Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Changes for 2024
Alaska Airlines announced today major changes for its Mileage Plan program that will kick in next year. The airline says that it is making it even easier and more rewarding with upfront information that’s clearer and more user-friendly. They’re also expanding award availability so members can find more award space when they want to travel.
While that’s true, there are also some negative changes as some sweet spots are going away. But award space for the most valuable redemptions was almost non-existent recently.
Let’s take a look at the changes and see how the Mileage Plan program will look next year.
New Awards Charts
Alaska Airlines will have a more straightforward set of award charts for all oneworld and partner airlines that will be effective in March 2024. The new charts are divided into three regions: the Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa; and Asia-Pacific. They provide clearly defined ‘starting from’ redemption rates that vary depending on the distance being flown.
The streamlined information gives a better idea of how many miles are needed to fly to and within regions of the world with short-haul awards starting as low as 4,500 miles each way (down from 7,500). Many shorter-distance flights within continents will start at up to half the current price.
Partner Award Charts
All our partner redemption pricing will be one-way so our guests can mix and match which airlines they’re flying, say British Airways on an outbound flight from Seattle to London and then Finnair from Helsinki to Seattle for the return. Starting March 2024, all Alaska Airlines partners will start at these award levels:
Americas
| Distance (miles) | Economy starting at | Premium Economy starting at | Business starting at | First starting at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 700 | 4,500 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 13,500 |
| 701–1,400 | 7,500 | 10,000 | 15,000 | 25,000 |
| 1,401–2,100 | 12,500 | 17,500 | 25,000 | 40,000 |
| 2,101–4,000 | 17,500 | 22,500 | 35,000 | 52,500 |
| 4,001–6,000 | 25,000 | 32,500 | 50,000 | 75,000 |
| 6,001 and above | 30,000 | 40,000 | 60,000 | 90,000 |
Includes travel from US to Americas and within Americas. Americas include North America, Caribbean Islands, Central America and South America.
Europe, Middle East, Africa
| Distance (miles) | Economy starting at | Premium Economy starting at | Business starting at | First starting at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1,500 | 7,500 | 10,000 | 15,000 | 22,500 |
| 1,501–3,500 | 22,500 | 30,000 | 45,000 | 67,500 |
| 3,501–5,000 | 27,500 | 35,000 | 55,000 | 82,500 |
| 5,001–7,000 | 35,000 | 45,000 | 70,000 | 105,000 |
| 7,001–10,000 | 42,500 | 55,000 | 85,000 | 130,000 |
| 10,000 and above | 55,000 | 72,500 | 110,000 | 165,000 |
Includes travel from US to EMEA and within EMEA. EMEA includes Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Asia Pacific
| Distance (miles) | Economy starting at | Premium Economy starting at | Business starting at | First starting at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1,500 | 7,500 | 10,000 | 15,000 | 22,500 |
| 1,501–3,000 | 25,000 | 32,500 | 50,000 | 75,000 |
| 3,001–5,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 | 60,000 | 90,000 |
| 5,001–7,000 | 37,500 | 50,000 | 75,000 | 110,000 |
| 7,001–10,000 | 42,500 | 55,000 | 85,000 | 130,000 |
| 10,000 and above | 65,000 | 85,000 | 130,000 | 195,000 |
Includes travel from US to Asia Pacific, within Asia Pacific and between Asia Pacific–Europe, Middle East, Africa. Asia Pacific includes SE Asia, Indian Subcontinent, South Pacific, Japan/Korea.
Alaska Award Charts
North American Awards
| From Contiguous US including Alaska and Canada to | Economy starting at | First starting at |
|---|---|---|
| Contiguous US, Alaska and Canada: less than 700 miles | 5,000 | 15,000 |
| Contiguous US, Alaska and Canada: 701–1,400 miles | 7,500 | 25,000 |
| Contiguous US, Alaska and Canada: 1,401–2,100 miles | 10,000 | 25,000 |
| Contiguous US, Alaska and Canada: 2,101 miles and above | 12,500 | 30,000 |
| Hawaii: all distances | 15,000 | 40,000 |
| Mexico, Central America and Caribbean: all distances | 10,000 | 30,000 |
Money and Miles
| Contiguous US including Alaska and Canada | Economy |
|---|---|
| 50% discount up to $100 | 10,000 |
| 50% discount up to $200 | 20,000 |
You can find more information here.
More Changes
The March 2024 changes also include:
- Additional itineraries when combining Alaska flights with partner flights, providing more availability when connecting to global partner destinations.
- Access to increased award inventory on 10% of partner routes covering more than 370 global destinations. This gives members the flexibility to use additional miles to fly when they want in the cabin they want.
- New awards between and within regions outside of North America, such as Madrid to London, Paris to Sydney, or Tokyo to Singapore.
- Reducing the miles required to some of the most sought-after global destinations. For example, award pricing to London and Tokyo will be reduced by 15% on average when traveling nonstop from the West Coast.
- Beginning in 2024, Alaska will offer regular global partner award sales with quarterly, limited-time promotions featuring special pricing of up to 50% off specific partners, routes or destinations.
- Alaska will continue to offer one of the most generous stopover policies on award tickets in the industry. Stopovers allow for a free stop in a partner’s hub on the way to a final destination, squeezing in two trips for the price of one.
Guru’s Wrap-up
Alaska Airlines is making major changes to its Mileage Plan program starting in March 2024. There are new and simplified award charts with redemption rates that vary depending on the three new zones, and distance being flown. But some sweet spots, especially for transpacific travel, are going away.
Let me know in the comments how you feel about these changes.
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