Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.
We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.
Who doesn’t love airline elite status? Perks like free checked baggage, upgrades, and lounge access are ones that we can all use, but sometimes what you need to do to earn elite status can be confusing. We’ve gone over the ways to earn elite status with lots of popular airlines like Delta, American, and United, and today, it’s Alaska Airlines’ turn.
In this post, we’ll show you everything you need to know about how to get Alaska Airlines elite status, including the minimum requirements, levels of status, the benefits of each level of status, and that all-important question — is it even worth it?
Earning elite status in the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program is relatively straightforward and easy to understand (unlike some of the other airline elite status programs out there).
To start, the earning period runs on a calendar year, from January 1 to December 31.
To earn status, you’ll need to meet the minimum number of elite qualifying miles or the minimum number of eligible segments. In addition, you’ll also need to meet the minimum number of flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines.
Elite qualifying miles are earned by flying on Alaska Airlines and its qualifying partners with a minimum of 500 miles earned per flight. Award tickets do not earn elite qualifying miles, and miles earned through the Alaska Airlines co-branded credit cards don’t count toward elite status.
| MVP | MVP Gold | MVP Gold 75K | MVP Gold 100K | |
| Eligible miles earned on Alaska Airlines plus Oneworld and global partners | 20,000 | 40,000 | 75,000 | 100,000 |
| Eligible segments flown on Alaska Airlines plus Oneworld and global partners | 30 | 60 | 90 | 140 |
| Minimum number of flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines | 2 | 4 | 6 | 24 |
Once you earn elite status with Alaska Airlines, it will be valid through the following calendar year. For example, if you earn Alaska Airlines MVP status in October of 2023, your status would be valid through December of 2024.
After flying 1,000,000 miles on Alaska Airlines, you’ll be a Million Miler and earn MVP Gold status for life.
Many airlines are offering elite status extensions and bonuses into 2023, and Alaska Airlines is no exception.
Elites who didn’t requalify for the status level they held in 2022 can fast-track to extend their status through December 31, 2023, by earning the following number of base flight miles between January 13, 2023, and April 13, 2023:
If you have elite status with another airline, you can apply for a status match to Alaska Airlines.
You can match to MVP status from the following statuses:
You can match to MVP Gold status from the following statuses:
You can match to MVP Gold 75K status from the following statuses:
Once you apply for a status match, you’ll have 90 days to fly a certain number of miles to keep your status.
Once you fly the required miles on Alaska, your elite benefits will be extended based on when you started your status match challenge. If you started by the end of June, your benefits will be extended to the end of that calendar year. If you started your challenge between July and December, your benefits will be extended through the following calendar year.
Bottom Line: You can status match to Alaska Airlines from a number of other airline statuses. After status matching, you’ll have 90 days to fly a specified number of miles to keep your benefits. To maximize the time you can take advantage of your matched status, start your status match challenge between July and December so your benefits will be extended to the end of the following calendar year.
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card doesn’t help out when it comes to earning status. It does, however, offer a great way to earn lots more Alaska Airlines miles as well as great perks like free checked bags, and a yearly Companion Fare, so don’t overlook it.
Provides the potential to earn plenty of miles to fly with Alaska Airlines or over a dozen partners. Plus, get an annual companion fare from just $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23)!
With the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card in your wallet, you could get great perks and earn miles at the same time. This is a win-win if Alaska is the airline you prefer to fly with! Plus, its annual companion fare is a great benefit for traveling couples.
Small business owners may want to check out the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business Credit Card.
Bottom Line: Unfortunately, there is no way to fast-track to Alaska Airlines elite status with co-branded credit cards.
Alaska Airlines elite members have access to select benefits, regardless of elite level:
In addition, elite members have the following benefits:
|
Alaska Airlines Elite Benefit
| MVP | MVP Gold | MVP Gold 75K | MVP Gold 100K |
| Oneworld Alliance Status | Oneworld Ruby | Oneworld Sapphire | Oneworld Emerald |
Oneworld Emerald
|
| Elite Miles Bonus | 50% | 100% | 125% | 150% |
| First Class Upgrades at the Time of Booking | Y, B fares | Y, B, H, K fares | Y, B, H, K, M fares |
Y, B, H, K, M fares
|
| Premium Class Upgrades at the Time of Booking | Y, B, H fares | Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S, N fares | Any fare except Saver fares |
Any fare except Saver fares
|
| First and Premium Class Upgrades on Non-qualifying Fares on Alaska Airlines | 48 hours before departure | 72 hours before departure | 120 hours before departure |
120 hours before departure, with the highest waitlist opportunity
|
| Free Checked Bags | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Discounted Membership for Alaska Lounges | $50 off | $100 off | $150 off | $150 off |
| Discounted CLEAR Membership and Annual Bonus Miles | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Companion Upgrades to Premium and First Class | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| First Class Guest Upgrades | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Complimentary Premium Beverage or Chocolate in Main Cabin | Yes | Yes |
Yes + snack or meal
| |
| Standby and Waitlist for Full Flights | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Complimentary Same-day Flight Changes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 50,000 Bonus Miles Upon Qualification | Yes | |||
| 4 Alaska Lounge Day Passes | Yes | Yes | ||
| International Upgrade Certificate on American Airlines | 1 | 2 | ||
|
100K Choice Benefit
| Yes |
Upon earning MVP Gold 100K status, members can choose 1 of 4 100K Choice Benefits:
Hot Tip: Having elite status helps you get first class upgrades on Alaska Airlines.
In addition to benefits on Alaska Airlines, elite members get benefits from Oneworld Alliance partners and global partners.
Alaska Airlines Malaysia Airlines American Airlines
Oman Air (joining in 2024) British Airways Qantas Cathay Pacific Qatar Airways Fiji Airways (Oneworld Connect Partner) Royal Air Maroc Finnair Royal Jordanian Iberia S7 Airlines (temporarily suspended) Japan Airlines SriLankan Airlines
Alaska Airlines elite members have access to the following Oneworld Alliance benefits.
| Oneworld Benefit | MVP | MVP Gold | MVP Gold 75K | MVP Gold 100K |
| Oneworld Elite Status | Oneworld Ruby | Oneworld Sapphire | Oneworld Emerald | Oneworld Emerald |
| Earn and Redeem Miles on Oneworld Partner Flights | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Elite Bonus Miles on Eligible Oneworld Flights | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Priority Check-in | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Preferred or Pre-reserved Seating | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Waitlist and Standby Priority | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Priority Boarding | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Oneworld Business Class Lounge Access | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Extra Baggage Allowance and Priority Handling | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Oneworld First Class Lounge Access | Yes | Yes | ||
| Fast Track at Security | Yes | Yes |
Alaska Airlines elite members have access to the following benefits on American Airlines:
| MVP | MVP Gold | MVP Gold 75K | MVP Gold 100K | |
| Access to Main Cabin Extra Seating | 24 hours ahead | At the time of booking | At the time of booking | At the time of booking |
| Complimentary Checked Bags | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Complimentary Domestic Upgrades | At the gate | At the gate | Starting at 72 hours | Starting at 72 hours |
| Complimentary Same-day Flight Changes | Yes | Yes | ||
| International Upgrade Certificates | 1 | 2 |
MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K members plus 1 guest will have access to the following partner lounges:
Whether or not Alaska Airlines elite status is worth it or not depends on how you use the program. Let’s take a look at a few of the benefits of Alaska’s elite status to see what they are actually worth for an average traveler.
Alaska Airlines elite members get a minimum of 2 free checked bags per flight. Typically, Alaska Airlines bag fees are $30 for the first bag and $40 for the second. If you fly 6 times a year (roundtrip) and check 2 bags each time, having elite status would save you $840!
If you don’t have Alaska Airlines elite status but would still like to avoid paying baggage fees, consider the Alaska Signature card or the Alaska Airlines Business card. Both of these cards come with a free checked bag for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation.
Alaska Airlines elite members can upgrade to Premium Class at the time of booking, which comes with roomier seats, complimentary beer and wine, plus priority boarding. Premium Class upgrades start at $15 per flight, so if you fly 6 round trips per year, you’ll save $180.
As an Alaska Airlines elite member, you’ll earn 50% to 150% in bonus miles. If you’re an MVP who flies 20,000 miles per year, that’s a bonus of 10,000 miles. According to our most recent valuations, Alaska miles are worth ~1.8 cents each. That means your bonus of 10,000 miles is worth about $180. If you’re an MVP Gold 100K who flies 100,000 miles, your 150% bonus will give you an extra 150,000 miles with a value of about $2,700!
Airline elite status is a great thing to have to make each flight you take more comfortable and valuable. Thankfully, getting Alaska Airlines elite status is relatively straightforward. Each calendar year, you’ll need to fly at least 20,000 eligible miles or 30 segments in addition to at least 2 flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines. Benefits of Alaska Airlines elite status include free checked baggage and seat upgrades.
The information regarding the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding Alaska Airlines Visa® Business Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Earning elite status on Alaska Airlines is simple. All you need to do is fly at least 20,000 eligible miles or 30 segments in addition to at least 2 flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines within a calendar year.
Once you’ve earned Alaska Airlines elite status it’s valid through the following calendar year. For example, if you earn elite status in November 2023, it will last through December 2024.
Alaska Airlines MVP status is the lowest level of elite status but it still comes with lots of benefits including priority check-in, boarding, and seating, seat upgrades, free checked bags, elite bonus miles, discounted Alaska lounges membership, and Oneworld Ruby status.
Yes, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines elite members will enjoy some reciprocal benefits on these 2 airlines. American Airlines elite members can get perks like priority check-in, priority boarding, free checked bags, and complimentary upgrades from Main Cabin seats to the next class of service when flying on Alaska Airlines.
Yes, if you hold status with another airline, you can request a status match challenge from Alaska. This is a 1-time opportunity that will give you status for 90 days while you complete your status match challenge which allows you to keep your new status longer.
Complete this form to begin your status match challenge.
Was this page helpful?
Katie has been in the points and miles game since 2015 and started her own blog in 2016. She’s been freelance writing since then and her work has been featured in publications like Travel + Leisure and Forbes Advisor.
Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...
Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.
We respect your privacy. Please view our privacy policy here.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
7 comments
Christ
August 12, 2022
Does this mean I can fly 40,000 miles on SQ (a “global partner” of Alaska) and get gold status with Alaska (which means status with Oneworld through flying a Star Alliance carrier)?
Jarrod West
August 24, 2022
Hi Christ,
A minimum of 4 flights of the 40,000 miles earned must be marketed and operated by Alaska in order to earn the status.
Shirley Monson
August 27, 2022
Ugh…. I’ve been flying a lot this year, and still have 12,286 miles to go until MVP status. Problem is, from Seattle, my flights are relatively short mileage wise, as I’ve flown a lot to nearby states such as California, etc. So 20,000 miles is quite impossible, unless I could fly transcontinental a lot, or to Hawaii, for example, which I don’t have time to do…. If status didn’t reset EVERY year, it would be better, but, oh, well…. At least I’ve gotten a few “free” flights since joining the mileage plan in the fall of 2020.
Tammy
February 25, 2023
Seems like this is set up to benefit individuals who fly the US coast to coast more as they will earn miles at a much more accelerated pace given 1-trip for them is double what a one-side coast frequent flyer will get. I get that the airfare is generally more expensive to travel coast to coast but would like to see a more equitable way of capturing and earning the elite status for frequent flyers of all flights rather than just frequent flyers of long flights. Just a thought.
Christine Krzyszton
February 26, 2023
Hi Tammy. Alaska Airlines does recognize those who fly shorter distances by providing the option to achieve Alaska Airlines’ elite status via flight segments flown versus miles flown. Checkout the chart in the article for the number of segments needed for each level of status.
Tom
May 19, 2023
This page https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/membership-benefits says that the “Minimum number of flights marketed and operated by Alaska Airlines” 2/6/12/24, not 2/4/6/24.
Bill
July 18, 2023
Do bonus miles on partner airlines get counted toward elite status when there are base miles and bonus miles (due to business class)? It looks like on a recent international flight, I got my bonus miles counted, but not my base miles. Maybe I don’t want to ask for this to be corrected?
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
Email needed if you'd like comment updates. It will NOT be published.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.