Alaska Airlines is adding perks for its loyalest flyers, and I’m impressed. I first wrote about this several weeks ago, when this was first revealed. These changes have now been rolled out, including the ability to nominate someone for elite status. Let’s cover all the details.
In this post:
Alaska’s new perks for lifetime elite members
In May 2023, Alaska Airlines revealed that it would make some positive changes to its million miler lifetime elite status program.
For context, those who earn one million miler status receive MVP Gold for life, while those who earn two million miler status receive MVP Gold 75K for life. That continues to be the case as before, but now eligible members get even more value:
- Alaska one million milers receive an annual status boost of 20,000 elite qualifying miles, while Alaska two million milers receive an annual status boost of 40,000 elite qualifying miles
- Alaska million milers are able to share status with someone in their household, and they can share the higher of their lifetime status or their annual earned status; this can be requested here, and will automatically renew each January
- Alaska million milers get prioritized ahead of other elite members in the same elite tier and fare class for upgrades (note that companions of million milers don’t get that same priority, but rather they’ll be “standard” elites within their tier)
- Alaska is increasing recognition of million milers, both via the call center (where an agent tool flags the status) and onboard flights (where the flight attendant app reflects this)
These are fantastic changes
Earning million miler status with Alaska takes commitment, given that the airline doesn’t have as big of a network as the “big three.” Alaska’s million miler program was already competitive, and now it’s industry leading.
These latest changes are great:
- The annual status boost is a good way to incentivize incremental business, especially for those looking to go for a higher elite tier, like MVP Gold 100K
- I love when a loyalty program creates rewards not just for the members, but also for family members, who are often making quite a sacrifice by having their loved one travel so much
- I think it makes perfect sense to prioritize upgrades for million milers vs. non-million milers, all else being equal
Well done, Alaska! As an American frequent flyer, I’m jealous. To say that American’s million miler program is uncompetitive would be a severe understatement. Meanwhile at Alaska, you can earn oneworld Emerald for life, not just for yourself, but also for a companion. *drool*
Bottom line
Alaska Mileage Plan is making significant improvements to its million miler program, with the introduction of an annual elite boost, household status sharing, and higher upgrade priority. It’s nice to see an airline listening to member feedback in this way.
What do you make of these Alaska million miler changes?
I thunk the reason why AA doesn't do this is because of previous CC spend earnings and the fact that many racked up MM status that way. Also that there are like 5 former loyalty programs mixed in. Kudos to Alaska for doing this, and I hope that AA figures out a fair way to allow current members to earn something better than what's currently offered.
It makes no difference to American how many miles you have flown. All that matters is how profitable you are for them.
Alaska giving away bonus miles to million milers and letting people gift elite status to their significant others is throwing profits out the window. I’d be infuriated as a shareholder.
Did You read? It's only Elite Qualifying Miles.....not redeemable miles. It only "matters" of they are still active, so they get a boost to requalify at a higher tier. Otherwise it's a mute point.
Okay! You are right. It can motivate customers to go for MVP 100k and obtain OW emerald status for you and a family member for life.
“adding perks for its loyalest flyers.” I think Ben meant to write “it’s most loyal flyers.”
It’s so silly why United and American don’t monetize their million milers. After getting MM on both I just started flying whoever had the best price, we have not crossed an Ocean on either in years since it wasn’t worth it just for points.
Two points: 1) the miles they are giving million milers (or two-million milers) aren’t redeemable miles, so there’s really no cost to them to give those away. It encourages million milers to fly more with Alaska, which is smart.
2) My spouse is a two-million miler with United, so I have lifetime platinum status as well. It absolutely incentives me to fly more with United than other airlines on my solo travel (about $5k a...
Two points: 1) the miles they are giving million milers (or two-million milers) aren’t redeemable miles, so there’s really no cost to them to give those away. It encourages million milers to fly more with Alaska, which is smart.
2) My spouse is a two-million miler with United, so I have lifetime platinum status as well. It absolutely incentives me to fly more with United than other airlines on my solo travel (about $5k a year for work/leisure). Again, that’s smart for United. Otherwise, I wouldn’t fly as often with them. Yes, I get a few extra bonus miles as a result (the “cost” to United), but that’s about 20,000 extra miles for being platinum vs. not having status), but that’s worth it to them for my extra business.
*incentivizes
Isnt AA's program crap because everyone is a MM, since any activity counts? Even partner airlines?
United is the hardest to get, without any boosts, class bonuses, etc.
“since any activity counts?”
That is incorrect. Only BIS counts. (Though partner airline flights credited to Aadvantage do count.) It’s been this way for a while (since USAirways management took over?).
Ann, they stopped counting CC spend like a decade ago. That's how many MM's were created. Otherwise it's been "bitter in seat miles" for at least the last 7 years. No status bonus or anything. I'm EP, fly 30+ segments a year including 2 long international trips, and have been OW Emerald that whole time and have less than 400k miles for Million Status.
It would be interesting to see another blog post, comparing this and others with the British airways Gold for life and Gold guest list for life tiers (the latter of course including 1 x Emerald and 2 x Sapphire partner cards for life).
I am a million miler on American and Alaska and these benefits have me using only my Alaska mileage number. I received my 20,000 mileage boost immediate following the announcement and called about the spouse benefits. I understand I will receive an email when the system is ready to accommodate adding my spouse as a fellow 100k Gold flyer, but as of June 29th 2023, it has yet to appear. I am not worried. I...
I am a million miler on American and Alaska and these benefits have me using only my Alaska mileage number. I received my 20,000 mileage boost immediate following the announcement and called about the spouse benefits. I understand I will receive an email when the system is ready to accommodate adding my spouse as a fellow 100k Gold flyer, but as of June 29th 2023, it has yet to appear. I am not worried. I really respect what Alaska Air does form a customer experience perspective,
This is Great as long as they don't take it away. My husband has had to fly for work for years and years and be gone so much.
Any idea if the shared status for a household member will automatically apply to the MVP nominee for 75Ks, or is this benefit in addition to the MVP nominee?
IMHO United treated me better in the earned top tier status at both airlines UNTIL last year. My default airline is now AK Air. Their mileage program was always the best. Now they also treat me better. Mm and 100k AK. 1k united. Alaska now do a 360 equivalent please!
Awesome Alaska! As a retired person with 1.8M Delta MQM provided with "lifetime" Silver status I am the ultimate free agent. Silver is worth 25% bonus Skypesos. Woo Hoo. I'll be at 1.8M for the foreseeable future as I credit to AF when flying Delta for the superior award structure and availability. When that changes I'll reassess.
As a Member of the elite Alaska Million miler - I say thank you! Very thoughtful insensitive to keep family members in the circle. Win - win.
Much appreciated, thank you Alaska Air. You know how to reward loyalty.
Now that Alaska is in OneWorld, it really makes AA look bad, and often. Where is our annual boost???
THIS is what makes AA look bad? AA has been trash since US Airways management took over.
Alaska Airlines has always been the "go to" for reward travel on so many airlines and to so many destinations.
I have travelled on purchased points many times around the world. So many CX, SQ, JAL, Hainan, Condor, Air Tahiti Nui. Iceland Air, Qantas, Sri Lankan, and Qatar flights.
Sadly points travel (even though paid for with cash) do not qualify for elite status. Earned points from travel are a reward but paid points are...
Alaska Airlines has always been the "go to" for reward travel on so many airlines and to so many destinations.
I have travelled on purchased points many times around the world. So many CX, SQ, JAL, Hainan, Condor, Air Tahiti Nui. Iceland Air, Qantas, Sri Lankan, and Qatar flights.
Sadly points travel (even though paid for with cash) do not qualify for elite status. Earned points from travel are a reward but paid points are a Revenue Stream and it does seem unfair that they don't qualify for Million Miler etc status.
But honestly I would never have been able to pay full fare so its a trade-off.
These are good changes for a million miler program. Other airlines take note.
American's million miler program is the absolute worst. I stopped flying them because of it ... I have 8 million miler miles accumulated as I commuted between São Paulo and Miami for 10 years. Now based in Madrid, I avoid AA at all costs. I was Concierge Key for 8 years, EP more this I can count ... The AA million miler program is a slap in the face. Kudos to Alaska!
I'm a life long Alaska resident (as in the state, not the airline). I've been MVP Gold or higher for the last 15 years, I'm at 60k with AK Air so far in 2023. I've lost trust in the airline I'm all but forced to use 90% of the time I travel. This is a nice perk for million milers but I have no faith it will last. In addition to that to those that...
I'm a life long Alaska resident (as in the state, not the airline). I've been MVP Gold or higher for the last 15 years, I'm at 60k with AK Air so far in 2023. I've lost trust in the airline I'm all but forced to use 90% of the time I travel. This is a nice perk for million milers but I have no faith it will last. In addition to that to those that think the loyalty program is "great" I challenge you to get an upgrade on any day of the week ANC-SEA in either direction... I've literally seen 70+ names on the upgrade request list on a flight of 120 people. I'm MVP 75k currently and have had one upgrade (even then, this was after boarding) in 14 RT trips to Seattle this year. None of my flights are "saver" tickets, most are full fare business travel. Simply put, given the choice, I fly American and actually get upgrades and better service. I've been upgraded over 50% of my AA flights this year, much higher than AS, including flights to/from ANC, DFW, CLT, SEA, PDX, PNS, PHX and more.
Same status. I get them out of SEA quite a bit. Never in/out of ANC. Too many 100k military, oil & gas flying hub to hub.
I've flown SEA-ANC-SEA on a Saturday and was upgraded at Gold, but this was in 2021.
A couple weeks ago I got an upgrade on Monday out and Thursday return, but as a 100k. Definitely a ton of elites on the route but that's how it goes when there are a lot of flyers and only one airline. At DFW there's about a billion AA elites.
The only negative (unless they've changed it) is that partner miles do not count towards the million miles, unlike the other programs) so it's a much harder target to hit since they don't have much of an international footprint (mainly Canada and Mexico).
I have no problem with this. I think it should be harder to attain than status. Yes, I am a MM and will continue to fly AS as the schedule and prices are reasonable to most (not all) of my regular destinations. This boost was a nice surprise and will take me from 75K (organic flying) to 100K before mid November based on what I have already booked.
Good for Alaska but beware, things can change over time. Just ask original United Million Milers like myself. After Continental took over they stripped us of the status level and other benefits United had promised. Then in 2013 a court ruling allowed it. (now precedent) And that was before Kirby LOL
At the young age of 28 and extremely loyal domestically to Alaska since the pandemic, I’m even more excited to eventually reach 1-2 million miler!
Just 850,000 miles to go LOL
With my wife and I both at 950,000 lifetime miles, this is very timely and something we can really look forward to. AS is the best program hands down (upgrades 75%+) and this just proved it.
Congratulations. It would be helpful to know your home airport so maybe we could re-position a layover there ;-).
About time we saw some positive changes to a loyalty program anywhere lol