Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. South Bend, IN (SBN) Allegiant Air: Seasonal : 702-505-8888 : Syracuse, NY (SYR) . Nevertheless, low levels of status aren't worthless, and there's one entry-level status I chase each year: Alaska Airlines MVP status. s an MVP Gold 100K, youll enjoy the highest upgrade priority. Apply for an Alaska Airlines US Visa Signature credit card, Apply for an Alaska Airlines US Business credit card. Now that Alaska Airlines has joined the oneworld alliance, elite status offers benefits on all alliance member airlines. Depending on length of flight and departure time, meal options may include one of our Picnic Packs, a Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter, a Protein Platter, a sandwich or a salad. Learn more. EasyBiz discount and companion fare codes. These seats provide 4 inches of additional legroom plus complimentary alcoholic beverages. Benefit selection is valid only for Alaska Airlines MVP Gold 100K members who met the published qualification criteria, including both the required elite qualifying miles or total segments, and the minimum number of Alaska operated segments. Alaska Airlines MVP status is the lowest level of elite status but it still comes with lots of benefits including priority check-in, boarding, and seating, seat upgrades, free checked bags, elite bonus miles, discounted Alaska lounges membership, and Oneworld Ruby status. Most significantly, MVP Gold 100K members will receive 150% bonus . Members qualifying for MVP Gold 100K status in 2022 for the 2023 program year will be invited to select one 100K Choice Benefit in early January 2023. Upgraded Points, LLC uses reasonable efforts to maintain accurate information on the site and prior to applying for any credit card offers found on UpgradedPoints.com, all visitors should review other features of such credit cards including but not limited to interest rates, annual fees and transaction fees, and should determine the suitability of such credit cards considering their own individual financial position. Alaska Airlines has typically been very well regarded in the frequent flyer community and consistently ranks as a top airline. Miles earned and segments flown on Ravn Alaska do not count towards elite status. MVP. It's Alaska Mileage Plan's highest elite status level and requires 75,000 elite qualifying miles on Alaska Airlines or Virgin America in a single year. Premium Class upgrades start at $15 per flight, so if you fly 6 round trips per year, youll save $180. In accordance with the individual policy of the oneworld airline operating the flight. In addition, youll also need to meet the minimum number of flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines. Amazon is in a massive rut right now, with shares hovering 46% off peak levels. The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan frequent flyer program has 3 levels of elite status: MVP MVP Gold MVP Gold 75K When you submit a request, Alaska will consider a status match from your current elite status to its corresponding elite status level. First, most fares are eligible for immediate upgrades (Y, Z, S, B, M, H, Q, L, V, N and K). Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Like MVP Gold, this includes the ability to pick Main Cabin Extra seats on American Airlines flights at the time of booking. All Intelsat Inflight LLC. This is an important criteria to be aware of, and prevents anyone who cant / doesnt fly Alaska Airlines from earning status (they can still earn and redeem miles, however). Earned after 40,000 elite qualifying miles. After flying 1,000,000 miles on Alaska Airlines, youll be a Million Miler and earn MVP Gold status for life. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The latest, lowest fares in your inbox every week. If you do share, please share the voucher code (available in "my account" under "Alaska Lounge passes.") This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This bonus value is an estimated valuation. Yes, if you hold status with another airline, you can request a status match challenge from Alaska. We may be compensated when you click on links from one or more of our advertising partners. Second, these numbers are all based on the benefits you'd enjoy after achieving the given status level and continuing to qualify each year thereafter. To apply the value of an unused ticket towards a new reservation, use your e-ticket number. You can then extend this status by flying a certain number of miles on Alaska. Free upgrades to first class (processed 24 hours before departure). Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Its hubs are mostly contained to cities on the West Coast, including: Further, the airline has focus cities in San Diego and San Jose, California. No changes are allowed on Saver fares (booked in X class of service). This includes the ability to pick Main Cabin Extra seats on American Airlines flights at the time of booking. Yes, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines elite members will enjoy some reciprocal benefits on these 2 airlines. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. We're keeping the value the same since youll hopefully spend most of your time in either first or Premium Class as a 75K traveler. Use of business class or first class check-in. Enjoy complimentary lounge access when traveling on certain non-alliance partners, such as the Saga Lounge in at Keflavik Airport (KEF) in Reykjavik when traveling on Icelandair. Its critical to think about how much youll be traveling in the future. The confirmation code is invalid. Alaska offers four levels of elite status: MVP. Is Alaska Airlines Elite Status Worth It? Related: The latest on Alaskas Oneworld partnership. While Alaska already shared what benefits the new status tier would entail, it stopped short of announcing a . Applies to member and companions in the same reservation. If you'd like to add a comment to this article and share your valuable feedback and opinions, please click here to leave your comment. Earning elite status in the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program is relatively straightforward and easy to understand (unlike some of the other airline elite status programs out there). Alaska Airlines is set to join the oneworld alliance from 31 March 2021 ( it had originally hoped to join in 2020) and today has seen the airline confirm the oneworld status levels that each of Mileage Plan's elite tiers will be receiving once the airline's membership of oneworld is complete. Oneworld PartnersAlaska AirlinesMalaysia AirlinesAmerican AirlinesOman Air (joining in 2024)British AirwaysQantasCathay PacificQatar AirwaysFiji Airways (Oneworld Connect Partner)Royal Air MarocFinnairRoyal JordanianIberiaS7 Airlines (temporarily suspended)Japan AirlinesSriLankan Airlines, Aer LingusAir Tahiti NuiCondorEL AL Israel AirlinesHainan AirlinesIcelandairKorean AirLATAM AirlinesMokulele Airlines + Southern Airways ExpressRavn AlaskaSingapore Airlines. MVP Gold 100Ks get a total of two one-way upgrade certificates to move the next class of service on international American Airlines flights. These segments can be on Alaska Airlines or any partner airline (basically, any flight which qualifies to earn base miles will be a qualifying segment). It's possible to earn some of these partner statuses without flying meaning Alaska elite status is likewise possible without flying. Members who earned status via promotions, status match, or status gifts are not eligible. MVP Gold. Status Miles You can increase your Alaska Mileage Plan. Eugene, OR 97402. Eligible miles earned on Alaska Airlines*. Best sweet spots with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, The ultimate guide to getting upgraded on Alaska Airlines, American, Alaska Airlines detail reciprocal elite benefits, upgrades, How to earn miles with the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program, Elite qualification changes to know about, Alaska Airlines joined the Oneworld alliance in 2021, Your complete guide to earning and redeeming with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. For this analysis, we'll base our numbers on earning 24,000 elite qualifying miles at 12.5 cents per mile (so a total spending of $3,000). Fly more, earn more miles faster. Complimentary snack for MVP Gold 100K members is available on most flights over 790 miles. The new status will be introduced in early 2022, and as the name suggests, it will require earning 100,000 elite miles, and flying at least 24 segments on Alaska Airlines. To view trip details, change seats, change dates or times for select reservation types, or cancel a current reservation, use your confirmation code. and has previously written for Million Mile Secrets. The cruising arm of tourism giant Disney made a dream come true for its most loyal fans Thursday when it posted details of what it's calling Pearl status. Nevertheless, its a favorite of many award travelers, and we hope this analysis has given you some food for thought as you decide whether to pursue MVP elite status with Alaska this year. Award tickets do not earn elite qualifying miles, and miles earned through the Alaska Airlines co-branded credit cards dont count toward elite status. Its also a step above the free-checked-bag perk offered to, Preferred seats may include aisle seats, those in emergency exit rows or those located close to the front of the aircraft. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Upgraded Points, LLC uses reasonable efforts to maintain accurate information on the site and p. rior to applying for any credit card offers found on UpgradedPoints.com, all visitors should review other features of such credit cards including but not limited to interest rates, annual fees and transaction fees, and should determine the suitability of such credit cards considering their own individual financial position. See our Advertiser Disclosurefor more details. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. You have 12 months to earn status. MVP Gold 75K: $6,670 / 90,000 elite qualifying miles = 7.41 cents per elite qualifying mile. All you need to do is fly at least 20,000 eligible miles or 30 segments in addition to at least 2 flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines within a calendar year. Bottom Line: You can status match to Alaska Airlines from a number of other airline statuses. In addition, 12 eligible segments must be flown on Alaska Airlines. MVP: $635 / 24,000 elite qualifying miles = 2.65 cents per elite qualifying mile. Editorial Disclosure:The content featured on UpgradedPoints.com has not been influenced, provided, or reviewed by the credit card companies mentioned. The airport is near the site of the Ryan Airlines factory, but it is not the same as Dutch Flats Airport, the Ryan airfield where Charles Lindbergh flight-tested the Spirit of St. Louis . A total of four Alaska Lounge day passes are awarded per year to members who attain MVP Gold 75K or above. Alaska Airlines does recognize those who fly shorter distances by providing the option to achieve Alaska Airlines elite status via flight segments flown versus miles flown. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. If you are boarding with a . Plus, 50,000 bonus miles upon qualification. Two final bits of information: For the sake of this analysis, we're valuing any bonus miles earned based on TPG valuations, which currently peg Alaska miles at 1.8 cents apiece, though a devaluation may be coming. 4/ 02 Mar 2023 14:00:25 Enjoy priority check-in, security and boarding when you fly on Alaska. First, its important to note that these mathematical analyses represent just one way of calculating the value youd get out of a given elite status level. 120 hours before departure, with the highest waitlist opportunity. However, I'm going to share why I believe Alaska MVP is the best entry-level elite status. Many airlines are offering elite status extensions and bonuses into 2023, and Alaska Airlines is no exception. In addition, 6 eligible segments must be flown on Alaska Airlines. Many road warriors are rabidly loyal to their airline of choice. Members selecting complimentary WiFi will receive a monthly Wi-Fi membership valid for complimentary access on Alaska marketed flights operated by Alaska, Horizon Air or SkyWest Airlines , valid from the date of selection of the benefit through the end of the program year. Earned after 75,000 elite qualifying miles. Ugh. The U.S. real median household income (adjusted for inflation) in 2021 was $70,784. For members qualifying for 100K in calendar year 2023 for the 2024 program year, the end of the program year is December 31, 2024. 2023 Upgraded Points, LLC. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments. A minimum of 4 flights of the 40,000 miles earned must be marketed and operated by Alaska in order to earn the status. Qualified members may select one option from the list of available benefits for that program year. That means your bonus of 10,000 miles is worth about $180. Pilots are currently in the midst of contract negotiations with #AmericanAirlines, #SouthwestAirlines, and #UnitedAirlines. Travel on Alaska Airlines. To redeem 75K Lounge day passes, visit the Alaska Lounge and provide your Mileage Plan number or voucher code to the Concierge. Mileage bonus of 125% on Alaska Airlines and most partner airlines. For example, if you earn Alaska Airlines MVP status in October of 2023, your status would be valid through December of 2024. Mileage Plan elites enjoy additional benefits with us,oneworldAlliance, and ourGlobal Partners. An Alaska Airlines flight was delayed when two pilots decided they couldn'tor wouldn'tfly the plane together. ) Theyre even valid on flights booked using the. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Once you fly the required miles on Alaska, your elite benefits will be extended based on when you started your status match challenge. With these programs, you cannot earn elite status unless you meet a minimum amount of spending with the airline (or possibly on associated credit cards). With 120,000 miles of flying, that equates to 180,000 extra miles. Enjoy 50,000 miles toward your next vacation. Only members who meet the published qualification criteria for the tier are eligible. Elite status with Mileage Plan is awarded purely based on the level of flying within each calendar year. Elite members from 9 North American airlines can match their elite status up to MVP Gold 75K. For members qualifying for 100K in calendar year 2022 for the 2023 program year, the end of the program year is December 31, 2023. Instead, you have to earn elite status with a Oneworld member carrier by meeting the qualifications with one of the airline's own frequent flyer programs. More discounts for your flight . Who doesnt love airline elite status? Mileage bonus of 50% on Alaska Airlines and most partner airlines. If youre an MVP Gold 100K who flies 100,000 miles, your 150% bonus will give you an extra 150,000 miles with a value of about $2,700! In this post, well show you everything you need to know about how to get Alaska Airlines elite status, including the minimum requirements, levels of status, the benefits of each level of status, and that all-important question is it even worth it? One motivation is a lump sum of 50,000 bonus miles. Related: The ultimate guide to getting upgraded on Alaska Airlines. Four one-way guest upgrade certificates (valid for passengers not traveling with you, for tickets in booking classes Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S, or N). While no official news has been announced, it's possible that Alaska will drop other partners like Singapore Airlines and LATAM if it wants to shift more business toward Oneworld carriers. However, we'll assume a value of roughly one-third of our valuation of MVP status. Priority check-in, security and boarding Priority check-in and security screening lanes. Bottom Line: Unfortunately, there is no way to fast-track to Alaska Airlines elite status with co-branded credit cards. Alaska MVP Gold 75k benefits 125% bonus on base miles Priority check-in, security, and boarding Two free checked bags Discounted Alaska Lounge membership Access to preferred seating Standby and waitlist for full flights First Class upgrades. Travel with award winning oneworld member airlines while using your Mileage Plan elite status benefits to over 900 destinations. A bonus of 50,000 miles upon qualification. These questions are also not easy to answer, as many different factors come into play with each of them. "This indicates a link to an external site that may not follow the same accessibility or privacy policies as Alaska Airlines. This includes the same priority check-in and standby offered to MVP plus priority boarding and business-class lounge access when traveling internationally. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Upgrades process as early as 72 hours before departure, after AAdvantage Platinum Pro members. MVP Gold members 10,000 miles. For more information on our advertisers, see here. All Alaska Lounge+ membership terms and conditions apply. Long awaited MVP Gold members are granted Sapphire benefits when traveling on Oneworld airlines. Ive been flying a lot this year, and still have 12,286 miles to go until MVP status. 2023 Alaska Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved. Alaska Airlines and its regional partners serve 120 destinations across the United States and to Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. Icelandair Saga Lounge locations listed below when holding a current day ticket/boarding pass with at least one Icelandair operated international flight segment. The MVP Gold 100K tier was rolled out in early 2022 and members are eligible for this level if they've. Related: Your complete guide to earning and redeeming with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. It will NOT be published. These certificates can be used to upgrade to first class on Alaska-operated flights, and theyre transferable to others. MVP: Fly 20,000 miles or 30 segments on. Starting May 7th, United will resume once a day flights. Elites who didnt requalify for the status level they held in 2022 can fast-track to extend their status through December 31, 2023, by earning the following number of base flight miles between January 13, 2023, and April 13, 2023: If you have elite status with another airline, you can apply for a status match to Alaska Airlines. The e-ticket number entered is invalid. Alaska Airlines to put limits on 'smart bags' starting Jan . Terms and Conditions. This varies by airline and may include exit row seating for Emerald members. However, the credit card information that we publish has been written by experts who know these products inside out, and what we recommend is what we would (or already) use ourselves. MVP Gold. Based on TPG's valuations, the 50,000 miles are worth $900. Please do not share your Mileage Plan number. Not available on certain deeply discounted fares including bulk or industry tickets. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This includes the class of service bonus, but not any elite status bonus. With Mileage Plan, elite status is earned solely from frequent flying, and benefits apply on Alaska Airlines flights, as well as all oneworld partner airlines. Finally, you can upgrade a companion traveling with you. 4 per year), Access to preferred or pre-reserved seating, Priority on waitlists and when on standby. Check in online or with our self-service check-in machines when traveling with us. I get that the airfare is generally more expensive to travel coast to coast but would like to see a more equitable way of capturing and earning the elite status for frequent flyers of all flights rather than just frequent flyers of long flights. Earned 2023 Premier status is valid through January 2024. The confirmation code or e-ticket number is invalid. Check here before booking an award fare. This brings us to the third and most critical part of this analysis: the underlying assumptions we're making. Technically there is a top level of Million Miler as well. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Mileage bonus of 150% on Alaska Airlines and most partner airline. (formerly Gogo Inflight) terms and conditions"This indicates a link to an external site that may not follow the same accessibility or privacy policies as Alaska Airlines. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. You don't receive any additional miles when qualifying for 100K status so we'll keep this value the same. However, Alaska Airlines has done a poor job communicating the new elite level and requirements. Alaskas top-tier MVP Gold 100K status requires 100,000 elite qualifying miles or 140 segments on Alaska or its partners. To help modify the analysis for those individuals, we've taken the above valuations and converted them to a value per elite qualifying mile, as follows: You can then use these numbers to calculate how much value youd get from the different status levels, given a certain amount of flying. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC). As with just about any elite status, the true value depends on how frequently that person actually flies Alaska (or the carriers partner airlines). Free upgrades to premium class at time of booking (for tickets in all booking classes except X), One international upgrade certificate each year for an. What are the main benefits you see in the program? The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. Learn more. At least 12 segments on Alaska-marketed and -operated flights. This is a 1-time opportunity that will give you status for 90 days while you complete your status match challenge which allows you to keep your new status longer. . Alaska MVP is the middle-level elite status offered by Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. Premium Class seats. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. On paper, TPG values MVP status less than American AAdvantage Gold and United Premier Silver. Earned after 20,000 elite qualifying miles. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Benefits of Alaska Airlines elite status include free checked baggage and seat upgrades. Everyone has their own way of valuing the various benefits of loyalty programs; some may always pay for first and business class and thus do not need complimentary upgrades, while others may travel exclusively in the U.S. and dont care about free lounge access on international itineraries. Eligible miles earned on Alaska Airlines plus Oneworld and global partners, Eligible segments flown on Alaska Airlines plus Oneworld and global partners, Minimum number of flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines, First Class Upgrades at the Time of Booking, Premium Class Upgrades at the Time of Booking, First and Premium Class Upgrades on Non-qualifying Fares on Alaska Airlines, Companion Upgrades to Premium and First Class, Complimentary Premium Beverage or Chocolate in Main Cabin, International Upgrade Certificate on American Airlines, Earn and Redeem Miles on Oneworld Partner Flights, Elite Bonus Miles on Eligible Oneworld Flights, Extra Baggage Allowance and Priority Handling, To keep MVP Gold status, fly 10,000 miles, To keep MVP Gold 75K status, fly 20,000 miles, Express security screening at select airports, Elite Leave for new parents, allowing you to keep elite status for an additional year during pregnancy or parental leave, Mokulele Airlines + Southern Airways Express. And even if you book a lower fare class that cant immediately be upgraded, youll start clearing into available seats 72 hours before departure. According to our most recent valuations, Alaska miles are worth ~1.8 cents each. The program will continue to evolve as the airline makes redemptions available on more Oneworld partners. In addition, 2 eligible segments must be flown on Alaska Airlines. is a former reporter for the site, covering all things points, miles, credit cards, travel and aviation. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market.