No Mileage Run Needed: Earn Alaska Elite-Qualifying Miles via Sustainable Fuel Credits

Updated: November 1, 2024, 7:32pm CDT

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Earn Alaska EQMs by Buying SAF Credits
Is This Promotion Worth It?
Final Thoughts

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If you’re coming up short on your Alaska Airlines elite status goals, you can ditch the mileage run and earn elite-qualifying miles through sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) credits this year. Yes, contributing to SAF can help you reach your status goals before the year’s end.

With this elite status promotion, you can earn up to 5,000 elite-qualifying miles (EQMs). Let’s take a look at the details.

Earn Alaska EQMs by Buying SAF Credits

Through December 31, 2024, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members will earn bonus elite-qualifying miles (EQMs) for sustainable aviation fuel contributions. Here’s how this works: You earn 500 EQMs for every $100 SAF credit you purchase.

To take advantage of this offer, you need to purchase SAF credits through a booking made on Alaska’s website or mobile app.

There’s a limit of 5,000 EQMs through this offer, which requires spending $1,000. Alaska Airlines says this promotion was incredibly successful last year, supporting over 500,000 gallons of SAF. That’s why it’s back again this year.

Is This Promotion Worth It?

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is a fan-favorite, and Mileage Plan elite status is loved by many.

Having elite status with Alaska Airlines can unlock many travel benefits, both on Alaska and on partner airlines, including free checked bags, priority boarding, complimentary upgrades, and even access to Oneworld first class lounges.

To earn elite status with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, you need to earn:

MVP: 20,000 EQMs
MVP Gold: 40,000 EQMs
MVP Gold 75K: 75,000 EQMs
MVP Gold 100K: 100,000 EQMs

As you might imagine, reaching MVP Gold 100K can be difficult, and this promotion to earn EQMs through SAF credits isn’t enough to reach any elite tier in and of itself. Instead, it can help you cross the finish line if you don’t want to make a mileage run to make it happen — or don’t have the time for it either.

Bottom Line:

How much are those EQMs worth? You’ll have to assess that based on your flying history in 2024 and travel plans in 2025. Moreover, this promotion won’t help you if you’re more than 5,000 EQMs short of the elite tier you want to reach, but it can be part of a larger elite status strategy.

Final Thoughts

This is a great promotion being offered by Alaska Airlines.

Mileage Plan members can earn bonus elite-qualifying miles through the end of 2024 by buying sustainable aviation fuel credits, earning up to 5,000 bonus EQMs in total. If you’re short on your Alaska Mileage Plan elite goals, you can cross the finish line from your couch with this offer.