The airline announced their latest changes to the program on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

 

Changes Overhauls Milestones and Ways to Earn Elite Qualifying Miles

The biggest change to the program comes in how travelers earn elite qualifying miles. Previously, EQMs were earned through flying with the airline and their partners. With new changes, flyers have many more ways to earn miles towards earning MVP status.

 

Starting January 1, 2025, flyers on award trips aboard Alaksa, Hawaiian Airlines, or one of their partners will earn EQMs based on the distance flown. According to the airline: “For example, a guest redeems a roundtrip award ticket between Seattle and Tokyo-Narita which covers 9,538 miles. That translates to earning 9,538 EQMs.”

 

Beyond award flights with Alaska and other partners, Mileage Plan will begin offering awards across multiple airlines starting in 2025. For example: If a flyer wants to travel to Rome, they will be able to use their miles to book a flight aboard American Airlines across the country, followed by an international leg aboard British Airways. The rollout will start on trips from the U.S. to Europe, followed by expansion to other regions in 2025.

 

Award trips aren’t the only way travelers will earn miles. Those who hold the Alaska Airlines Visa Card can earn one EQM for every $3 spent on qualified purchases, up to 30,000 EQMs per year. Flyers will also earn 1,000 EQMs for every 3,000 award miles earned with partners including Lyft Carrs-Safeway, and rental car partners.

 

When earning elite status, flyers will also receive milestone rewards between elite levels. Members will earn rewards such as bonus miles, Wi-Fi passes, and lounge passes when they reach EQM levels at 10,000, 30,000, 55,000, and 85,000 miles. Super frequent flyers will also earn bonuses at 150,000, 200,000, and 250,000 EQMs.

 

Loyalty upgrades for flights will also see a new order in the new year. In 2025, the upgrade order will shake up to offer top priority for Million Milers, followed by the number of EQMs a flyer has earned instead of their ticket bucket.

 

The full list of upgrades can be found on the Alaska website.

 

How will the changes in Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan affect you? Share your thoughts on the FlyerTalk forums.

 

Feature image courtesy: Alaska Airlines

Source: frugal travel guy