Page Contents<\/p>
- Earn Mileage Plan Elite Status Credits on Award Travel<\/a><\/li>
- Earn Elite Qualifying Miles on Card Spending, Other Partners<\/a>
- Earn Alaska EQMs on card spending<\/a><\/li>
- How you'll earn Alaska EQMs on other partners<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- New Alaska Mileage Plan Milestone Rewards<\/a>
- 10,000 EQMs<\/a><\/li>
- 30,000 EQMs<\/a><\/li>
- 55,000 EQMs<\/a><\/li>
- 85,000 EQMs<\/a><\/li>
- 150,000 & 200,000 & 250,000 EQMs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Alaska Mileage Plan Negative Changes<\/a>
- Reduced elite status bonuses<\/a><\/li>
- Eliminating 50k mileage bonus for MVP Gold 75K elites<\/a><\/li>
- No more Alaska Lounge passes tied at MVP Gold 75K<\/a><\/li>
- Eliminated Alaska Lounge discount<\/a><\/li>
- Fewer free checked bags for MVP and Oneworld Ruby elites<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Other Mileage Plan Changes Teased<\/a><\/li>
- Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n
Earn Mileage Plan Elite Status Credits on Award Travel<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/strong> on award travel.<\/p>\n
This move follows in the footsteps of Virgin Atlantic, Delta, and United — all of which offer elite-status credits for award travel<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n
That means you can earn toward Alaska elite status when redeeming 4,500 Alaska miles for short-haul American Airlines flights<\/a> or even Qatar Qsuite<\/a> for a trip to the Maldives.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>. 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Earn Elite Qualifying Miles on Card Spending, Other Partners<\/span><\/h2>\n
Starting January 1, 2025, Mileage Plan members will earn EQMs through Alaska credit card spending and when earning miles through other Mileage Plan partners.<\/p>\n
Generally speaking, you'll earn 1 EQM per 3 miles earned through these methods. However, there are key differences in how this will work.<\/p>\n
Earn Alaska EQMs on card spending<\/span><\/h3>\n
Effective January 1, 2025, Alaska cardholders will earn 1 EQM for every $3 spent on purchases made with Alaska credit cards.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\n\n\nAtmos\u2122 Rewards Ascent Visa Signature\u00ae<\/sup> card<\/div>\n![\"Atmos\u2122](\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\")
<\/div>\n Learn More<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nLimited Time Online Offer:<\/strong>\r\nEarn 80,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare\u2122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $4,000 or more in purchases within the first 120 days of opening your account. Additionally, receive a 50% flight discount code for a qualifying future flight after opening your new account.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n Atmos\u2122 Rewards Ascent Visa Signature\u00ae<\/sup> card<\/strong>\nLimited Time Online Offer:<\/strong>\r\nEarn 80,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare\u2122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $4,000 or more in purchases within the first 120 days of opening your account. Additionally, receive a 50% flight discount code for a qualifying future flight after opening your new account.<\/div>\nAnnual Fee:<\/strong>$95<\/b><\/div>\nShow more<\/a>Why We Like It<\/a>Earning Rates<\/a>The Atmos\u2122 Rewards Ascent Visa Signature\u00ae<\/sup> card offers cardholders 3 miles per dollar on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases and 2 miles per dollar on everyday purchases like gas, local transit including ride share, cable, and select streaming services. Other benefits include Alaska\u2019s Famous Companion Fare\u2122 annually from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $6K in the previous anniversary year, priority boarding, a free checked bag, a 10% reward bonus on miles for Bank of America account holders, and a $100 discount on Alaska Lounge+ Membership.<\/div>- \r\n
- Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases<\/li>\r\n
- Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases<\/li>\r\n
- Earn unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
- Eliminating 50k mileage bonus for MVP Gold 75K elites<\/a><\/li>
- 30,000 EQMs<\/a><\/li>
- How you'll earn Alaska EQMs on other partners<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Earn Elite Qualifying Miles on Card Spending, Other Partners<\/a>
![\"Atmos\u2122](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CardArt-AtmosRewardsAscent.png\")
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