiji. One-way awards on Fiji Airways cost 40, miles in economy or 55, miles in business class. Premium-cabin award space on Fiji Airways can be difficult to find. Related: The best sweet spots with Alaska Mileage Plan.
Here are some of the things you should know about Alaska Mileage Plan before deciding whether you want to book a ticket on a partner airline. Call to find space and book tickets.
Typically anything you see as available to Oneworld partners on AA. Also, be wary of phantom space with Cathay Pacific. You may want to search segment by segment to find award space. Only the flights listed between designated regions as outlined in the interactive award chart tool on Alaskaair.
For example, Qantas flies from Australia to the Middle East, but you cannot book that flight with Alaska miles. Make sure you read the fine print at the bottom of the award charts for all terms and conditions — including lap child travel restrictions and rules. Before these changes, you could book award flights within Asia with Alaska miles and add a free stopover, including one-way award tickets.
Unfortunately, all award tickets must be operated by a single partner. That said, you can add Alaska Airlines flights to a partner itinerary, making it easier to position to and from the West Coast to connect to a partner flight.
These are some of the most difficult to earn, but there are four main ways to go about earning Alaska miles:. However, tickets booked into higher fare classes earn bonus miles. Also, those with Alaska Airlines elite status will earn additional bonuses on their Alaska-operated tickets.
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