Alaska Airlines has made some changes to its Mileage Plan program as of 2025, like increasing the ways you can earn elite status through credit card spending, and also awarding elite miles for award flights. That’s not all that has changed, though.
As of 2025, we’ve also seen Mileage Plan introduce the concept of milestone perks, whereby members can receive benefits for passing certain thresholds. Essentially, some perks have been decoupled from the traditional elite tiers, to give members more options. Let’s cover all the details.
In this post:
Details of Alaska Mileage Plan’s new milestone perks
We’re increasingly seeing airline loyalty programs introduce milestone perks, whereby members can select benefits when they pass certain thresholds, rather than just receiving benefits when they qualify for elite status (for example, American AAdvantage Loyalty Point Rewards, Delta SkyMiles Choice Benefits, etc.). The logic for this is two-fold:
- It’s intended to reward members more often, and keep them engaged in the program, since perks can be picked even outside of the traditional elite thresholds
- It’s intended to give members more options to pick the perks that matter most to them, given that we all value rewards differently
With that in mind, Alaska’s milestone perks can be picked at 11 different thresholds, ranging from 10,000 elite qualifying miles to 250,000 elite qualifying miles. Let’s go over the details. Before we do, let me mention that for those wondering about the Extras redemptions, Alaska will be introducing an experiences marketplace later in 2025, so that’s what this refers to. It’s not live yet.
Alaska Mileage Plan 10K milestone choices
For passing 10,000 elite qualifying miles in a year, Mileage Plan members can choose one of the following milestone perks:
- 750 bonus miles
- Pre-order a complimentary meal for your flight
- One complimentary Wi-Fi pass
- Try MVP status for a trip
- Earn double miles with non-air partners
- Upgrade your next Avis rental
Alaska Mileage Plan MVP status (20K milestone)
For passing 20,000 elite qualifying miles in a year, Mileage Plan members earn MVP status (oneworld Ruby), which offers the following perks:
- Earn 25% bonus miles on every flight, including with partners
- Enjoy exclusive day-of-travel benefits including upgrades to first class and Premium Class on Alaska, when available
- Starting later in 2025, companions traveling on the same flight, in the same reservation are eligible for first class and Premium Class upgrades, when available
- oneworld Ruby privileges, including upgrades to first class and Main Cabin Extra on American Airlines, when available
- Extra benefits with non-air partners, including a status match to Avis Preferred Plus status and discounts on a Clear Plus membership
It’s worth specifically calling out that two aspects of MVP status that are changing:
- As of later in 2025, companion upgrades for MVP members are a new perk, as historically those earning Alaska’s lowest elite tier haven’t qualified for this benefit for companions
- As of 2026, MVP members will receive one free checked bag, rather than two free checked bags
Alaska Mileage Plan 30K milestone choices
For passing 30,000 elite qualifying miles in a year, Mileage Plan members can choose one of the following perks:
- 2,500 bonus miles
- $25 off a future Alaska flight
- Four Wi-Fi passes
- Try MVP Gold status for a trip
- $100 off an Alaska Lounge membership
Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold status (40K milestone)
For passing 40,000 elite qualifying miles in a year, Mileage Plan members earn MVP Gold status (oneworld Sapphire), which offers the following incremental perks:
- Earn 50% bonus miles on every flight, including with partners
- oneworld Sapphire privileges, including access to business class lounges when traveling on a oneworld member airline to a destination outside of the US, Canada, or Mexico
- A complimentary premium drink or chocolate when flying in Main Cabin
- Standby and waitlist for full flights
- Complimentary same-day flight changes
- Extra benefits with non-air partners, including status-matching to Avis Preferred Plus status and discounts on a Clear Plus membership
Alaska Mileage Plan 55K milestone choices
For passing 55,000 elite qualifying miles in a year, Mileage Plan members can choose two of the following milestone perks:
- 5,000 bonus miles
- 10,000 miles off an Extras redemption
- Gift MVP for a trip
- One complimentary lounge day pass
- Two upgrade certificates
Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K (75K milestone)
For passing 75,000 elite qualifying miles in a year, Mileage Plan members earn MVP Gold 75K status (oneworld Emerald), which offers the following incremental perks:
- Earn 100% bonus miles on every flight, including with partners
- Complimentary upgrades into Premium Class upgrades at booking for all Main Cabin fares (excluding Saver)
- oneworld Emerald privileges, including access to business and first class lounges when traveling on a oneworld member airline to a destination outside of the US, Canada, or Mexico
- A complimentary premium drink or chocolate when flying in Main Cabin
- Extra benefits with non-air partners, including status-matching to Avis President’s Club status and discounts on a Clear Plus membership
Alaska Mileage Plan 85K milestone choices
For passing 85,000 elite qualifying miles in a year, Mileage Plan members can choose two of the following milestone perks:
- 15,000 bonus miles
- 25,000 miles off an Extras redemption
- Two complimentary lounge day passes
- Two upgrade certificates
- Gift MVP Gold status for a trip
- Nominate someone to MVP status
- 10,000 elite qualifying miles rolled over
Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K (100K milestone)
For passing 100,000 elite qualifying miles in a year, Mileage Plan members earn MVP Gold 100K status (oneworld Emerald), which offers the following incremental perks:
- Earn 150% bonus miles on every flight, including with partners
- Complimentary upgrades into Premium Class upgrades at booking for all Main Cabin fares (excluding Saver)
- oneworld Emerald privileges, including access to business and first class lounges when traveling on a oneworld member airline to a destination outside of the US, Canada, or Mexico
- A complimentary premium drink or chocolate when flying in Main Cabin
- A complimentary meal when flying in Main Cabin
- Extra benefits with non-air partners, including status-matching to Avis President’s Club status and discounts on a Clear Plus membership
On top of that, for passing 100,000 elite qualifying miles in a year, Mileage Plan members can choose one of the following milestone perks:
- 50,000 bonus miles
- 75,000 miles off an Extras redemption
- Alaska Lounge+ membership
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on every flight
- Four upgrade certificates
- Nominate someone for MVP Gold status
Alaska Mileage Plan 150K, 200K, 250K, milestone choice
For passing 150,000, 200,000, or 250,000 elite qualifying miles in a year, Mileage Plan members can choose two of the following milestone perks:
- 15,000 bonus miles
- 25,000 off an Extras redemption
- Two complimentary lounge passes
- Two upgrade certificates
- 10,000 elite qualifying miles rolled over
What has really changed with milestone perks?
While there are some all-new perks with the milestone perks program, it’s also worth acknowledging that in some situations, existing perks have been changed a bit, and not everyone comes out ahead. Let’s start with those who lose out a bit, which I’d say would be MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K members. Under the previous program (through 2024):
- Mileage Plan MVP Gold members automatically received four upgrade certificates
- Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K members automatically received four Alaska Lounge day passes
- Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K members automatically received 50,000 bonus miles
As of 2025, those perks are no longer offered simply for qualifying for elite status. Instead, they’re tied to the new milestone perks program, and in some cases, are harder to earn:
- Mileage Plan MVP Gold members no longer automatically receive upgrade certificates; instead, they could select four of these when passing 55,000 elite qualifying miles, but that requires ~38% more activity
- Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K members no longer automatically receive lounge passes or bonus miles; instead, they could select some perks at thresholds both below and above the 75,000 elite qualifying miles number
However, others come out ahead:
- Those who don’t even qualify for status can already start to be rewarded when they earn 10,000 elite qualifying miles
- Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K members have the opportunity to earn up to eight upgrade certificates, which some might find to be a great value
- Those who over qualify for status will have new opportunities to be rewarded, in ways they weren’t previously
Bottom line
Alaska Mileage Plan has introduced milestone perks, whereby members receive rewards at 11 different thresholds, ranging from 10,000 elite qualifying miles to 250,000 elite qualifying miles. There are winners and losers here, since we’ve seen a decoupling of some elite perks from the traditional status thresholds.
MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K members may not be happy about these changes, while those who don’t quite earn elite status, as well as those who over qualify for elite status, will likely be quite pleased.
It’s also important to consider this in the context of Mileage Plan status being easier to earn as of 2025 (by some metrics), as all award flights count toward elite qualification.
What do you make of the Alaska Mileage Plan milestone perks program?
Another devaluation disguised as a benefit. Disappointing. I've had gold for years and it's now worth less.
It's kinda implicit, but another big loser here are 1 and 2 million milers, who lose some of those benefits and effectively have to earn their way back to the status the got for life to regain benefits.
We are in Anchorage today to start the 2025 status chase. As a 100K I'm disappointed the 50K miles for hitting 75K will be gone, but Alaska remains the only US airline that highly values miles flown on their own metal.
75K got nerfed bigtime. There was a real incentive to shoot for that with all that came alongside it ... now 75K is far less important unless I want to get Emerald for the coming year, and that status doesn't do much for me.
I've been able to use GGUs on a few flights with enough planning. They're almost more helpful as upgrades as a 75K don't happen nearly like they used to.
So it...
75K got nerfed bigtime. There was a real incentive to shoot for that with all that came alongside it ... now 75K is far less important unless I want to get Emerald for the coming year, and that status doesn't do much for me.
I've been able to use GGUs on a few flights with enough planning. They're almost more helpful as upgrades as a 75K don't happen nearly like they used to.
So it becomes a real dilemma of going for RDMs or GGUs. If I could buy GGUs for 2500 RDMs I'd buy a handful each year on a lark so I guess that's my choice. I can basically 'pay' for that by checking a bag and waiting for the 20 minute guarantee. Now I just wish I could buy GGUs and get my RDMs :)
Gold guest upgrades are almost useless. They are never available on a flight you’d actually want to be on.
The reduction in the earnings bonus for Gold is regrettable but financially not a terrible hit. Loss of the Gold Guest certificate would be a big deal except that they've been all but impossible to use on flights where they'd be worthwhile for a couple of years now.
3,000 EQMs down from 4,000 for $10,000 in spend on the BofA card is unfortunate but perhaps the premium card Alaska is coming out with will...
The reduction in the earnings bonus for Gold is regrettable but financially not a terrible hit. Loss of the Gold Guest certificate would be a big deal except that they've been all but impossible to use on flights where they'd be worthwhile for a couple of years now.
3,000 EQMs down from 4,000 for $10,000 in spend on the BofA card is unfortunate but perhaps the premium card Alaska is coming out with will be better.
Not announced is whether for 2025 all miles whether earned through flying or spend on the Hawaiian credit card will count towards status as they did in 2024. If so although expensive that would make earning status with minimal flying possible.