Exploring the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: What’s New and Noteworthy
Exploring the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: What’s New and Noteworthy
If you’re an Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan member—or just curious about the program—there’s plenty to love, especially with the exciting changes following their acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. Alaska Mileage Plan remains one of the most rewarding airline loyalty programs, thanks to its valuable miles, strong partnerships, and unique perks.
The 2023 entry into the oneworld alliance significantly expanded Alaska’s global reach, introducing a unified award chart with excellent redemption "sweet spots." The recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines adds even more appeal, with HawaiianMiles temporarily transferable to Alaska miles on a 1:1 basis, offering new ways to combine miles.
Core benefits like generous mileage earnings and easier-to-achieve elite status continue to make the program a favorite, especially for West Coast travelers. With its evolving features and integration with Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Mileage Plan is a loyalty program worth exploring. Here’s a quick overview of the Alaska Airlines Plan.
What’s New with Alaska Airlines Post-Acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines?
The acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines opens up new opportunities for Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members. Here are some of the standout updates:
New Transoceanic Flights: Alaska Airlines now offers flights from the U.S. to Japan and Korea, with some featuring lie-flat seats—great news for those seeking a more comfortable long-haul journey.
New Premium Credit Card: Expected perks include earning 3x points abroad, a companion fare (not limited to paid flights), and elite status boosts.
Improved Award Booking Options: Soon, members will be able to book award tickets that combine multiple partners, breaking free of the current "one non-Alaska partner" restriction.
What Makes Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Stand Out?
Even before the Hawaiian Airlines merger, Alaska’s Mileage Plan had plenty of features that appealed to frequent flyers:
Mileage-Based Earnings: You earn miles for paid flights based on distance flown rather than ticket cost, which is especially beneficial for domestic economy flights.
Elite Status Benefits: Achieving elite status is reportedly easier compared to other airline programs.
Free Stopovers: Add a free stopover to most one-way award tickets, essentially giving you an extra destination.
Flexible Award Changes: Changing award tickets is free and hassle-free.
Sweet Spot Awards: Alaska’s award chart includes excellent value routes, often referred to as "sweet spots" by frequent flyers.
Shared Miles for Awards: You can pool miles from multiple accounts to pay for an award flight.
Elite Qualifying Miles on Partner Awards: Even partner award bookings earn elite qualifying miles based on distance flown.
Potential Drawbacks of the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
No mileage program is perfect, and Alaska Airlines is no exception. Here are a few limitations to consider:
Limited International Routes: Alaska is still building its presence outside North America, although their strong network of partners helps mitigate this.
First Class Critiques: Alaska’s first-class offerings don’t measure up to some competitors, though the Hawaiian Airlines acquisition may lead to improvements.
Fewer Transfer Options: Unlike other airlines, Alaska doesn’t have robust partnerships with bank rewards programs, except for Bilt.
Single Non-Alaska Partner Restriction: Currently, award bookings can only include one non-Alaska partner, though this is set to change soon.
For Hawai‘i-based travelers, these updates are especially exciting. Whether you’re booking interisland flights or dreaming of international adventures, Alaska Airlines is leveling up its offerings to meet your needs.
Happy flying!
Aloha,
The Credit Hacker
