Obviously, the most effective way to rack up Alaska miles with the Alaska Signature card is to use it for Alaska Airlines purchases where you’ll earn 3x miles.
Here are some other ways to earn more miles with the Alaska Signature card:
Tip #1: Qualify for elite status with the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program and earn tons of bonus miles. There are 4 levels: MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K.
Tip #2: With Mileage Plan Shopping, you earn miles by shopping online with over 800 participating retailers, including Groupon, Sears, and REI. Pay with your Alaska Signature card and earn additional miles.
Tip #3: Rent a car with Alaska’s rental car agency partners to earn triple miles and other deals. Check the offers for each car rental agency, because they can vary widely during promotional periods.
For example, at one point Hertz offered 4x miles plus savings of up to 35% for using your Alaska Airlines membership number!
Tip #4: Mileage Plan has an extensive list of Everyday Mileage partners, such as GCI, Teleflora, and Carrs Safeway. Each business offers miles and discounts for its products and services.
Tip #5: Fly Alaska Airlines partner airlines to earn flight miles and premium cabin bonuses. Click on an airline at the Mileage Plan website to find out how many miles you can earn.
The miles you earn with some carriers, such as American Airlines, can even count toward Alaska Airlines elite status.
Tip #6: Stay at partner hotels to earn Alaska Airlines miles.
Tip #7: Earn 1,500 bonus miles for vacation packages purchased at alaskaair.com. Flights must be marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines with the 2-letter airline code AS preceding the flight number on your receipt or boarding pass.
If flights are shorter than 500 miles, you will earn a minimum of 500 miles. Also, these bonus miles are per booking (not per passenger) and do not count toward elite status qualification.
If you fly Alaska Airlines and its partner airlines on a frequent basis, you can earn a decent amount of miles with the Alaska Signature card. Those miles can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and magazine subscriptions, and more!
Tip #1: Redeem miles for flights on Alaska Airlines or over a dozen global airline partners. You can book flights with most partner airlines on alaskaair.com.
However, you’ll need to call Alaska Airlines at 800-252-7522 to book award flights on Cathay Pacific and LATAM.
Here is a sample of the miles you will need to book an award:
Award Type | Coach | Business | First |
Continental U.S. and Canada | 12,500 | 20,000 | 25,000 |
Intra-State | 7,500 | 12,500 | 15,000 |
Hawaii | 20,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 |
Central and South America | 17,500 | 25,000 | 30,000 |
Mexico | 17,500 | 25,000 | 30,000 |
The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program allows you to book one-way tickets with a free stopover, which is a unique benefit. After all, stopovers provide time to visit an extra location on the way to your final destination!
Tip #2: Redeem miles for an upgrade; you only need 15,000 for a first class upgrade award! You can also purchase upgrades for as little as $50. The total amount depends on how far you are traveling.
Tip #3: Don’t forget about that annual companion fare.
Tip #4: For as few as 500 miles, you can order a magazine subscription. Choose from top magazines such as “Glamour,” “Gold Digest,” “Sports Illustrated Kids,” and many more.
Tip #5: Share miles with a friend or loved one, or donate them to charity. You have both of these options when it comes to the miles you earn with the Alaska Signature card.
The Charity Miles program includes Make-A-Wish, The Nature Conservancy, Hero Miles, and various disaster relief organizations.