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Starting today, Alaska Mileage Plan members can redeem miles for award redemptions on select El Al Israel Airlines flights. This new addition makes El Al the 10th in a long line of new Alaska Mileage Plan redemption partners over the past 15 months.
However, unlike other Mileage Plan partners, Alaska's award chart for El Al flights isn't straightforward. We are finding different redemption rates depending on what route and date you fly. Here's what we know so far about this brand-new Mileage Plan redemption option.
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Alaska Mileage Plan Partnership with El Al
In some ways, today's developments are long overdue. Alaska and El Al originally launched a new mileage partnership in May 2019. Since July 1, 2019, travelers have been able to earn Alaska Mileage Plan miles on El Al flights — and earn El Al Matmid miles on Alaska flights.
Mileage Plan earning rates vary from 25% of flight miles for the cheapest El Al economy flights up to 300% of miles flown in the most-expensive El Al business class fares.
At the time this mileage partnership was announced, Alaska teased that travelers would be able to redeem El Al Matmid miles on Alaska flights “in the future.” However, there was no indication that El Al awards would be available through Mileage Plan… until they were added today.
Where El Al Flies
Tel Aviv-based El Al Israel Airlines currently flies to 45 destinations in 30 countries across four continents. El Al currently flies to five destinations in the United States:
- Boston (BOS)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Miami (MIA)
- Newark (EWR)
- New York-Kennedy (JFK)
Alaska Mileage Plan Award Chart for El Al Flights
Starting today, December 6, 2022, Alaska Mileage Plan members can redeem miles for El Al award flights “to the Middle East and Europe”:
Unlike its other airline partners, Alaska Mileage Plan hasn't published rates for El Al awards. That leaves us to hunt and peck for awards to piece together an award chart. And the results show that there isn't a single award chart. Instead, Mileage Plan award rates vary depending on the route and even dates.
Boston to Tel Aviv
For example, the route from Boston to Tel Aviv prices at the following rates in January-February 2023:
- 40,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al economy
- 65,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al premium economy
- 85,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al business class
However, by August 2023, Alaska raises its award rates on El Al awards to:
- 45,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al economy
- 80,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al premium economy
- 100,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al business class
Newark to Tel Aviv
Likewise, Alaska Mileage Plan award redemption rates start at 40,000 miles on the route from Newark to Tel Aviv:
- 40,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al economy
- 65,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al premium economy
- 85,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al business class
However, by October 2023, award rates increase to:
- 50,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al economy
- 80,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al premium economy
- 100,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al business class
Miami to Tel Aviv
Meanwhile, awards from Miami to Tel Aviv start at 42,500 miles each way:
- 42,500 Mileage Plan miles in El Al economy
- 65,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al premium economy
Then, by October 2023, award increase to familiar rates:
- 50,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al economy
- 80,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al premium economy
- 100,000 Mileage Plan miles in El Al business class
Comparison to Other Award Rates
These Alaska Mileage Plan award rates on El Al aren't very compelling — especially considering how hard it is to accumulate Mileage Plan miles. With that said, these rates are competitive with the few other options for booking El Al awards.
Qantas Frequent Flyer may offer better award rates on El Al flights between the U.S. and Tel Aviv. For example, you can fly from Newark to Tel Aviv for:
- 37,800 Qantas points in economy (vs. as few as 40,000 Alaska miles)
- 70,800 Qantas points in premium economy (vs. as few as 65,000 Alaska miles)
Longer routes — like from Miami to Tel Aviv — cost 45,000 Qantas points in economy (vs. as few as 42,500 Alaska miles) or 104,500 Qantas points in business class (vs. 100,000 Alaska miles).
The advantage of booking through Qantas Frequent Flyer instead of Alaska Mileage Plan is the ease of accumulating Qantas points. You can transfer points to Qantas from the following programs:
- Amex Membership Rewards (1:1)
- Capital One Miles (1:1)
- Citi ThankYou Points (1:1)
- Marriott Bonvoy (3:1)
- Brex Cash Rewards (1:1)
How to Find the Best Redemption Option
Alaska mileage redemptions on El Al already show up on our favorite award search tool: Point.me. That means you can use Point.me to search for award availability on your dates and see live award availability — not just through Mileage Plan, but with dozens of mileage programs.
In addition to showing you live award availability, Point.me walks you through the process of transferring points from bank programs and actually redeeming miles to book your award.
If you're new to Point.me, enroll using code AWARDWALLET to get your first month for just $1:
Alaska's Other New Redemption Partners
Since September 2021, Alaska has now added award redemptions on 10 partners. Most of these new redemption options stem from Alaska joining the Oneworld alliance in March 2021. However, now that Alaska Airlines finished adding redemptions on its new Oneworld partners, it seems to be turning to add non-alliance partners.
Here are all of Alaska's recent partner additions:
- Qatar Airways
- Iberia
- Royal Air Maroc
- Royal Jordanian
- Malaysia Airlines
- SriLankan Airlines
- Ravn Alaska
- Air Tahiti Nui
- Mokulele Airlines
- El Al Israel Airlines
That's an incredible pace of two new partners every three months! We aren't aware of any other airline mileage program that's adding partners as quickly — although Aeroplan still holds the prize as the most-partnered mileage program.
Bottom Line
Today, Alaska expanded its mileage partnership with El Al Israel Airlines to add mileage redemptions. Awards start at 40k miles in economy, 65k miles in premium economy, and 85k miles in business class. However, at some point in 2023, redemption rates increase to 50k miles in economy and 100k miles in business class.
While those are some steep award redemption rates, they are competitive with the limited other redemption options for El Al awards. If you're short on Alaska Mileage Plan miles, check redemption rates through Qantas Frequent Flyer — whose miles are much easier to accumulate.
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