19 Best Ways To Earn Lots of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles

Updated: June 30, 2024, 12:56pm CDT

Edited by:

19 Best Ways To Earn Lots of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles

Sign Up for an Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Account
Earn Alaska Miles With Credit Cards
Earn Miles Through Shopping & Dining
Earn Alaska Miles Through Travel
Specialty Earnings for Mileage Plan Miles
Final Thoughts

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Alaska Airlines began offering flights from Anchorage, Alaska in 1932. Today, the airline offers flights to over 115 destinations across U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Costa Rica and is part of the Oneworld alliance and partnered with many other airlines operating all over the world.

Luckily for you, there are some great ways to earn lots of miles with Alaska’s Mileage Plan program, from flights on Alaska Airlines or its partners to credit cards and shopping.

The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program allows you to earn miles without signing up for an affiliated credit card. To earn points, you simply need to create an account.

The Mileage Plan account number you receive upon signing up will be used almost every time you want to earn miles. Make sure you keep this number within reach when you utilize the earning tactics below.

Earn Alaska Miles With Credit Cards

There are 2 paths to earning Alaska miles with credit cards. One involves 2 cards that earn Alaska miles directly, while the other 2 cards earn points that can be transferred to your Alaska account.

You might think earning Alaska miles directly is the best way to go, but stick with us — you might be surprised.

1. Bank of America Alaska Co-branded Credit Cards

While it is possible to earn points without signing up for its co-branded credit cards, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature^® credit card and Alaska Airlines Visa^® Business Credit Card from Bank of America allow you to earn substantial miles simply for signing up for a card and using it on everyday purchases.

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature^® credit card

U.P. Rating

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) when you spend at least $6,000 a year on the card!

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature^® credit card

Welcome OfferGet 50,000 bonus miles plus a $0 Companion Fare ($0 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
50,000 bonus miles + a $0 Companion Fare

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$800

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.24% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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.

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

Cons

$95 annual fee

Read Full Review

LIMITED TIME ONLINE OFFER —Buy one ticket, get one for just the taxes and fees ($0 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) and get 50,000 bonus miles.
Get 50,000 bonus miles plus a $0 Companion Fare ($0 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™. Get a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year. Valid on all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com.
Free checked bag. Any cardholder who purchases airfare with their card, and up to 6 additional guests traveling on the same reservation, may check their first bag free.
Enjoy priority boarding so you can get to your seat quicker, when you pay for your flight with your card.
Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases. And earn unlimited 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. And, your miles don’t expire on active accounts.
Earn a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America^® account.
A faster way to earn status with your Alaska Airlines credit card. Throughout 2024, for every $10,000 you spend on purchases, you’ll automatically earn 4,000 elite-qualifying miles (EQMs), up to 20,000 EQMs total.
Enjoy 20% back on all Alaska Airlines inflight purchases and get $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ Membership when you pay with your new 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.^†

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Frequent Flyer Program

Hot Tip: If you want to apply for either of these cards, visit our article on credit cards and credit scores explained to learn more about getting approved!

2. Refer a Friend for Bonus Miles

The Alaska Signature card occasionally offers bonus miles for each referral you provide that is approved. All you have to do is get a friend or family member to sign up using the link you sent to them.

Alaska Airlines Visa Referral 8312022 — Offer captured on August 31, 2022, and may not be available to all applicants. Image Credit: Bank of America

There isn’t a limit to how many times you can receive this referral bonus, so this is a great way to boost your Mileage Plan miles when these referral bonuses are offered.

3. Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points and transfer those to Alaska Airlines at a transfer rate of 3:1. Plus, for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you’ll receive an extra 5,000 Alaska Airlines miles bonus.

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 Bonus Points plus 1 Free Night Award after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Free Night valued at 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.
60,000 points + 1 Free Night Award

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$770

Annual Fee

APR

21.49%–28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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.

Pros

Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
2x points at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services
5 Elite Night Credits each year

Cons

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

Read Full Review

Earn 60,000 Bonus Points plus 1 Free Night Award after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Free Night valued at 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.
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.
New! Earn 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services.
1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
New! Travel now, pay later – Break up purchases into equal monthly payments with no interest plus no plan fees on qualifying travel purchases. Terms apply.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.49%–28.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Welcome OfferEarn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card!
Earn 3 Free Night Awards

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,050

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.49%–28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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.

Pros

Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
Automatic Silver Elite Status

Cons

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

Read Full Review

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. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.49%–28.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Welcome OfferEarn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
155,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,085

Annual Fee

$250

APR

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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.

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

Cons

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

Read Full Review

Earn 155,000 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.
Marriott Bonvoy 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 Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy^® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit, available for Qualifying Rates.
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

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
185,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,295

Annual Fee

$650

APR

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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?

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

Cons

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

Read Full Review

Earn 185,000 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 Brilliant^® American Express^® Card 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^®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy^® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy^® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card.
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 airport lounge visits 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

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

4. Transfer Points From Diners Club International

Points transfer from Diners Club International credit cards at a 10,000 to 11,825 transfer ratio.

As of the time of writing this article, Diners Club International is not accepting new consumer credit card applicants. We’re hopeful that this will change in the future.

Earn Miles Through Shopping & Dining

We all spend plenty of money on shopping and dining out, so why not get some Mileage Plan miles in return for it?

5. Mileage Plan Shopping

Regardless of whether you sign up for the Alaska Signature card, as a Mileage Plan Account member, you have access to the Mileage Plan Shopping portal.

Through the shopping portal, you can earn miles on purchases regardless of which credit card you use.

Alaska Airlines has partnered with over 850 stores to offer a mileage bonus for each purchase made through the portal. All of the stores can be viewed on the portal website, but here are some of the top stores:

To earn Mileage Plan miles for your purchases:

Go to Mileage Plan Shopping
Sign up or sign in to your account with your Mileage Plan number
Search for and select a product or store offer
A new browser window should open
Shop around on the store’s website
Make sure you are still logged into the portal when you head to checkout

Pay close attention during the holidays as the Mileage Plan Shopping portal often offers bonus miles on top of the miles you would normally earn.

6. Mileage Plan Dining

Many airlines participate in a dining program to help customers earn extra miles on eating out at participating restaurants. Mileage Plan Dining has over 10,000 participating restaurants, bars, and clubs.

Signing up is free and you don’t have to use an Alaska-branded card to enroll.

To earn miles with the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Dining:

Go to Mileage Plan Dining
Use the Add a card link on the right side to add any credit card or multiple cards you want to use out at restaurants (any card will do, not just an Alaska-branded card)
Search for restaurants near you using the search engine at the top
Start using your registered credit card(s) at participating restaurants

Usually, you will earn up to 5 miles per $1 you spend at participating restaurants, bars, and clubs. First-time members have the chance to earn up to 500 bonus miles.

These extra miles are given if you spend $30 or more at a participating restaurant within 30 days of joining the program and review your experience within 30 days after dining.

Find this new member bonus offer and other bonus offers under the Earn more section.

Hot Tip: You can only link a credit card to 1 dining portal at a time, so choose the one that is best for you. Remember that you’ll earn points on your credit card in addition to miles from the dining program.

7. Other Retail Purchases

There are other ways to earn even more Mileage Plan miles on everyday spending, including the following partnering retail offers:

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Retail Company	Bonus Miles
1-800-FLOWERS.COM	20 miles per $1 spent (use code AKA3)
CARRS/Safeway	Every 100 points gets you a Reward to clip for 100 Mileage Plan miles
GCI	1 mile per $1 spent on phone, internet, and TV in Alaska
GetYourGuide	4 miles per $1 spent
Laithwaites	Earn 2,250 miles with your introductory case and 1,000 miles with each subsequent subscription case you take. Plus, earn 3 miles per $1 spent on non-subscription purchases.
Rover	3 miles per $1 spent on your first booking, 1 mile per $1 after
Teleflora	10 miles per $1 spent (use code BAAAL10)
Vinesse	5,000 miles upon initial sign-up, as well as 5 miles per $1 spent (use code ALASKA)

Earn Alaska Miles Through Travel

With all of the interesting ways to earn Mileage Plan miles, it’s easy to forget that you can earn them when traveling.

8. Airfare & Alaska Airlines Partners

As we mentioned above, the Alaska Signature card and Alaska Airlines Business card earn 3x miles per $1 on Alaska Airlines tickets.

You will also earn bonus Mileage Plan miles flying with any of Alaska’s Oneworld partners or other partner airlines when you attach your Mileage Plan number to your booking.

For the most part, your mileage earnings will be anywhere from 25% to 500% of the miles flown, depending on the partner and fare class you’re flying in.

Hot Tip: Here’s more information about crediting your miles to a partner airline.

9. Airfare Class Bonuses

Alaska Airlines offers a class of service/premium cabin bonus.

This means that you’ll earn 10% to 100% more miles depending on if you’re flying in first, business, and certain economy classes on Alaska Airlines and some partner airlines.

The percent bonus on actual miles flown with partnering airlines varies greatly.

The following is the bonus breakdown when flying in certain seats on Alaska Airlines:

Alaska Airlines Economy Class Cabin

Earn actual flight miles flown in M, L, V, S, N, Q, O, G, or X (Alaska-operated) class
Earn actual flight miles flown in H or K class plus 25% Bonus Miles
Earn actual flight miles flown in Y or B class plus 50% Bonus Miles

Alaska Airlines First Class Cabin

Earn actual flight miles flown in D or I class plus 50% Bonus Miles
Earn actual flight miles flown in C class plus 75% Bonus Miles
Earn actual flight miles flown in J class plus 100% Bonus Miles

Visit the Bonus Miles section to see more about this bonus.

10. Elite Status Bonuses

Alaska Air crew with masks — Earn extra miles once you become an MVP: Most Valued Passenger. There are 4 levels of elite status. Image Credit: Alaska Airlines

Mileage Plan has an elite qualifying program called “Most Valued Passenger” or MVP. Reach MVP levels by flying often on Alaska Airlines or partnering airlines.

Here is a table outlining what you need to do to qualify for each MVP level:

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Annual Qualification PeriodJanuary 1 to December 31	MVP	MVP Gold	MVP Gold 75K	MVP Gold 100K
Miles on Alaska and Qualifying Partner Airlines	20,000	40,000	75,000	100,000
Segments on Alaska and Qualifying Partner Airlines	30	60	90	140
Minimum Number of Segments Flown on Alaska to Earn/Retain Status	2	6	12	24

You’ll earn more miles each time you fly once you reach a given status level. Earn 50% bonus Mileage Plan miles as MVP, 100% bonus as MVP Gold, 125% bonus as MVP Gold 75K, and 150% bonus as MVP Gold 100K.

Those who fly enough to reach MVP Gold 75K status will also receive 50,000 Bonus Miles upon qualification!

11. Air Cargo and Shipments

If you have something to ship, Alaska Airlines has the biggest passenger airline cargo operation on the U.S. West Coast. All packages — small (16 ounces) up to large (ULD) — can be shipped on board Alaska Airlines flights.

You’ll earn extra miles when you use Alaska Airlines for your shipments. Simply book at the Alaska Air Cargo website and use your Alaska Signature card when you make your purchase.

You will earn 3x miles per $1 spent on your cargo shipment using your card.

12. Car Rentals and Other Transportation

Dollar Young Renters 2 Females Sunglasses — Image Credit: Dollar Car Rental

Rent a car with a partnering car rental company and you will also earn mileage bonuses:

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Car Rental	Bonus Miles Offer
Alamo	50 per day
Avis	Earn up to 1,250 miles
Budget	Earn up to 1,250 miles
Dollar	50 per day; 150 per day on all rentals of 3 or more days
Hertz	50 per day (up to 4 days); 500 per rental over 5 days
National	50 per day
Thrifty	50 per day; 150 per day on all rentals of 3 or more days

Be sure to check the Mileage Plan Deals section of the Alaska Airlines website. The partnering car rental companies occasionally have promotions where you can earn even more miles per rental.

13. Lyft

You can earn Alaska Airlines miles by using Lyft, earning 1 mile for every $1 spent. Just link your accounts and select Alaska Airlines as your earning preference.

14. Hotel Partner Offers

The Mileage Plan has multiple hotel partners with which you can earn additional miles for your stay or per night booking.

Check out the bonus miles you could earn for your stay at one of the participating hotels:

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Hotel	Bonus Miles
Alaska Hotels	Up to 10,000 miles per night
Best Western	250 miles per stay
Choice Hotels	250 miles per stay
Coast Hotels	250 miles per stay
IHG Hotels & Resorts	2 miles per $1 spent or 500 per stay
Marriott Bonvoy	1 to 2 miles per $1 spent, depending on hotel
Rocketmiles	500 to 10,000 miles per night
Westmark Hotels	2 miles per $1 spent

Hot Tip: Be sure to choose “Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan” as the program for which you would like to earn miles when you make reservations and check in at the hotel.

15. Hotel Transfer Partners

Some hotel points can be transferred to your Alaska Mileage Plan account to earn more miles, but this should be avoided if at all possible because of the terrible transfer rate.

Save your hotel points for when you need hotel award stays.

16. Cruise Line Partners

If you have always wanted to go on a cruise to Alaska, look no further. You can earn bonus miles by booking through Alaska Airlines partner CruisesOnly (“America’s Largest Cruise Agency”).

You’ll earn 1 mile per $1 spent, and an additional mile per $1 spent if you’re an Alaska Signature cardholder.

Earning miles through your booking is simple. Visit ak.cruisesonly.com, search for a cruise, and enter your Mileage Plan number at checkout.

Specialty Earnings for Mileage Plan Miles

There are several other interesting ways to earn Mileage Plan miles from surveys to credit card partners to buying miles.

17. Refinance Your Student Loans (or Take Out a Personal Loan)

Alaska Airlines and finance company SoFi recently partnered to give new SoFi customers Mileage Plan miles when refinancing a student loan or taking out a new personal loan.

Currently, you can earn 1 Mileage Plan mile per $2 borrowed when refinancing a student loan or taking out a new personal loan through SoFi. Just note that there’s a 50,000-mile cap on mileage earning for both student loan refinances and new personal loans.

This option can make sense if you’re already considering refinancing a student loan or taking out a new personal loan. However, always make sure to shop around for the best interest rate before settling on SoFi.

18. Fill Out Surveys for Mileage Plan Miles

Earning bonus miles is easy even without spending lots of money or owning one of the Alaska Airlines credit cards. Simply sign up for a free account with Mileage Plan partner The Opinion Terminal to start earning immediately — 400 miles when completing the first survey!

Surveys are often rather long (15+ minutes). Do this a few times a week, and the miles you earn from them will add up faster than you realize!

This can help you top off your account when you’re a few miles short of a free flight.

19. Buy Alaska Airlines Miles

If you’re planning on redeeming miles for a certain value, you can calculate the cost to see if buying Mileage Plan miles is worth it.

Rarely is buying miles worth it. Leave it for topping off an account when you don’t have time to earn the last few miles for your next award flight.

For those without Alaska elite status, you are now limited to purchasing 150,000 miles per calendar year. Elite status holders can continue to buy miles without limit. Keep an eye out for any promotional sales!

Final Thoughts

The above strategies for earning Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles will help you earn tons of miles.

Whether through the credit card sign-up bonuses or the many partnering airlines with which you can fly, your options for earning miles are endless!

As soon as you start applying the strategies above, you’ll be rolling in tons of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles. Then, when you’re itching for a vacation, you can begin researching ways to use them!

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.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card, click here.
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Featured Image Credit: Alaska Airlines

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Alaska Airlines miles?

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

How much are Alaska Airlines miles worth?

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

Which credit cards can earn Alaska Airlines miles?

You can sign up for the Alaska Signature card and Alaska Airlines Business card. You can also use Marriott Bonvoy credit cards to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and transfer those to Alaska at a 3:1 rate.

What is Alaska Airlines Club 49?

Club 49 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.

How do I use Alaska Airlines companion tickets?

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 under the Shop button 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).

Can Alaska Airlines miles be transferred?

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

Is Alaska Airlines partners with United?

No. See Alaska’s list of partners.

Is Alaska Airlines partners with Delta?

No. See Alaska’s list of partners.

When do Alaska Airlines miles post in your account?

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.

Are Alaska Airlines miles refundable?

Alaska Airlines miles are fully refundable without needing to pay any cancellation fees.

When do Alaska Airlines miles expire?

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

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About Spencer Howard

Always a fan of flying, it was only natural that Spencer was drawn to finding a way to improve the travel experience.

Like many, he started this journey searching for cheap flights to take him around the world. This was fun for a while, but Spencer was intrigued by the idea of flying in business and first class!

Throwing himself into what became an extensive research project, Spencer spent 3-4 hours per night learning everything he could about frequent flyer miles over the course of several months (he thinks this is normal). He runs Straight to the Points, an award-seat alert platform.

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