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Say goodbye to some of your favorite sweet spots, Alaska Airlines loyalists. Starting in March 2024, the airline’s switching to a whole new system that will eliminate specific deals but create opportunities for others.
Let’s jump into the details and examine Alaska’s changes.
Alaska is moving to a distance-based redemption system. It will include 3 regional award charts for travel to and from the U.S.: the Americas; Europe, the Middle East, and Africa; and Asia and the Pacific. The airline’s subregions, including Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Central America, will now be considered part of North America.
The new charts will apparently mean the end of some of our longtime favorite Alaska Airlines redemptions, like Cathay Pacific.
Currently, you can fly in one of the industry’s best first-class products to Hong Kong for 70,000 Alaska Airlines miles. Under the new system, that same flight will cost nearly twice as much at 130,000 miles.
Other changes will include:
What won’t change? Alaska Airlines won’t be getting rid of or altering its much-loved 14-day stopover policy on one-way international award flights.
“With focus on simplicity, value, and availability, Mileage Plan members will have new options to choose from across our 24 partner airlines,” Alaska Airlines said in a press release published today.
While there is no doubt that some of these changes may be disappointing, Alaska Airlines states that a significant percentage of partner nonstop routes in economy and business classes will now have a lower starting price, thanks to the new distance-based structure.
Presented below are the award charts featuring the updated pricing, categorized by region:
| Distance | Economy | Premium Economy | Business Class | First Class |
| 700 or fewer miles | 4,500 Mileage Plan miles or more | 6,000 | 9,000 | 13,500 |
| 701-1,400 | 7,500 | 10,000 | 15,000 | 25,000 |
| 1,401-2,000 | 12,500 | 17,500 | 25,000 | 40,000 |
| 2,001-4,000 | 17,500 | 22,500 | 35,000 | 52,500 |
| 4,001-6,000 | 25,000 | 32,500 | 50,000 | 75,000 |
| 6,001 or more | 30,000 | 40,000 | 60,000 | 90,000 |
| Distance | Economy | Premium Economy | Business Class | First Class |
| 1,500 or fewer miles | 7,500 Mileage Plan miles or more | 10,000 | 15,000 | 22,500 |
| 1,501-3,000 | 22,500 | 30,000 | 45,000 | 67,500 |
| 3,001-5,000 | 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 |
| 10,001 or more | 55,000 | 72,500 | 110,000 | 165,000 |
| Distance | Economy | Premium Economy | Business Class | First Class |
| 1,500 or fewer miles | 7,500 Mileage Plan miles or more | 10,000 | 15,000 | 22,500 |
| 1,500-3,000 | 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 |
| 10,001 or more | 65,000 | 85,000 | 130,000 | 195,000 |
The upcoming redemption changes to the Mileage Plan program will not go into effect until March 2024. Therefore, it is premature to draw definitive conclusions about these changes’ impact on points-and-miles flyers.
For starters, it appears that you will no longer be able to rely on the Alaska Airlines sweet spots that were the cornerstone of many Asia-bound redemption trips. This will alter the strategy of many point-and-miles enthusiasts looking to fly comfortably to Asia.
In contrast, the program is consolidating and simplifying its award charts, making it easier and more transparent to redeem Alaska miles. In addition, Alaska is now taking steps to resolve the challenges associated with booking partner award flights and ensuring that redemption rates for similar routes are more consistent.
And, of course, no matter what March 2024 brings for Alaska or other airlines, we’ll be on top of things to make sure you find the best value for your miles!
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Michael Y. Park is a journalist living in New York City. He’s traveled through Afghanistan disguised as a Hazara Shi’ite, slept with polar bears on the Canadian tundra, picnicked with the king and queen of Malaysia, tramped around organic farms in Cuba, ridden the world’s longest train through the Sahara, and choked down gasoline clams in North Korea.
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