Mileage Plan

Mileage Plan is the frequent-flyer program of Alaska Airlines. Members accrue program "miles" by flying Alaska Airlines and partner-operated flights, using co-branded credit cards, and booking vacation and hotel packages, among other methods. Mileage Plan miles can be redeemed for award flights on Alaska Airlines and partner carriers and provide eligibility for elite status with Mileage Plan.

History

In June 1983, Alaska Airlines introduced their frequent-flyer program, Gold Coast Travel. In 1987, Alaska Airlines acquired Jet America Airlines, which offered a frequent-flyer program that awarded credit by flight segments (number of flights taken), compared to Gold Coast Travel, where members earned credit based on the mileage of flights taken.[1] After acquisition by Alaska Airlines, participants of Jet America's frequent-flyer program were enrolled in Gold Coast Travel, and in September 1989, Gold Coast Travel was renamed Mileage Plan. Alaska Airlines also purchased regional commuter airline Horizon Air in 1986 and incorporated the carrier into Mileage Plan.

In 2016, Alaska Airlines acquired Virgin America, which offered a revenue-based accrual program, Elevate. On January 1, 2018, Elevate was discontinued, with all remaining accounts converted to Mileage Plan accounts.[2]

Accrual Structure

On all scheduled Alaska Airlines flights, including flights operated by Horizon Air, SkyWest and PenAir, members accrue one mile per mile flown. On flights under 500 miles, a minimum of 500 miles are awarded.[3] Miles can also be accrued by flying eligible flights on Alaska Global Partners.[4]

Beginning in 2015, most airlines in the United States switched to revenue-based accrual programs, where credit is awarded based on the fare paid. Alaska Airlines has previously indicated that retaining a distance-based accrual program is a competitive advantage over other carriers.[5]

Partner Airlines

Mileage Plan includes 18 partner airlines that comprise the Alaska Global Partners.[6] Partner airlines include Oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance members, as well as unaffiliated airlines.

The airline partners of Mileage Plan are:

Alaska Global Partner Airline Alliance Partnership Commenced
Aer Lingus[7] (none) 2018
American Airlines Oneworld 1999
British Airways Oneworld
Cathay Pacific [8] Oneworld 2003
Condor [9] (none) 2013
El Al [10] (none) 2019
Emirates [11] (none) 2012
Fiji Airways [12] (none) 2009
Finnair [13] Oneworld 2017
Hainan Airlines [14] (none) 2015
Icelandair [15] (none) 2015
Japan Airlines [16] Oneworld 2016
Korean Air [17] SkyTeam 2008
LATAM Chile Oneworld
PenAir (none)
Qantas Oneworld
Ravn Alaska (none)
Singapore Airlines [18] Star Alliance 2017

Alaska Airlines was a former partner with regional carrier Kenmore Air beginning in 2010.[19] Delta had been a mileage partner from 2004 until 2017, after it established Seattle as a hub city.[20] Alaska Airlines was also a former mileage partner with other SkyTeam members, including Aeromexico, from 2013 until 2017, and Air France and KLM, from 2007 until 2018.[21][22]

Oneworld Membership

In February 2020, Alaska Airlines announced its intention to join the Oneworld airline alliance in the summer of 2021.[23] This would add seven new airline partners, including Iberia, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines, and SriLankan Airlines.

Alaska Airlines flights, including Horizon Air flights, have been bookable as part of Oneworld Global Explorer fares since 2008.[24]

Membership Tiers

Mileage Plan's elite tiers for frequent travelers are MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K. Members in elite tiers receive additional benefits compared to non-elite members, including complimentary upgrades to First and Premium Class, increased mileage accrual, priority check-in and boarding, discount or free lounge access, complimentary checked bags and other benefits.

Members may attain elite status through one of the following methods:[25]

Qualification MethodMVPMVP GoldMVP Gold 75K
Miles earned on Alaska flights120,00040,00075,000
Miles earned on Alaska / Elite Qualifying Partner flights225,00050,00090,000
Segments on Alaska / Elite Qualifying Partner flights306090
Notes
  • ^1 Includes Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air
  • ^2 Elite qualifying partners do not include PenAir or Ravn Alaska

There is no minimum spending requirement in order to receive elite status in Mileage Plan. Additionally, Members who fly 1,000,000 miles on Alaska Airlines are granted MVP Gold status for life.

Additional Benefits

Members who are residents of the State of Alaska are eligible to participate in Alaska Airlines' Club 49 program. Participants and all travelers on the same reservation receive two complimentary checked bags on flights to or from Alaska. Participants also receive two annual discounts for 30% off refundable one-way coach fares from or within Alaska on Alaska Airlines, when booked within four days of departure. In 2017, the Freight For Less program allowed Club 49 members to ship up to 100 pounds of freight for a flat rate of $10 through Alaska Air Cargo.[26][27]

In March 2016, Alaska Airlines introduced a promotional award where Mileage Plus members could redeem 10,000 miles to cover the $85 cost of a TSA PreCheck screening application charged by the Transportation Security Administration.[28]

Recognition

Mileage Plan has been the recipient of the U.S. News & World Report No. 1 Loyalty Program for five years since 2015, based on an airline's overall evaluation of six criteria: ease of earning a free round-trip flight, benefits, network coverage, flight volume, award flight availability and airline quality ratings.[29]

References
  1. in Service by Jet America Stops Losses: Move From Oakland to Orange County Pays Off
  5. Alaska Airlines announces new enhancements to Mileage Plan
  7. Alaska Airlines and Aer Lingus team up to give Mileage Plan members more flights to Europe
  8. Alaska Airlines Partners with Cathay Pacific Airways
  9. https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/2017-03-20-Alaska-Airlines-adds-Europes-Condor-Airlines-as-Mileage-Plan-Partner?SOC=FB_%7C%7C20170320_MP%7C%7C_Condor
  10. EL AL Israel Airlines & Alaska Airlines celebrate expanded global partnership
  11. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Members Can Book Award Travel on Emirates
  12. Air Pacific Becomes Alaska Airlines Codeshare and Mileage Plan Partner
  13. Alaska Airlines and Finnair announce frequent flyer partnership
  14. Alaska Airlines adds Hainan Airlines as Mileage Plan Partner
  15. Alaska Airlines and Icelandair Announce Codeshare and Frequent Flier Partnership Agreement
  16. Alaska Airlines Welcomes Japan Airlines as newest Mileage Plan and Codeshare Partner
  17. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air Partner With Korean Air
  18. Alaska's newest partner Singapore Airlines gives guests truly unique flying experience
  19. Alaska/Kenmore Air form mileage partnership
  23. oneworld welcomes Alaska Airlines’ intention to join the alliance
  24. Alaska and Horizon join oneworld's Global Explorer round-the-world fare
  25. https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/membership-benefits.aspx?lid=nav%3amileage-elite&INT-_AS_NAV_-prodID%3aMileagePlan
  27. https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/club-49/faqs.aspx
  28. https://newsroom.alaskaair.com/2016-03-21-Alaska-Airlines-First-to-Offer-Frequent-Fliers-Option-to-Redeem-Miles-for-TSA-Precheck-Membership
  29. U.S. News Reveals 2019-20 Best Travel Rewards Programs
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