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Last year, Alaska Airlines rolled out big changes to the Mileage Plan frequent flyer program, among which was a pivot towards rewarding credit card spending with elite status credits. Similar to other U.S.-based carriers, it's possible to earn Alaska MVP elite status without getting on an Alaska Airlines flight.
The spending requirement is steep, but it's possible to earn MVP perks and Alaska Milestone Rewards through credit cards alone. Here's how to leverage your co-branded Alaska Airlines credit card to earn elite status in 2025.
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How to Earn Alaska MVP Elite Status and Milestone Rewards via Card Spending This Year
As with most U.S. domestic airlines these days, Alaska only has one metric for elite status: Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs).
To reach one of four Mileage Plan elite tiers, you need to earn enough EQMs through flying, spending with select partners, or swiping a Bank of America-issued Alaska Airlines credit card. For 2025, Alaska requires members to earn the following EQMs:
- MVP: 20,000 EQMs
- MVP Gold: 40,000 EQMs
- MVP Gold 75K: 75,000 EQMs
- MVP Gold 100K: 100,000 EQMs
As you earn EQMs toward elite status, you'll also unlock Alaska Airlines Milestone Rewards. These rewards are perks you pick at various EQM thresholds. Choices come available starting at 10,000 EQMs, and get progressively more valuable.
Related: Earn Airline Elite Status Without Flying: Status Match, Fast Track, Card Spending Opportunities
How to earn Alaska EQMs via credit card spending
Alaska Airlines offers two Mileage Plan credit cards: the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card and the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card. Effective January 1, 2025, cardholders can earn 1 EQM for every $3 spent on Alaska credit cards, up to 30,000 EQMs per year. That means you'll earn EQMs on up to $90,000 in spending.
As you may remember from above, 20,000 EQMs is enough to reach MVP elite status. You can earn these 20k EQM from spending $60,000 on your Alaska Airlines credit card.
Achieving MVP unlocks 25% bonus Mileage Plan miles on flights, complimentary First and Premium Class upgrades (when available), free checked bags, Oneworld Ruby benefits, and more.
While earning Alaska Airlines MVP elite status through credit card spending is possible, it will take a lot of dedicated spending. Without taking a flight, you'd need to spend $60k on Alaska-branded cards to earn Alaska MVP. This option would let you earn a boatload of valuable Mileage Plan miles en route to spending for MVP, but this isn't the easiest way to status.
- 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
- Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
- Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, shipping and local transit (including rideshare) purchases
- Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Double-dip: Earn EQMs with Alaska Airlines' partners
If you wanted to “double-dip” on your spending, consider taking advantage of Alaska Airlines' network of partners. By earning Alaska miles with these partners, you're also now earning EQMs, similar to how American Airlines Loyalty Points work.
You'll earn 1,000 EQMs for every 3,000 Alaska miles you earn with partners, including the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Shopping Portal, hotel and car rental partners, and Lyft. So, if you're already spending on your Alaska Airlines credit card to earn MVP status, you can earn status quicker or go for higher status — like MVP Gold, which we consider to be Alaska's elite status sweet spot.
Assuming you're earning at least one Alaska mile per $1 spent with partners, every $3,000 spent on your Alaska Airlines credit card with those partners will earn you a total of 2 EQMs per $3 spent when you account for both the partner and credit card EQM earnings. So, spending “only” $30,000 on Alaska partners with your Alaska credit card could net you MVP Gold status.
Plus, this math doesn't account for any bonus miles earned through partner offers, which count towards earning EQMs!
Related: Alaska Visa Card Full Review
Final Thoughts
This year, you can unlock Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP elite status and hit several Milestone Rewards thresholds with your Alaska Airlines credit card. At most, you can earn 30,000 Elite Qualifying Miles through spending alone. That's enough to unlock Alaska's entry-level elite tier and two Milestone Rewards selections.
But in practice, this spending-based perk will be most beneficial for Alaska Airlines' frequent flyers looking to level up to higher tiers and more valuable rewards.
- 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
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