Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan isn’t your typical frequent flyer program. Enjoy a blend of tried-and-true loyalty benefits and unique rewards that you won’t find anywhere else.
In 2018, Wallethub declared Alaska Airlines the best airline to fly in the U.S. Based on factors like reliability and passenger comfort, this ranking demonstrates Alaska’s ability to meet traveler needs. To take further advantage of all that Alaska has to offer passengers, business travelers can join their loyalty program: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.
Benefits Overview
Once you’ve enrolled in Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, you can start working towards MVP, MVP Gold, or MVP Gold 75k status. To reach these higher tiers of loyalty membership, you’ll need to meet a minimum requirement of miles or segments flown.
At the MVP level, members have access to the following benefits:
- Points bonus (50% bonus on base miles)
- Priority check-in and boarding
- Two checked bags
- Alaska Lounge membership at a lower price
- Preferred seating
- First Class and Premium Class upgrades
- Exclusive customer service lines
- Elite Leave (more on that later)
From here, the benefits increase for MVP Gold members. Enjoy all the benefits of regular MVP status, plus:
- Points bonus (100% bonus on base miles)
- Expedited security (available at select airports)
- Free same-day standby and flight changes
- Access to partner lounges at select international airports
- Unlimited First Class and Premium Class upgrades
- Fee waivers on a couple of select services, such as flight changes
At MVP Gold 75k status, you’re getting the most out of the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program. In addition to the advantages of MVP and MVP Gold, 75k members have:
- Points bonus (125% bonus on base miles) plus 50,000 points as a gift for reaching the 75k tier
- Four free Alaska Lounge day passes
- In-flight entertainment system access
- Ability to nominate someone (like a coworker) for MVP status
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan also has a few unique benefits offered to members, like Elite Leave. This is the equivalent of maternity/paternity leave for frequent flyers. Maintaining an active membership is required for any loyalty program, but Alaska lets you take a break if you’re a new parent. During your “leave,” your rewards status will be preserved.
Another cool perk is exclusive to Alaska residents: Club 49. Joining is free, and members can enjoy two complimentary checked bags, discounted freight shipments, and extra deals. A few conditions apply, such as departures or arrivals limited to Alaska destinations.
It’s clear that Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan doesn’t skimp on loyalty rewards. We’ve picked out the perks that we think frequent work travelers will enjoy, but a comprehensive list of the benefits and conditions can be found on Alaska’s website.
How to Earn Points
On Alaska Airlines flights and purchases made with an Alaska Airlines credit card, loyalty members can build up their reserve of miles. Outside of the airline’s opportunities, members can take advantage of Alaska’s partner network:
Airlines
- American Airlines
- British Airways (members might also be eligible for lounge access on select flights)
- Hainan Airlines (members might also be eligible for lounge access on select flights)
- Icelandair (members might also be eligible for lounge access on select flights)
- Qantas (members might also be eligible for lounge access on select flights)
Hotels
Car Rental Companies
As with benefits, the amount of partner programs that Alaska offers is quite extensive. Explore additional airlines, hotels, car rental companies, or retail opportunities on Alaska’s website.
How to Spend Points
Redeem your miles on a variety of travel transactions, such as flights (Alaska plus partnered) or hotel stays. You can also apply your miles towards a discount on an Alaska flight. Less standard means of spending include gifting miles or signing up for a magazine subscription.
One exciting way to redeem is by booking a stopover. Booking a short getaway en route to your business travel destination allows you mix work with play, also known as a bleisure trip. After all, who wants to spend their miles on just work stuff?
Alaska’s unique benefits and generous points system helps them stand out from the crowd of airline loyalty programs. If you’ve got an Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan membership, tell us how you’ve used it in the comments below.
Business Travel Life
Business Travel Life is an online resource supporting the road warrior lifestyle. We give business travelers the tools they need to maintain their wellness and productivity when traveling. The topics we cover include business travel tips, travel workouts, healthy travel hacks, travel products, general travel tips, and industry trends. Our goal is to make business travel a healthier experience – and to make healthy travel practices more accessible to all road warriors.
