The most generous loyalty program in the industry, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, has come up with new ways to earn more rewards. At the beginning of next year, the airline will introduce upgraded benefits, choices, and improvements in the program to make it quicker for everyone to achieve elite status. While the member uses new ways to earn elite-qualifying miles, they can also choose the perk they prefer the most.
Members will soon have access to all-enhanced perks and ways to earn miles, and this is just the beginning. The airline is also working on a new loyalty platform with Hawaiian Airlines, promising more benefits in the year to come.
Every Member is Capable of Reaching Milestone
When the member of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plus reaches different EQM milestones between elite status levels in 2025, they will be able to select from a variety of benefits as they earn elite-qualifying miles (EQMs). These benefits are available to all Mileage Plan members, not only those with elite status, as milestones start at just 10,000 EQMs.
Each member can select the bonus they want the most. Benefits include bonus miles, lounge access, the ability to score an upgraded cabin for a trip, rollover EQMs, and access to special events and unique experiences.
Selectable Rewards at Different Milestones
Alaska Airlines has added new milestones and methods for achieving elite status. Plus, the rewards that you get after reaching every milestone are selectable. For instance, when you reach a specific milestone, the airline will give you five to six rewards to choose from. You will have the power to select the one you desire; it will not be allotted to you randomly. Upgrade vouchers, lounge access, bonus points, free WiFi during flights, and more. You make the decision. In addition to this, the airline will be introducing new ways to redeem these rewards globally for enhanced experience.
By implementing selectable incentives at various stages of your journey, the airline is making changes to your path to elite rank. Due to this, some perks have moved to different stages, but don’t worry, they aren’t that far. Check out the table below for a better understanding.
Elite-qualifying Miles | Rewards |
10,000 Milestone | Pick any of these perks:750 extra miles Get a free dinner in advance of your flight. A single (1) free Wi-Fi pass Try being an MVP on a trip. Double the miles with non-air partners. Upgrade your upcoming Avis rental. |
MVP/ Oneworld Ruby | The main advantages are as follows: Get the extra mile at a rate of 25% on all flights, including those with their partners. Take advantage of exclusive day-of-travel perks, such as Alaska Airlines First Class and Premium Class upgrades when available. From late 2025: if there are avoidable upgrades, companions on the same plane with the same reservation will be eligible for premium cabin upgrades. Oneworld Ruby benefits, such as First Class and Main Cabin Extra on a partner airline, when available. Additional perks with the airline’s non-air partners, including Clear Plus membership discounts and matching status to Avis Preferred Plus. |
30,000 Milestone | Pick any of these perks:2,500 extra miles $25 off on Alaska flights in the future. Win four Wi-Fi passes for a trip. Get to try MVP Gold Status for a trip. $100 off a membership at Alaska Lounge. |
MVP Gold/ Oneworld Sapphire | The main advantages are as follows On every flight, including those with partners, earn 50% bonus points. Elevate your level even higher with Oneworld Sapphire benefits, such as access to Business Class lounges while flying on an Oneworld member airline to locations outside of the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. When flying in the main cabin, you will receive a complimentary premium drink or chocolate. Waitlist and standby for all flights Free same-day flight adjustments. Additional perks with the airline’s non-air partners include discounts on a Clear Plus membership and matching status to Avis Preferred Plus Status. |
55,000 Milestone | Pick any two of these perks: 5,000 extra miles 10,000 miles off a redemption for Extras. Gift MV for a vacation. One complimentary day pass to the lounge. Two certificates of upgrades. |
MVP Gold 75,000/ oneworld Emerald | The main advantages are as follows: On every flight, including those with partner airlines, earn 100% extra points. Free Premium Class upgrades are available at the time of purchase for all Main Cabin fares (saver excluded). Enhance your flying experience with Oneworld Emerald benefits such as access to Business and First Class lounges while flying on an Oneworld member airline to a location outside of the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. When flying in the main cabin, you will receive a complimentary premium drink or chocolate. Additional perks with the airline’s non-air partners include discounts on a Clear Plus membership and matching status to Avis Preferred Plus Status. |
85,000 Milestone | Pick any two of these perks: 15,000 more miles 25,000 miles off a redemption for Extras. Two free passes to the lounge. Two certificates of upgrade. Gift MVP Gold status for a trip. Make a nomination for MVP status. Rolling over 10,000 elite-qualifying miles. |
MVP Gold 100k/ oneworld | The main advantages are as follows: Increase your bonus miles by 150% on any flights, including those with airline partners. Upgrade your experience with Onworld Emerald benefits, such as access to Business Class and First Class lounges. While flying on an Oneworld member airline to locations outside the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. When flying in the main cabin, you will receive a complimentary premium drink or chocolate. Additional perks with Alaska Airlines non-air partners include discounts on a Clear Plus membership and matching status to Avis President’s Club Status. The benefit of 100k choice: choose one of these benefits 50,000 more miles 75,000 miles off a redemption for Extras. Membership in Laska Lounge+Free WiFi is available on all flights. Four certificates of upgrades. Make a nomination for MVP Gold status. |
150k Milestone | Pick any two of these perks: 15,000 more miles 25,000 off a redemption for Extras. Two free passes to the lounge. Two certificates of upgrade. Rolling over 10,000 elite-qualifying miles. |
200k Milestone | Pick any two of these perks: 15,000 more miles 25,000 off a redemption for Extras. Two free passes to the lounge. Two certificates of upgrade. Rolling over 10,000 elite-qualifying miles. |
250k Milestone | Pick any two of these perks: 15,000 more miles 25,000 off a redemption for Extras. Two free passes to the lounge. Two certificates of upgrade. Rolling over 10,000 elite-qualifying miles. |
Touch Elite Status with New Ways to Earn EQMs
Compared to other airlines, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members attain elite status more quickly, especially with recent changes. The airline is now offering even more opportunities to earn significant EQMs both on the ground and in the air, which will grant you access to benefits and status.
Just remember that when members purchase flights on the airline’s app or at alaskaair.com, they receive at least 100% of their flown miles, which are counted as EQMs, with Alaska, Hawaiian, and the airline’s international partners. The following are the new methods the guests can earn EQMs as of January 1, 2025:
Redeeming Award Travel
Exploring the world is becoming increasingly fulfilling. Depending on the distance traveler, passengers who take part in reward trips with the airline or the international partners will earn elite qualifying miles. On or after January 1, 2025, all award flights will earn EQMs. Starting this spring, Alaska Airlines will start uploading those EQMs to members’ accounts.
For instance, a guest uses a round-trip reward ticket that travels 9,538 miles from Seattle to Tokyo-Narita. That amounts to 9,358 EQMs, which is a significant step toward reaching the next milestone or elite rank.
The Alaska Airlines Visa Card
For every $3 spent on eligible purchases, Alaska Airlines Visa cardholders will receive one elite-qualifying mile in 2025, up to 30,000 EQMs. There is no need to sign up: the airline will handle it.
Earn More Points with Alaska’s Everyday Travel Partner
For every 3,000 miles, a member can earn 1,000 EQMs with the airline’s expanding list of qualified non-airline partners. Just consider this: you can reach elite status more quickly with all the Mileage Plan miles you have earned from Lyft rides.
Rollover EQMs
You can now roll over 10,00 EQMs to the next year after reaching the 85,000 elite-qualifying miles milestone. This gives you a head start on maintaining your status. In short, you get to carry over your earned miles to the next year, rewarding loyal members by allowing them to keep some of their hard-earned miles for future use.
Earn Alaska Miles with Global Partners
Alaska Airlines is honored to associate with their fellow Oneworld Alliance members, which are among the thirty domestic and international airlines. The airline can take its guests to over 1,200 locations worldwide. They are simplifying the process of earning and using miles with partner airlines in 2025:
Making it easier to earn miles with international partners
Members always receive 100% of the miles they fly when they book a flight with one of the airline’s 23 direct partners at alaskaair.com. These flights are for other airlines that you can purchase directly on the Alaska Airlines’ website or through its mobile application. At the beginning of the upcoming year, the earning miles increase even further for travel in premium cabins on any of the airline partners. In Premium Economy, the mileage incentive is 150% of the distance flown. Meanwhile, it is 250% in Business Class cabins and 350% in First Class.
Multi-carrier redemptions are available
Members will be able to explore the world by mixing and matching with Alaska Airlines international partners starting this winter. For instance, to provide the perfect vacation to Rome, the airline can combine your journey with two different partner airlines. Alaska Airlines will begin the multi-carrier redemptions on flights between the United States and Europe; after that, they are planning to expand to additional geographies and partners.
Use Miles for special events
In 2025, Alaska Airlines will provide members access to Extras, which will allow them to use miles for special events and experiences. Members will get the chance to spend their collected miles on various events, such as concerts, sporting events, and other exclusive experiences. This gives a new dimension to how members can use their miles rather than just purchasing and upgrading tickets.
Discover the world with fewer miles
In 2025, the airline will launch more Global Getaways to foreign locations. You may get more for less with these seasonal award redemption deals. With such getaways, the airline has assisted its members in saving around 50 million miles since last April.
Get Upgrades for Your Loyalty to Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is enhancing its Mileage Plan to improve the experience of its members and their travel partners. Therefore, later in 2025, the airline will start prioritizing the upgrade waiting list based on a member’s recent and long-term loyalty. This update reflects the airline’s commitment to up-leveling customer satisfaction and recognizing the value of loyal members in its Mileage Plan.
- The highest priority in their tier will go to Million Milers. Following a Million Milers, the guest will be ranked according to their elite-qualifying mile totals rather than their ticket price.
- As a result of these modifications, guests who are traveling on the same reservation as an MVP member will now be eligible for free upgrades, subject to availability.
- When confirmable upgrade space becomes available for their flight, members who have upgrade certificates will also be the first to know. To ensure they don’t miss it, the airline will also notify them.
Learn More About Alaska Mileage Plan
Alaska Airlines has partnered with other carriers, such as British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, etc.
50,000 miles on Alaska Airlines are worth about $650.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is a loyalty program for travelers who often travel by air. This is considered the most rewarding program in the aviation industry.
Miles earned in the Mileage Plan does not have any expiration date. So, they may remain in your account.
Yes. Alaska Airlines announced that passengers can earn miles on Delta flights at the time of declaring its partnership with the same airline.
Yes. Passengers can use their Alaska Mileage Plan miles to purchase flights to someone else. However, terms and conditions may apply. Therefore, it is best to check the airline policies first.
The minimum age to sign up for the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is 13. Children below this age are not allowed to enroll.