15 Best Ways To Redeem Alaska Mileage Plan Miles for Max Value

Question 1

Answer

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.

Question 2

Answer

Pros

3x miles per $1 spent on Alaska purchases
2x miles per $1 spent on eligible gas, local transit (including rideshare), cable, and select streaming services
1x mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Annual companion fare
Free checked bag for you and up to 6 traveling companions
20% back on Alaska inflight purchase

Cons

$95 annual fee

Question 3

Answer

LIMITED TIME ONLINE OFFER — $100 statement credit, 50,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™!
Get a $100 statement credit, 50,000 Bonus Miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™. Every year on your credit card account anniversary you’ll receive a companion fare which allows you to book a companion flight from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23). Valid on all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com.
Free checked bag for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation – that’s a savings of $60 per person roundtrip!
Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, local transit (including rideshare), cable, and select streaming services, and unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases. And, your miles don’t expire on active accounts.
10% reward bonus on all miles earned on card with an eligible Bank of America checking, savings, or investment account.
Priority boarding on Alaska Airlines when tickets are purchased with card.
With oneworld^® Alliance member airlines and Alaska’s Global Partners, Alaska has expanded their global reach to over 1,000 destinations worldwide bringing more airline partners and more ways to earn and redeem miles.
Flexibility with no blackout dates on Alaska Airlines flights when booking with miles or a companion fare.
Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a low $95 annual fee.
This online only offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 18.24% - 26.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Frequent Flyer Program

Question 4

Question 5

Answer

Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Question 6

Answer

Pros

Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
2x points per $1 on travel purchases
15 Elite Night Credits each year (automatically gives you Silver Elite status)
No foreign transaction fees
No annual fee

Cons

Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier

Question 7

Answer

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card from Chase^®!
Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Card.
2X points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains).
1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, qualifying you for Silver Elite Status. Restrictions apply.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Question 8

Question 9

Answer

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

Question 10

Answer

Pros

Earn big when you use your card at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
New benefit to earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
Automatic Silver Elite Status
1 Free Night Award each cardmember anniversary (up to 35,000 points)
DoorDash DashPass subscription
No foreign transaction fees

Cons

$95 annual fee
Marriott Silver status is the lowest status tier

Question 11

Answer

Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Card.
Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Question 12

Question 13

Answer

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

Question 14

Answer

Pros

6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X points)
2x points per $1 on all other purchases
Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
15 Elite Night Credits per year
1,000 bonus points per paid stay
1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points) when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

$250 annual fee (rates and fees)
Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit

Question 15

Answer

Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
With complimentary Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy^® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card^® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
Plan It^® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
$250 Annual Fee.
Terms apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Question 16

Question 17

Answer

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Question 18

Answer

Pros

6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
2x points per $1 on all other purchases
25 Elite Night Credits each year
Priority Pass Select membership upon enrollment
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
Annual Free Night Award after card renewal
Complimentary Platinum Elite status

Cons

Steep annual fee of $650 (rates and fees)
6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

Question 19

Answer

Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
$300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card at restaurants worldwide.
With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
$100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton^® or St. Regis^® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck^® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy^® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
$650 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Question 20

Question 21

What are Alaska Airlines miles?

Answer

Alaska Airlines’ frequent flyer program is called Mileage Plan. The miles you earn, redeem, and transfer are Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles.

Question 22

Which credit cards earn Alaska miles?

Answer

Both the personal Alaska Signature card and Alaska Airlines Visa® Business Credit Card can help you earn additional Alaska miles.

Question 23

How much are Alaska Airlines miles worth?

Answer

The value of Alaska Airlines miles depends on the ticket you are getting. You’ll usually always get somewhere between 1 to 2 cents per point. For example, a lowest fare first class ticket will give you a value of up to 1.6 cents per reward point.

However, if you book first class on partner airlines with extremely expensive tickets such as Cathay Pacific or Japan Airlines, you can receive upwards of 20 cents per point!

At 1.6 cents per point, that’s like getting a $100 ticket for the equivalent of about 6,250 Alaska Airlines miles. At 20 cents per point, that’s like getting a $100 for the equivalent of about 500 miles!

Question 24

What is Alaska Airlines Club 49?

Answer

This club was set up to benefit Alaska residents as a thank you for 80 years of loyalty. Alaska residents can enroll to receive special benefits like discount fares with Alaska Airlines.

Question 25

How do I use Alaska Airlines companion tickets?

Answer

Redeem your Alaska Airlines companion fare from your Mileage Plan account online.

In your Alaska Airlines account, select Valid under Discount Codes on the left side of your account page. On the loaded page, select Shop and use the code listed to find flights. Note the expiration date for this code.

Choose your desired flights for 2 people, and then go through the checkout process ensuring your discount code was applied (it should appear in the summary of the total price for 2 travelers).

Question 26

Can Alaska Airlines miles be transferred?

Answer

Alaska Airlines miles cannot be transferred to other airlines. They can, however, be redeemed for flights on other carriers, hotel stays, car rentals, and more.

Question 27

Does Alaska Airlines partner with United?

Answer

No. See its partners here.

Question 28

Does Alaska Airlines partner with Delta?

Answer

No. See all current airline partners here.

Question 29

Is Alaska Airlines partners with American?

Answer

Yes. See a full list of airline partners here.

Question 30

When do Alaska Airlines miles post in your account?

Answer

Alaska Airlines miles should post to your account within 7 days. Miles from partner airlines’ activity can take 2 to 3 weeks to post.

If miles do not post in this time frame, you may request missing credit.

Question 31

Are Alaska Airlines miles refundable?

Answer

Yes. The “refundable” coach and first class award tickets have no cancellation or change fees, but regular award tickets do (though this is waived for MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K members).

Question 32

When do Alaska Airlines miles expire?

Answer

Alaska Airlines miles expire after 24 months of inactivity. Earn or redeem at least 1 mile every 24 months to keep your account from expiring.

Oneworld 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 Partners via Non-Alliance Partnerships
Aer Lingus	Kenmore Air (earn only)
Air Tahiti Nui	Korean Air
Bahamasair (earn only)	Mokulele Airlines (earn only)
Cape Air (earn only)	LATAM*
Condor	Ravn Alaska
EL AL	Singapore Airlines
Hainan Airlines	Southern Airways Express (earn only)
Icelandair	STARLUX Airlines

Within Contiguous U.S. and Alaska	Miles Required
Trips less than 700 miles
Main Cabin	5,000 to 30,000
First Class	15,000 to 40,000
Trips between 701 to 1,400 miles
Main Cabin	7,500 to 30,000
First Class	25,000 to 50,000
Trips between 1,401 to 2,100 miles
Main Cabin	10,000 to 40,000
First Class	25,000 to 60,000
Trips longer than 2,101 miles
Main Cabin	12,500 to 50,000
First Class	30,000 to 70,000

Contiguous U.S./Alaska to Mexico	Miles Required
Trips between 701 to 1,400 miles
Main Cabin	10,000 to 35,000
First Class	30,000 to 50,000
Trips between 1,401 to 2,100 miles
Main Cabin	15,000 to 40,000
First Class	30,000 to 60,000
Trips longer than 2,101 miles
Main Cabin	17,500 to 50,000
First Class	30,000 to 70,000

Contiguous U.S./Alaska to Hawaii	Miles Required
Main Cabin	15,000 to 50,000
First Class	40,000 to 80,000

Advertiser Disclosure

15 Best Ways To Redeem Alaska Mileage Plan Miles for Max Value

Redeeming Alaska Airlines Miles Using Mileage Plan

List of Alaska Airlines Partners

How To Boost Your Alaska Miles

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Cons

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Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards

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Pros

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Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

Pros

Cons

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Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

Pros

Cons

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Alaska Airlines Award Prices

The 15 Best Ways To Use Your Alaska Mileage Plan Miles

1. Fly Cathay Pacific First Class to Asia

2. Fly Cathay Pacific First Class to South Africa

3. Fly Cathay Pacific First Class to Australia or New Zealand

4. Fly Qantas Business or First Class to Australia and New Zealand

5. Fly Qatar Airways Qsuites to the Middle East and Africa

6. Fly Japan Airlines First Class to Asia

7. Fly Korean Air Business Class to Asia

8. Fly Hainan Airlines Business Class to China and Beyond

9. Fly Fiji Airways Business Class to Oceania

10. Fly American Airlines Business Class to Southern South America

11. Fly American Airlines Business Class to Northern South America

12. Fly LATAM Business Class to South America

13. Fly Icelandair to Iceland

14. Fly American Airlines Economy Class During Off-Peak Months

15. Cheap Domestic Flights With a Stopover

Final Thoughts

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Alaska Airlines miles?

Which credit cards earn Alaska miles?

How much are Alaska Airlines miles worth?

What is Alaska Airlines Club 49?

How do I use Alaska Airlines companion tickets?

Can Alaska Airlines miles be transferred?

Does Alaska Airlines partner with United?

Does Alaska Airlines partner with Delta?

Is Alaska Airlines partners with American?

When do Alaska Airlines miles post in your account?

Are Alaska Airlines miles refundable?

When do Alaska Airlines miles expire?

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