{"id":75342,"date":"2022-02-16T23:00:18","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T23:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=75342"},"modified":"2026-04-08T13:42:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T13:42:21","slug":"alaska-airlines-increase-first-class-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/alaska-airlines-increase-first-class-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Alaska Airlines Will Increase Select First Class Awards this March"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members will soon see an increase in the number of miles needed to travel in first class on select Alaska Airlines flights. Starting in March 2022, Alaska Airlines will increase the maximum number of miles needed for first-class awards on select routes throughout the United States, to Hawaii, and beyond.<\/p>\n

It is never good news when an airline increases the number of points or miles needed to book award travel. But, these changes might<\/em> not be as impactful as you might think.<\/p>\n

What's Set to Change This March?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Most avid points and miles enthusiasts know that — despite being a relatively small airline — Alaska Airlines' frequent flyer program (Mileage Plan)<\/a> can be one of the most lucrative in the Americas. Thanks to solid mileage earning rates, savvy frequent flyers know to credit travel on partner airlines to their Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account, instead of earning with the airline on which they are traveling. Despite some negative changes in the past few years, Mileage Plan remains one of the best programs through which to get the most out of your points or miles.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Alaska is set to devalue its program next month. Effective March 1, Alaska will increase the maximum number of miles required to book select first-class awards.<\/p>\n

Luckily, partner awards were spared from this latest change. Travel on North American partners (including American Airlines) will not see any changes for award pricing. That's because Alaska Airlines uses a separate award chart for each partner airline, and these charts are different from the award chart<\/a> for its own flights.<\/p>\n

\"Image
Image courtesy of Alaska Airlines<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n

Comparing Current and New Award Pricing<\/span><\/h3>\n

Here is the current award chart for first class award travel on Alaska Airlines for travel within the United States (excluding Hawaii) and Canada:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Distance<\/th>Minimum Miles Needed<\/th>Maximum Miles Needed<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
<700 Miles<\/td>15,000<\/td>40,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
701 to 1,400 Miles<\/td>25,000<\/td>60,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1,401 to 2,100 Miles<\/td>25,000<\/td>60,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2,100 Miles or more<\/td>30,000<\/td>70,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

And here is the current award chart for first class award travel on Alaska Airlines for travel between the Continental United States and Hawaii:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t
Zone<\/th>Minimum Miles Needed<\/th>Maximum Miles Needed<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Continental U.S. - Hawaii<\/td>40,000<\/td>80,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Effective March 1, 2022, the award chart shown above will change, with the maximum number of miles increasing. Here's what the new award charts look like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Distance<\/th>Minimum Miles Needed<\/th>Maximum Miles Needed<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
<700<\/td>15,000<\/td>40,000 (no change)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
701 to 1,400 Miles<\/td>25,000<\/td>60,000 (no change)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1,401 to 2,100 Miles<\/td>25,000<\/td>70,000 (Increase of 10,000 miles)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2,100 Miles or more<\/td>30,000<\/td>95,000 (Increase of 25,000 miles)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

And for flights between the Continental U.S. and Hawaii:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t
Zone<\/th>Minimum Miles Needed<\/th>Maximum Miles Needed<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Continental U.S. - Hawaii<\/td>40,000<\/td>95,000 (Increase of 15,000 miles)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Three zones will be impacted by this change<\/p>\n