This article is part of a directory: Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan Frequent Flyer Program: The Simple Flying Guide

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The Different Ways To Earn Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles

Mileage Plan is the frequent flyer and mileage program from Alaska Airlines. It has long been a favorite among travelers for its generous earning and redeeming rates. Things have changed for the better since Alaska Airlines joined the oneworld alliance – miles can now be earned and used on all alliance airlines.

For the time being, the program retains a distance-based method of earning miles. All the main US legacy airlines have now moved to a revenue-based earning method (at least for their own flights), setting MileagePlan apart.

Earning miles on Alaska Airlines flights

Mileage is earned based on the flight distance. Until recently, all flights operated and marketed by Alaska Airlines earned base miles of 100% of the distance flown (and this was a strong marketing proposition for the airline). This was changed at the end of 2022, with the lowest saver fares earning just 30% of the distance flown. These are the lowest fares the airline sells (booked in X class), and are non-refundable.

Alaska Airlines
Photo: Alaska Airlines

Flights operated by American Airlines and marketed by Alaska Airlines will also earn 100%, for all but the saver fares. This follows the same system and earns 30% of the distance flown (there was an interim earning level of 50% for American Airlines saver fares in place until July 2023).

In addition to these base miles earnings, there are two further earning bonuses:

  • Cabin bonus. This is based on the fare class/booking code (not just the cabin of service). It ranges from zero for the lowest economy booking classes, to 100% for full fare first class.
  • Status bonus. This is based on the passenger's elite status level in the Mileage Plan scheme. MVP level has a 50% bonus, MVP Gold offers 100%, MVP Gold 75K offers 125%, and the highest level of MVP Gold 100K offers 150%.

The table below shows the earning rates for all Alaska Airlines fare classes. You can see full details on the Mileage Plan website.

Alaska Airlines earning
Photo: Alaska Airlines

And for completeness, the following is the table for all partner-operated flights (marketed by Alaska Airlines). Earnings rates are very similar, but this includes the possibility of earning in first class (same as business class) and in premium economy (same as full fare economy).

Alaska Airlines earning
Image: Alaska Airlines

Earning miles on partner flights

Alaska Airlines joined the oneworld alliance in 2021. Miles can now be earned on all oneworld partner airlines – including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, and SriLankan Airlines.

A Qatar Airways Airbus A350 in oneworld livery flying in the sky.
Photo: axell.rf | Shutterstock

In addition, Alaska Airlines has several partnerships allowing mileage to be earned on non-alliance airlines. These airlines include Aer Lingus, Air Tahiti Nui, Condor, El Al Israel Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Icelandair, Korean Air, LATAM, Ravn Alaska, Singapore Airlines, and STARLUX Airlines.

Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER
Photo: Soos Jozsef | Shutterstock.

There are also earning (but not redeeming) schemes with the following regional airlines - Cape Air, Kenmore Air, Mokulele Airlines, and Southern Airways Express.

For all airlines, mileage is earned based on the flight distance and the fare class purchased. Tables are published for each airline, showing the percentage earned in each case. Unlike Alaska Airlines flights (which earn 100% base miles for fares other than saver), the base miles with partners vary from 100% down to 25%. As with Alaska Airlines flights, there are additional bonuses for cabin/fare class and for elite status.

You can see all earning tables on the Mileage Plan website. The three examples below are for American Airlines, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines.

Alaska Airlines
Image: Alaska Airlines
A screenshot of the table of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan earnings with British Airways.
Image: Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Image: Alaska Airlines

With Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan continuing to award miles based on distance, rather than revenue, there are increasing opportunities for travelers with other airlines to take advantage. All the main US airline programs now award miles based on ticket price - including, of course, American Airlines with its Aadvantage program. This revenue-based method is quickly spreading to other regions too. In Europe, Iberia and British Airways have made the switch. For frequent flyers, it may be worth considering switching to programs such as Mileage Plan if this older method appeals.

British Airways aircraft on the runwayEarning through credit cards

Whilst earning from flying is usually the most common method with any frequent flyer program, there are several other possibilities as well.

Like most US airlines, Alaska Airlines offers the chance to earn miles from spending on co-branded credit cards. These are only offered at the moment in the US and Canada. Personal and business cards are available, both issued with Bank of America. Cards earn miles at a rate of three miles per dollar on Alaska Airlines flights, and one mile per dollar for all other spending.

These cards offer additional benefits as well. They both offer a reduced companion fare offer (to use once per year on an Alaskan Airlines flight), and a free checked bag. There is also a signup bonus for new cardholders – this can be as much as 70,000 miles but varies with promotions throughout the year.

Alaska Airlines credit card
Photo: Alaska Airlines

Other ways of earning miles

Earn miles through hotel stays. This is a feature of most airline frequent flyer programs. When booking and staying at major hotel chains, you can often opt to receive miles instead of points in the hotel's own program. Mileage Plan does not have as many partnerships as some programs. You can earn with stays at four international chains - IHG, Best Western, Choice Hotels, and Marriott. Earning is also possible at US-only brands Westmark Hotels and Coast Hotels. All the hotel partners either offer a fixed number of miles per stay or a variable rate based on dollars spent.

Alaska Airlines hotel earning
Image: Alaska Airlines

Earn miles through car rental. Mileage Plan has partnerships with all the main car rental companies. With Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National, and Thrifty, you will earn the same rate of 50 miles per day. Some of these have slightly increased rates for rentals longer than three days.

Earn miles through online shopping. Many airline programs have an online shopping portal where you can earn miles by shopping through links. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is no exception. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Shopping offers miles based on spend at over 1,100 retailers in the US. There are regular bonus promotions as well, which can be excellent value if timed right. In addition, it has offers with several retailers, where you provide Mileage Plan details as part of ordering. These include 1-800-flowers, Carrs/Safeway stores in Alaska, GCI, Laithwaites wine, Teleflora, and Vinesse Wine Clubs.

Alaska Airlines shopping
Image: Alaska Airlines

Earn miles at restaurants. The Mileage Plan Dining Program rewards miles for spending at over 10,000 restaurants in the US. You sign up, link your Mileage Plan account, and then register the credit card you will use.

Love learning about points and miles? Read more of our loyalty news and guides here.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is certainly one of the most rewarding US-based frequent flyer programs. Especially as it now shares an alliance with American Airlines, there is always a chance it, too, will move to revenue-based earning. But it hasn’t yet, and for now, remains differentiated. Feel free to discuss earning methods and your experiences further in the comments.

  • Alaska Airlines Tile
    Alaska Airlines
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    AS/ASA
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Anchorage International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Portland International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
    Year Founded:
    1932
    Alliance:
    oneworld
    CEO:
    Ben Minicucci
    Country:
    United States
    Region:
    North America