Alaska Airlines MVP Gold 75K vs. MVP Gold 100K [Pros and Cons]

Alaska Airlines runs one of the most incredibly rewarding loyalty programs of any U.S.-based airline. Mileage Plan’s top 2 tiers, MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K, come with amazing benefits.

Many Alaska Airlines flyers ask whether it’s truly worth pursuing the highest tier, so we’ll examine the benefits of each status, what sets MVP Gold 100K apart, and whether it’s truly worth it to attain this high-level status.

Requirements of MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K

Before you decide whether reaching Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K is worth it, you need to look at what it takes to reach each level.

Alaska Airlines uses a metric of elite qualifying miles, so you only need to count the distance of each flight, not how much you spend, like most airlines. Many Alaska Airlines elites still utilize the almost defunct mileage run, where elites will try to find the cheapest ticket possible on the longest route and fly in order to get additional miles towards status. If you have the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature^® credit card, you can earn 4,000 elite qualifying miles for every $10,000 you spend in 2024, up to 20,000 total miles. You’ll still need to make up the rest in flying.

MVP Gold 75K requires 75,000 miles flown on Alaska Airlines, Oneworld partners, or other global partners, while MVP Gold 100K requires 100,000 miles. This 25,000-mile difference isn’t insignificant — that’s almost 5 round-trip coast-to-coast flights!

Differences Between MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K

Increased Mileage Earning

Alaska Airlines offers 150% bonus miles for MVP Gold 100K members, while those at the MVP Gold 75K level only receive a 100% bonus (starting in 2025). This 50% extra means you earn more miles with MVP Gold 100K to use on trips on Alaska Airlines and its network of partners.

Higher Upgrade Priority

While MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K elites can get upgraded as early as 120 hours out, MVP Gold 100K members receive a higher upgrade priority. On busy flights where there are limited upgrades, having MVP Gold 100K can come in handy to beat out lower-tier elites.

Complimentary Snack in the Main Cabin

If you’re an MVP Gold 100K and are seated in the main cabin, you’re entitled to a complimentary buy-on-board snack or meal, depending on the flight length. MVP Gold 75K does not have this benefit.

This perk is particularly useful on longer flights where fresh meals, such as the signature Alaska Airlines cheese plate, are on offer. Alaska is known for its higher-quality onboard food selection, so while you may only save a few dollars by not having to purchase a meal, the savings can still add up.

100K Choice Benefit

Once you hit MVP Gold 100K, you can choose 1 100K Choice Benefit, which is probably one of the biggest differentiators over lower tiers.

You can choose from:

• 50,000 bonus miles
• Alaska Lounge+ membership
• Gifting MVP Gold status
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Complimentary CLEAR Plus membership

Everyone places importance on different things, of course, but the most valuable benefits are usually the bonus miles and lounge membership.

With 50,000 bonus miles, which we value at $800, you can get most of the way toward a business class ticket to Europe, Asia, or Oceania. The miles can also be used on upgrades or Alaska Airlines tickets, though you generally won’t get as much value out of those.

A Lounge+ membership is valued at $650. It allows you to access Alaska’s network of lounges and partner lounges, including American Airlines Admirals Clubs and Qantas Clubs. If you travel Alaska Airlines frequently enough, this benefit can come in handy.

Gifting MVP Gold status to a friend or family member isn’t too beneficial for the MVP Gold 100K member by itself, but it is a nice gesture to someone else to boost their status level.

Complimentary Wi-Fi can save you money for sure, but Wi-Fi on each flight only costs $8. If you have an eligible T-Mobile plan, you can get free Wi-Fi anyway, so this perk might not be as beneficial for everyone.

Finally, the complimentary CLEAR membership is likely the least valuable, since many major credit cards, including The Platinum Card^® by American Express, have membership as a benefit (enrollment required).

When MVP Gold 100K Is Worth It

Both MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K levels are similar, though there are a few distinct benefits. Here are reasons you might want to consider flying the extra 25,000 miles to get to MVP Gold 100K:

• The 100K Choice Benefit can be highly rewarding, especially considering the value of the 50,000 bonus miles or $650 lounge membership. While it’s not worth flying solely for these benefits, if you fly over the amount required for MVP Gold 75K and are relatively close to 100,000 miles, it’s likely worth going over the hump.
• Upgrades are more plentiful as an MVP Gold 100K. Alaska Airlines has always been known as one of the more generous airlines for upgrading elites, and MVP Gold 100K makes it that much easier, especially if you’re flying on a more popular route.
• As an MVP Gold 100K, you earn more bonus miles with your regular flying. If you’re flying enough to surpass 75,000 miles a year, you’re already earning a lot of bonus miles, so earning 150% of those miles to use toward future trips can be incredibly rewarding.

Final Thoughts

Alaska MVP Gold 100K requires an additional 25,000 miles of flying beyond what you need for MVP Gold 75K. While this is still a considerable amount of flying, the added 100K Choice Benefit, bonus miles, and other perks may make it worthwhile, especially if your flights are cheaper. Alaska Airlines does not use a revenue-based system for its frequent flyer program, so the cheaper your tickets are, the more you will come out ahead when getting value out of your elite benefits.