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Alaska just unveiled an overhaul to its Mileage Plan mileage program for 2025. While elite status tiers and requirements are staying intact, how you'll earn Mileage Plan elite status and the benefits of that status are all being overhauled.
Buckle up. There are a bunch of changes to cover — both positive and negative.
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Earn Mileage Plan Elite Status Credits on Award Travel
Starting January 1, 2025, Mileage Plan members will begin earning Elite-Qualifying Miles on Mileage Plan award travel. Elite earnings are simple: You'll earn 1 EQM for every mile flown on award travel.
This move follows in the footsteps of Virgin Atlantic, Delta, and United — all of which offer elite-status credits for award travel on their own flights. However, Alaska is taking this a step further by also offering elite status earnings when you redeem Mileage Plan miles for award flights on partners.
That means you can earn toward Alaska elite status when redeeming 4,500 Alaska miles for short-haul American Airlines flights or even Qatar Qsuite for a trip to the Maldives.
This is excellent news, and not just for travelers who already have Mileage Plan miles. Travelers can transfer Amex points to HawaiianMiles and then transfer HawaiianMiles to Mileage Plan miles. That means anyone with an Amex Membership Rewards balance can earn toward Oneworld elite status by redeeming points through Alaska. And there's no shortage of Alaska Mileage Plan sweet spots.
Earn Elite Qualifying Miles on Card Spending, Other Partners
Starting January 1, 2025, Mileage Plan members will earn EQMs through Alaska credit card spending and when earning miles through other Mileage Plan partners.
Generally speaking, you'll earn 1 EQM per 3 miles earned through these methods. However, there are key differences in how this will work.
Earn Alaska EQMs on card spending
Effective January 1, 2025, Alaska cardholders will earn 1 EQM for every $3 spent on purchases made with Alaska credit cards.
However, Alaska doesn't seem to want elite travelers who've never stepped on a plane (sideburn: American Airlines). So, Alaska is capping the number of EQMs earned through credit cards at 30,000 EQMs. You'd need to spend $90k in a calendar year to hit this cap.
Alaska makes it clear that you'll only earn EQMs on card spending. That means any credit card sign-up bonus you earn won't help you toward this goal — although you'll earn EQMs when you redeem those miles for award travel.
- LIMITED TIME ONLINE OFFER-60,000 Bonus Miles + a 30% Flight Discount Code!
- Receive a 30% flight discount code for a qualifying future flight after opening your new account. Additionally, earn 60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
- Get Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year. Valid on all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com.
- Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases. And earn unlimited 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. And, your miles don't expire on active accounts.
- Earn a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account.
- Free checked bag and enjoy priority boarding for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation, when you pay for your flight with your card - Also available for authorized users when they book a reservation too!
- With oneworld® Alliance member airlines and Alaska's Global Partners, Alaska has expanded their global reach to over 1,000 destinations worldwide bringing more airline partners and more ways to earn and redeem miles.
- Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a low $95 annual fee.
- This online only offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
- Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
- Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases
- Earn unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Note that Mileage Plan members can currently earn Alaska EQMs through credit card spending through a promotion running through December 31, 2024. Cardholders will earn 4,000 EQMs for every $10,000 spent on an Alaska card — up to 20k bonus EQMs.
How you'll earn Alaska EQMs on other partners
Travelers will earn 1,000 Elite-Qualifying Miles for every 3,000 Mileage Plan miles earned through other partners. That unlocks earning toward elite status with Alaska's car rental and hotel partners, shopping through the Mileage Plan shopping portal, dining through Mileage Plan Dining, or even earning miles from a Lyft ride.
Unlike with American Airlines' Loyalty Points, Alaska hasn't carved out an exception for bonus miles. That means you should be able to earn toward this EQM bonus when earning bonuses, such as a dining program new member bonus.
New Alaska Mileage Plan Milestone Rewards
Milestone rewards seem all the rage with mileage programs, and Alaksa is getting in on the action. Mileage Plan members will begin earning bonuses at 10,000 Elite Qualifying Miles — half of the requirement for entry-level MVP status. And frequent travelers will continue to be rewarded all the way up to 250,000 EQMs.
Here are the new Milestone Rewards you'll earn between Mileage Plan elite status tiers:
10,000 EQMs
Pick one perk from the following list:
- 750 bonus miles
- Pre-order a complimentary meal for your flight
- One (1) complimentary Wi-Fi pass
- Try MVP status for a trip
- Earn double miles with non-air partners
- Upgrade your next Avis rental
30,000 EQMs
Pick one perk from the following list:
- 2,500 bonus miles
- $25 off a future Alaska flight
- Four (4) Wi-Fi passes
- Try MVP Gold status for a trip
- $100 off an Alaska Lounge membership
55,000 EQMs
Pick two perks from the following list:
- 5,000 bonus miles
- 10,000 miles off an Extras redemption
- Gift MVP for a trip
- One (1) complimentary Lounge day pass
- Two (2) upgrade certificates
85,000 EQMs
Pick two perks from the following list:
- 15,000 bonus miles
- 25,000 miles off an Extras redemption
- Two (2) complimentary Lounge day passes
- Two (2) upgrade certificates
- Gift MVP Gold status for a trip
- Nominate someone for MVP status
- 10,000 elite-qualifying miles rolled over
150,000 & 200,000 & 250,000 EQMs
At 150k EQM, 200k EQM, and 250k EQM, you can pick two perks from the following list:
- 15,000 bonus miles
- 25,000 off an Extras redemption
- Two (2) complimentary Lounge passes
- Two (2) upgrade certificates
- 10,000 elite-qualifying miles rolled over
Alaska Mileage Plan Negative Changes
While Alaska is focusing on the positive developments, the devil is in the details. We caught several changes to the Mileage Plan program that aren't good news for Mileage Plan elites.
Reduced elite status bonuses
Alaska Mileage Plan has historically been one of the most generous programs when it comes to elite status bonuses. Top-tier fliers earn a whopping 150% bonus on base flight mileage earnings, but even mid-tier MVP Gold members currently earn a 100% bonus.
That's changing in 2025. Alaska is dropping elite status bonus by up to half of current rates:
| Alaska Mileage Plan tier level | Mileage Plan elite bonus through 12/31/2024 | Mileage Plan elite bonus starting 1/1/2025 |
|---|---|---|
| MVP | 50% | 25% |
| MVP Gold | 100% | 50% |
| MVP Gold 75K | 125% | 100% |
| MVP Gold 100K | 150% | 150% |
Eliminating 50k mileage bonus for MVP Gold 75K elites
Another way that Alaska has been very generous with its elites is by offering a whopping 50,000 bonus Mileage Plan miles when elite members achieve MVP Gold 75K status. Considering AwardWallet users have recently redeemed Alaska miles at an average redemption rate of 2.11¢, this mileage bonus alone provides over $1,000 in value.
But alas, this bonus is being eliminated as of 2025. Still working toward Mileage Plan elite status? Don't worry; you can still earn this bonus through December 31, 2024.
No more Alaska Lounge passes tied at MVP Gold 75K
Another current benefit of MVP Gold 75K is being cut: Alaska Lounge day passes. Currently, four Alaska Lounge day passes are awarded per year to members upon attaining MVP Gold 75K. These passes can even be shared with friends and family. This benefit is being cut as of December 31, 2024.
Mileage Plan members who value this perk can choose Alaska Lounge passes as part of Alaska's new milestone rewards. However, this will come at the expense of potentially more-valuable benefits.
Eliminated Alaska Lounge discount
Speaking of Alaska Lounges, another lounge-related benefit in the current Mileage Plan program is a $100 discount on an Alaska Lounge membership. This discount will be sunset as of January 31, 2025.
Again, Alaska will point to the fact that you can get this discount as part of the new milestone rewards. At 30k EQM, you can choose $100 off an Alaska Lounge membership. But choosing this perk will mean that you won't get your choice of other perks available at this level — which include 2,500 bonus miles, $25 off a future Alaska flight, four Wi-Fi passes, or MVP Gold status for a trip.
Fewer free checked bags for MVP and Oneworld Ruby elites
Currently, all Alaska Mileage Plan elite members get at least two free checked bags when flying Alaska Airlines. MVP and MVP Gold elites get two free checked bags, while MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K members can check three bags for free.
Alaska offers the same checked baggage benefits to equivalent Oneworld elites as well. Oneworld Ruby and Sapphire elites get two free checked bags, while Oneworld Emerald elites can check three bags for free.
Starting in 2026, entry-tier Alaska MVP elites are dropping down to just one free checked bag. While Alaska hasn't spelled this aspect out yet, we can assume Oneworld Ruby elites will also drop down to one free checked bag as well.
Other Mileage Plan Changes Teased
If that's not enough, Alaska has teased even more changes coming soon. Here's a quick rundown of what's been shared:
- Mixed partner awards. Currently, you can only book Mileage Plan awards for travel on one partner — or Alaska plus one partner. Alaska teases that multi-partner awards are “rolling out this Winter.”
- More Global Getaways: Alaska will periodically offer 50% off awards to select destinations. While it's not launching a new one yet, Alaska says it's “excited to offer even more Global Getaways in 2025.”
Bottom Line
Today, Alaska unveiled major changes to its Mileage Plan program starting in 2025. Positive changes include earning elite status credits on award travel (including when flying on partners), from credit card spending, and through other mileage partners. Plus, travelers will get to choose benefits starting at just 10k EQM through a new milestone rewards program.
However, the Alaska-sanitized version of these changes — which you might read on other points and miles blogs — conveniently ignores the significant cuts to the program.
All Alaska elites are losing access to a $100 lounge discount. Alaska MVP and Oneworld Ruby elites will lose the ability to check two free bags. MVP Gold 75K elites lose their 50k mileage bonus and four Alaska Lounge passes. And almost all Alaska elites will see their mileage bonus cut — by up to half for lower-tier elites.
While we are certainly excited to see easier paths to earning Alaska elite status, don't take the bait that this is an overall improvement to the Mileage Plan program.
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