Guide: Introduction to Alaska Airline’s Mileage Plan

As I mentioned in the introduction to this trip report, I booked a one-way Qantas business class ticket from Sydney to San Francisco using Alaska Airline’s Mileage Plan. While I’ll share more details about how I actually booked the flight and my review of the flight later on in the trip report, I wanted to first introduce Alaska Airline’s Mileage Plan program.

Introduction: A Tale of Two Bridges

Guide: How to use the T-Bus from Sydney Domestic Terminal (T2/T3) to Sydney International Terminal (T1)

Airline Review: American Express Lounge Sydney International Airport (T1)

Airline Review: Qantas International Business Lounge Sydney International Airport (T1)

Guide: Introduction to Alaska Airline’s Mileage Plan

Guide: How to book Qantas Business Class Awards using Alaska Airline’s Mileage Plan

Airline Review: Qantas 747-400 Business Class Sydney to San Francisco

Destination: Musée Mécanique Antique Penny Arcade

Experience Review: Alcatraz Night Tour

Destination: Golden Gate Bridge

Destination: Japanese Tea Garden – Golden Gate Park

Destination: California Academy of Sciences – Golden Gate Park

Destination: 13 Must-Do’s in San Francisco

About Alaska Airline’s Mileage Plan

Alaska Airline’s Mileage Plan first began with the name Gold Coast Travel in 1963. Since then it has been consistently ranked as one of the best airline frequent flyer programs throughout the world.

Unlike other US-based frequent flyer programs who award frequent flyer miles based on how much you spend, one mile flown equals one frequent flyer mile earned.

Residents of Alaska also have the benefit of joining an additional program called Club 49.

Joining Mileage Plan

You can join the Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan program for free by going here. Unlike other frequent flyer programs, there aren’t any residency restrictions to join the program.

Make sure you have selected the ‘Join Mileage Plan and create a My account’ option.

Note: This is not a time to get creative with your personal details, make sure the details you enter match your passport and credit card billing addresses.

When you move to the Contact Information section, there is a mandatory question which asks for your Primary Departure City.

There aren’t any Australian cities mentioned here and the city you select only has an impact on communications you receive from the Alaska Airline’s marketing department.

Once you receive your enrollment confirmation via email, you’re good to go.

To log into your account, visit the Alaska Airline’s website and click sign in.

Enter your Mileage Plan number or username along with your password to enter your account area.

Now that you’re logged into your account, you can browse through the various tabs and update any details as required.

Membership & Elite Status

There are three tiers of Elite status within Mileage Plan – MVP, MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k.

MVP

Earning Requirements

• 20,000 eligible miles earned on Alaska Airlines and Virgin America; or
• 25,000 eligible miles earned on Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and elite-qualifying partner airlines; or
• 30 segments flown on Alaska Airlines, Virgin American and elite-qualifying partner airlines.

Benefits

MVP Gold

Earning Requirements

• 40,000 eligible miles earned on Alaska Airlines and Virgin America; or
• 50,000 eligible miles earned on Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and elite-qualifying partner airlines; or
• 60 segments flown on Alaska Airlines, Virgin American and elite-qualifying partner airlines.

Benefits

MVP Gold 75k

Earning Requirements

• 75,000 eligible miles earned on Alaska Airlines and Virgin America; or
• 90,000 eligible miles earned on Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and elite-qualifying partner airlines; or
• 90 segments flown on Alaska Airlines, Virgin American and elite-qualifying partner airlines.

Benefits

Plus, members who fly 1,000,000 miles on Alaska are granted MVP Gold status for life and nicknamed The Million Miler

Earning Alaska Airlines miles

Earning on Alaska Airlines

Eligible Flights: 1-999, 1000-1999 (operated by Virgin America), 2000-2999 (operated by Horizon Air), 3124-3499 (operated by SkyWest), 4800-4999 (operated by PenAir).

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (AS) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

Earning on Partner Airlines

Virgin America

Eligible Flights: 0001-1951

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (VX or AS) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

Aeromexico

Eligible Flights: 1-1799, 2000-3799

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (AM) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

Air France

Eligible Flights: 3-39, 54-99, 102-139, 144-145, 160-199, 210-229, 240-299, 310-569, 600-809, 820-869, 880-909, 920-1889, 3830-3889, 3990-3999, 4230-4281, 6000-6059, 6100-6169, 6200-6279, 7300-7759

No mileage will be earned on the following flights:

• O or X fare classes
• Flights operated by Britair, Cityjet, CCM and Middle Eastern Airlines even if they fall within the eligible flight number range.

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (AF) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

American Airlines

Eligible Flights: 0001-6099, 6780-7150, 7454-7637

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (AA) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

British Airways

Eligible Flights: 0001-0531, 0539-1499, 2030-2045, 2061-2069, 2150-2169, 2200-2239, 2250-2289, 2540-2799, 2900-2999, 6200-6449, 8000-8020, 8200-8299, 5420-8497

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (BA) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

Cathay Pacific

Eligible Flights: 0100-0999

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (CX) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

Condor

Eligible Flights: 0001-2999

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (DE) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

Emirates

Eligible Flights: 001-978

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (EK) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

Fiji Airways

Eligible Flights: 1-999

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (FJ) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

Hainan Airlines

Eligible Flights: 0481-0499, 7000-7399, 7600-7999

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (HU) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

Icelandair

Eligible Flights: 0201-0853

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (FI) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

Japan Airlines

Eligible Flights: 0001-8999

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (JL) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

KLM

Eligible Flights: 200-209, 400-2369

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (KL) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

Korean Air

Eligible Flights: 0001-2999, 6000-6999, 8000-8999

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (KE) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

LATAM

Eligible Flights: 1-1343, 1400-1943, 2000-2943, 4000-4943

No mileage will be earned on the following flights:

• Flights within Ecuador with a Q or G fare class
• Flights within Peru with a M, L, V, Q, or S fare class
• Flights within Chile with a N, Q or G fare class
• Flights within Argentina with a M, L, V, S, N, Q or G fare class

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (LA) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

PenAir

Eligible Flight Numbers: 0124-0274, 2000-2999

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage plan, the two letter airline code (KS) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

Miles earned on PenAir do not count towards Mileage Plan elite status. Actual miles flown will be credited.

Qantas

Eligible Flight Numbers: 1-199, 400-1343, 1400-1625, 1640-1659, 1700-1949, 2000-2293, 2300-2554, 2557-2580, 2600-2699, 2800-2899, 2921-2931, 2980-2999, 3739-3789, 4104-4169, 7000-7189, 7800-7899

Mileage earned is based on a percentage of the actual miles flown with 500 minimum miles on flights shorter than 500 miles.

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage plan, the two letter airline code (QF) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

Ravn Alaska

Eligible Flight Numbers: 0001 – 00999, 7000 – 7999

No mileage will be earned on the following flights:

• Between Anchorage and Barrow, Dillingham or Prudhoe Bay
• Between Fairbanks and Barrow, Kotzebue, Nome or Prudhoe Bay
• Between Prudhoe Bay and Barrow

To ensure your flights are credited to Mileage Plan, the two letter airline code (7H) must precede the flight number on your boarding pass or ticket.

Other ways of earning Miles

Although there are many ways to indirectly earn Alaska Airline miles (ie, earning SPG points and then converting to Alaska), here are a couple of ways Australian’s can earn points directly.

Agoda PointsMAX

•  No set earning chart

Note: Make sure you search through all available room rates. Some rooms will be priced at the same amount but the amount of miles awarded can vary.

Rocket Miles

• Earn up to 10,000 miles per night
• 2,00 bonus miles for your first booking

Note: Keep the booking in USD, the points earned will substantially decrease if currency is changed to AUD.

Points Hound

• Similar to Rocketmiles, no set earning chart published

Note: Keep the booking in USD, the points earned will substantially decrease if currency is changed to AUD.

Best Western 

• 250 miles per stay

Choice Hotels

• 250 miles per stay at a participating Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality Inn®, Sleep Inn®, Clarion®, Cambria Hotel & Suites®, MainStay Suites®, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel®, Econo Lodge®, Rodeway Inn® or Ascend Hotel Collection®

Coast Hotels

• 500 miles per stay

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

• 500 miles per stay

Hilton Honors

• 1 mile per US $ spent  (maximum 10,000 miles per stay; maximum 100 miles per stay at Home2 Suites).

InterContinental Hotels Group

• 2 miles per US $ (or local currency equivalent) at hotels and resorts in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean and at all Crowne Plaza®, Hotel Indigo®, Holiday Inn®, and Holiday Inn Express® hotels worldwide.
• 1 mile per US $ (or local currency equivalent) at Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®.
• 500 miles per stay at hotels & resorts outside of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean and at all InterContinental Alliance Resorts worldwide.

LaQuinta Hotels

• 250 miles per stay

Mariott Rewards

• 2 miles per US $ spent on accomodation only JW Marriott^®, Autograph Collection^®Hotels, Renaissance^® Hotels, Marriott Hotels^®, Marriott Vacation Club^® and Delta Hotels and Resorts^®
• 1 mile per US $ spent on accomodation only at Protea Hotels^®, Moxy Hotels^®, Courtyard by Marriott^®, AC Hotels by Marriott^®, Fairfield Inn & Suites^® by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott^®, Residence Inn by Marriott^®, TownePlace Suites by Marriott^®, and Marriott Executive Apartments^®.

Westmark Hotels

• 2 miles per US $ spent on accomodation
• 1 miles per US $ spent on food & beverages (excluding alcohol)

Purchasing Alaska Airline’s miles

For the first 10 business days after opening your Mileage Plan account, you are unable to make any mileage transactions on your account.

After this time, you can purchase miles by following the link on the Mileage Plan homepage once you are logged in.

If there is a discounted or bonus miles sale on, you will see the details appear now. Usually they are on a sliding scale with the discount/bonus percentages varying depending on how many miles you purchase.

In this case, there isn’t a sale on so the cost per mile is $0.0275 USD +  7.5% Federal Excise tax.

A maximum of 60,000 points can be purchased per transaction but there is no limit on how many miles you can purchase per year

Though, keep in mind that the purchase of Alaska Airlines miles is processed by points.com which limits 4 purchases per credit card per month

Points post instantly to your account and you will also be sent a confirmation email.

Redeeming Alaska Airlines miles

All partner award bookings come with a $12.50 USD partner award booking fee (one-way). Additionally, if you are booking a Cathay Pacific or LATAM flight, these can’t be booked online, so you must ring the call centre to redeem. In this instance, you will also be charged a $15.00 USD phone booking fee. The phone booking fee may be waived for MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k elite members.

If you are booking a British Airways or Icelandair flight, Alaska will pass on the airline’s carrier surcharges which can be hundreds of dollars.

Though changes to awards can be made free of charge up until 60 days before departure, once you are inside that timeframe you will be subject to a $125 USD change or cancellation fee.

Combining Award Partners

With Mileage Plan, you cannot combine award partners but can combine a partner airline with Alaska Airlines.

Example 1 – Invalid award

• Cathay Pacific – Brisbane to Hong Kong
• American Airlines – Hong Kong to San Francisco

Example 2 – Valid award

• Qantas – Sydney to San Francisco
• Alaska Airlines – San Francisco to Seattle

Stopovers

On an international one-way itineary you may have one free stopover (more than 24 hours) before continuing on your journey.

Example: Cathay Pacific – Brisbane to Hong Kong (stopover for 1+ days) Hong Kong to San Francisco

For international return itinearies, you can get a little more creative with 2 stop overs and 2 open jaws allowed.

However, you must take the most logical route to your destination – no back tracking.

Example: Fly Emirates Sydney to Dubai (stopover), then Dubai to New York City. On the return you could start your journey in Milan (open jaw), back to Dubai (second stopover) and finish your journey in Melbourne (second open jaw).

For intra-us awards, you can also have a free stop over as long as you are flying on Alaska Airlines.

How to check flight availability

The following guide in this trip report explains how I booked a Qantas business class seat from Sydney to San Francisco. The process for booking an award ticket on a partner airline which can be booked online is very similar so I won’t go into detail about that here.

However, Cathay Pacific and LATAM availability can not be searched nor booked on the Alaska Airline’s website. You should find the available flights yourself and then call to book. Though you could call the Alaska Airline’s call centre and simply tell them you want to fly Sydney to New York City on Cathay Pacific sometime in June, I’d advise against it. You could spent hours on the phone going back and forth with the agent. Not only will you become frustrated, but you might lose that award seat before you’ve even found it.

To find Cathay Pacific availability you can use the British Airway’s tool, Qantas or my favourite, Japan Airlines. While I’ll have a detailed guide coming later in the year about how to use Japan Airlines to find availability on Cathay Pacific, feel free to leave a comment or contact me for some tips on how to use it.

To find LATAM availability you can search via British Airways or LATAM pass.

How to book flights

For all partners except Cathay Pacific and LATAM, you can complete your booking online by following the steps after finding award availability.

For Cathay Pacific and LATAM, you must call Alaska Airline’s directly. I have found that calling around 5pm AEST results in the shortest time on hold.

The best number to call is 0011-800-25275200 and can be dialled straight from your mobile. Keep in mind that as this is a 1800 US number, the call isn’t included in most mobile phone plans with international calling. An alternative is using Skype.

Sometimes the agent who initially takes your call will be able to assist, while other times you will be put through to the partner desk.

It is important to have ready:

• Your Mileage Plan Number
• Details of the flight you want to book (Flight Number, Departure and Arrival Time)
• Other flight alternatives.

With Cathay Pacific especially, the availability you have found during your research, likely won’t align with what the Alaska Airline’s agent can see. It is a known discretion and unlikely to be fixed anytime soon. Say you have found 1 available seat on the Brisbane (BNE) to Hong Kong (HKG) route using the JAL tool. The change that the agent is also able to see that seat is quite low. However, if there are 4 seats showing available, the agent would likely be able to see a couple of seats.

By all means, this is the most frustrating and time consuming part of the process. You must continually check for availability and call in as soon as you see availability. While it’s important for you to keep your cool during the experience, you can always end the call politely and try HUCA.

HUCA – Hang Up, Call Again is a well known tactic to find those pesky hidden award seats. Sometimes agents in different call centres can use the system slightly differently or just have better luck at finding the seat you’re after.

Personally, I’ve had better luck with agents located at the Boise centre, but you can’t pick and choose where your call is diverted to.

Airline Redemption Chart

View the Alaska Airline’s Partner Redemption chart here.

Other Redemption Options

Alaska Airline’s miles are a valuable currency and I only recommend that you use them for airfares. That said,

Mags for Miles

Starting at just 100 miles, you can redeem magazine subscriptions in a variety of genres.

Donate Miles to Charity

Choose from 10 charities to donate your miles to.

Gift & Share Miles

Transfer some miles to a loved one or friend.

That’s the basics of Alaska Airline’s Mileage Plan program.  Any questions? Leave a comment below!