New Perks and Faster Elite Status: Alaska Airlines Enhances Mileage Plan for 2025

Alaska Airlines has announced that starting in January 2025, its Mileage Plan members will receive new perks when they reach specific milestones, making it easier for members to achieve elite status earlier and providing more options to earn and redeem points with its global airline partners.

These changes come as Alaska Airlines prepares to merge its Mileage Plan program with Hawaiian Airlines’ HawaiianMiles program following their historic merger. This announcement stands out as other airlines seem to be reducing the benefits of their loyalty programs.

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

“We’re on a multi-year journey to make the industry’s most generous loyalty program even more rewarding,” said Brett Carlin, Vice President of Loyalty, Airlines and Sales at Alaska Airlines. “In 2025, Mileage Plan members will have access to all-new, more frequent perks along with expanded ways to earn elite status, including on award travel. As we invest in a single loyalty platform with Hawaiian Airlines, there is even more to come later in the year.”

Milestones and Perks

When flying with Alaska Airlines or its global partners, Mileage Plan members are rewarded with elite-qualifying miles (EQMs), and racking up certain amounts of them will allow them to hit different milestones from January 1st, 2025, with these milestones ranging from just 10,000 EQMs up to 250,000.

At each milestone, members will be offered a choice of perks: bonus miles, exclusive access to airport lounges, upgraded elite status for a selected trip, or exclusive events and experiences.

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

In 2025, the Milege Plan milestones and status levels will be as follows:

• 10,000 EQMs
• 20,000 EQMs (MVP Status)
• 30,000 EQMs
• 40,000 EQMs (MVP Gold Status)
• 55,000 EQMs
• 75,000 EQMs (MVP Gold 75K Status)
• 85,000 EQMs
• 100,000 EQMs (MVP Gold 100K Status)
• 150,000 EQMs
• 200,000 EQMs
• 250,000 EQMs

In addition to these new milestones, Mileage Plan members will earn EQMs when flying on award flights with Alaska Airlines and its global partners, with one mile earned per mile flown.

Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines Visa cardholders will earn one EQM for every $3 spent on qualifying purchases up to 30,000 EQMs. Members can also earn EQMs at a ratio of 1:3 when earning miles through Alaska’s non-airline partners, such as Lyft.

Premium Cabin Mileage Earning

Alaska is also enhancing miles earning for Mileage Plans flying in premium cabins with partner airlines. Currently, members earn 100 percent of the miles flown on Alaska’s 23 global partners, including American Airlines and British Airways.

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

But from next year, travelers flying in Premium Economy will receive a 100 percent mileage bonus, those in Business Class will receive 250 percent, and those in International First Class will be rewarded 350 percent.

Changes to Flight Upgrades

Finally, in late 2025, Alaska Airlines announced it would start prioritizing flight upgrades to its most loyal members instead of those who paid the most for their fares.

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

The highest priority will be given to Million Milers, while guests traveling with MVP members will also be eligible for upgrades, and eligible members will be notified as soon as an upgrade becomes available on any of their flights.