In the event you’re a loyal Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan member, buckle up. In November 2023, the provider introduced a brand new award chart set to take impact in March 2024. Now, the key award chart replace has begun, and the brand new pricing will begin rolling out Monday, March 11, by means of March 31.
Whereas Alaska leaders touted this as a significant enhancement, our preliminary analysis confirmed that it is a combined bag in comparison with earlier award charges — particularly when you’re trying to guide Alaska partners in 2024. Nevertheless, the modifications do provide some notable simplicity that was beforehand lacking, with totally different companions having wildly totally different award charges when touring between the identical areas.
“As a Mileage Plan member, our friends need to journey the world with ease and comfort,” Brett Catlin, vp of loyalty, alliances and gross sales at Alaska Airways, mentioned in a press launch. “That is why we have now made some modifications to our award pricing and stock, to offer them extra choices, simplicity, and nice worth for his or her miles. Whether or not they wish to discover a brand new vacation spot, go to a beloved one, or take a calming trip, they will now discover extra award availability and adaptability for his or her journey plans.”
So, what modifications did Alaska Airways make to its Mileage Plan award chart?
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Alaska Airways Mileage Plan 2024 award chart redemption modifications
Starting on March 11, Alaska Airways began rolling out its new award chart pricing modifications. The Mileage Plan award chart now has a brand new distance-based construction and is split into three region-based charts: the Americas; Europe, Center East and Africa; and Asia-Pacific. The chart exhibits redemption charges will differ primarily based on the gap being flown.
The Americas
The primary area is the Americas — which incorporates North America, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. These costs apply to flights flown between (or inside) these areas.
| Distance flown (miles) | Financial system (beginning at) | Premium economic system (beginning at) | Enterprise (beginning at) | First (beginning at) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower than 700 | 4,500 miles | 6,000 miles | 9,000 miles | 13,500 miles |
| 701 to 1,400 | 7,500 miles | 10,000 miles | 15,000 miles | 25,000 miles |
| 1,401 to 2,000 | 12,500 miles | 17,500 miles | 25,000 miles | 40,000 miles |
| 2,001 to 4,000 | 17,500 miles | 22,500 miles | 35,000 miles | 52,500 miles |
| 4,001 to six,000 | 25,000 miles | 32,500 miles | 50,000 miles | 75,000 miles |
| 6,001 and above | 30,00 miles | 40,000 miles | 60,000 miles | 90,000 miles |
Observe that Hawaii, the Caribbean and Central America are not included as separate areas (as they’re on the present award chart). As a substitute, flights to or from these areas will observe the above pricing.
Europe, Center East and Africa
The following area is Europe, the Center East and Africa (EMEA). The costs under apply to flights inside these three areas and to flights from the U.S. to any of those areas.
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| Distance flown (miles) | Financial system (beginning at) | Premium economic system (beginning at) | Enterprise (beginning at) | First (beginning at) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower than 1,500 | 7,500 miles | 10,000 miles | 15,000 miles | 22,500 miles |
| 1,500 to three,000 | 22,500 miles | 30,000 miles | 45,000 miles | 67,500 miles |
| 3,001 to five,000 | 27,500 miles | 35,000 miles | 55,000 miles | 82,500 miles |
| 5,001 to 7,000 | 35,000 miles | 45,000 miles | 70,000 miles | 105,000 miles |
| 7,001 to 10,000 | 42,500 miles | 55,000 miles | 85,000 miles | 130,000 miles |
| 10,001 and above | 55,000 miles | 72,500 miles | 110,000 miles | 165,000 miles |
Asia
The ultimate area is Asia — which incorporates Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Japan, Korea and the South Pacific. These costs apply to flights inside these areas, between these areas and EMEA, and between the U.S. and these areas.
| Distance flown (miles) | Financial system (beginning at) | Premium economic system (beginning at) | Enterprise (beginning at) | First (beginning at) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower than 1,500 | 7,500 miles | 10,000 miles | 15,000 miles | 22,500 miles |
| 1,500 to three,000 | 25,000 miles | 32,500 miles | 50,000 miles | 75,000 miles |
| 3,001 to five,000 | 30,000 miles | 40,000 miles | 60,000 miles | 90,000 miles |
| 5,001 to 7,000 | 37,500 miles | 50,000 miles | 75,000 miles | 110,000 miles |
| 7,001 to 10,000 | 42,500 miles | 55,000 miles | 85,000 miles | 130,000 miles |
| 10,001 and above | 65,000 miles | 85,000 miles | 130,000 miles | 195,000 miles |
There’s loads to unpack right here, so let’s look nearer at among the areas.
Flights throughout the Americas
Underneath the earlier award chart, most award flights throughout the Americas have been already distance-based (excluding these to South America). For instance, an economic system award flight inside (or between) the contiguous U.S. and Alaska or Canada that’s lower than 700 miles began at 5,000 Mileage Plan miles. Within the new award chart (efficient March 2024), flights lower than 700 miles in economic system will begin at 4,500 miles. In the meantime, flights that cowl between 701 and 1,400 miles will retain a beginning value of seven,500 miles.
Nevertheless, many longer flights will see a rise:
- Financial system flights inside (or between) the contiguous U.S., Alaska and Canada overlaying 1,401 to 2,100 miles: Going from 10,000 miles to 12,500 miles (a 25% improve)
- Financial system flights inside (or between) the contiguous U.S., Alaska and Canada overlaying 2,101 to 4,000 miles: Going from 12,500 miles to 17,500 miles (a 40% improve)
- Financial system flights from the U.S. to Hawaii overlaying 2,101 to 4,000 miles: Going from 15,000 miles to 17,500 miles (a 16.67% improve)
On the time of writing, there are nonetheless a number of months that function each the earlier award pricing in addition to the rise. For instance, in September 2024, you possibly can guide a one-way award flight in economic system from Seattle to Anchorage for 10,000 miles. In the event you guide a later flight, it should price 12,500 miles.
It is a related story for flights from the U.S. to South America (that are operated by companions LATAM and American Airways). Beforehand, economic system awards from the U.S. to any South American vacation spot began at 20,000 miles, however as of March 11, these can be even decrease:
- Lower than 1,401 miles: Beginning at 7,500 Alaska miles
- 1,401 to 2,100 miles: Beginning at 12,500 Alaska miles
- 2,101 to 4,000 miles: Beginning at 17,500 Alaska miles
Sadly, the award charges for one in every of Alaska’s prime candy spots are rising. Beginning in March, long-haul flights on LATAM overlaying between 4,001 and 6,000 miles, which presently begin at simply 45,000 miles every means, will climb to 50,000 miles — a rise of 11.1%.
Worldwide flights
It is a related story on the EMEA and Asia award charts, as some costs are dropping whereas others will see some notable will increase — particularly for premium-cabin redemptions.
Here is a snapshot of some standard routes which might be altering.
Fiji Airways
Underneath the present award chart, you possibly can fly from the U.S. to Fiji’s Nadi Worldwide Airport (NAN) for simply 55,000 miles in enterprise class. Amazingly sufficient, that value additionally applies when you join by means of Fiji to Australia or New Zealand.
The brand new award chart will value these business-class awards as follows:
- U.S. to Fiji: 75,000 miles
- U.S. to Australia through Fiji: 85,000 miles
Nevertheless, the beginning value of nonstop economic system tickets from the U.S. to Fiji will drop barely — to 37,500 miles.
Japan Airways
The award charges for nonstop flights from the U.S. to Asia on Japan Airways fall at 35,000 miles for economic system, 50,000 miles for premium economic system and 60,000 miles for business-class award tickets.
For the brand new chart, solely sure flights to Tokyo — from both Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Aiport (SEA) or Vancouver Worldwide Airport (YVR) can be priced the identical or decrease (30,000/40,000/60,000). Nevertheless, flights from different U.S. gateways to Tokyo will begin on the following charges:
- Financial system: 37,500 miles (up 7.14%)
- Premium economic system: 50,000 miles (no change)
- Enterprise: 75,000 miles (up 25%)
Observe that when you add a connecting flight and your whole distance exceeds 7,000 miles, you may get ran into the following pricing band.
Starlux Airways
In 2023, Alaska added Starlux Airlines as a redemption companion, with some wonderful redemption charges (that solely lasted about 24 hours). Nevertheless, you possibly can nonetheless discover some Starlux awards at 85,000 miles in enterprise class, like this routing from San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) to Singapore Changi Worldwide Airport (SIN).
Underneath the brand new award chart, this flight would value out on the identical 85,000 miles.
Cathay Pacific
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific has lengthy been an unimaginable candy spot with Alaska miles, with one-way award charges from the U.S. to Hong Kong Worldwide Airport (HKG) beginning at 30,000 miles in economic system, 50,000 miles in enterprise class and 70,000 miles in firstclass. Whereas availability within the provider’s premium cabins stays very scant, nearly each Cathay gateway within the U.S. (apart from SFO) will see elevated award charges beneath the brand new chart:
- Financial system: 42,500 miles (up 41.67%)
- Enterprise: 85,000 miles (up 70%)
- First: 130,000 miles (up 85.7%)
Associated: Best Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan sweet spot redemptions
Different updates
Past the brand new 2024 award charts, Alaska can also be teasing various further updates to the Mileage Plan program:
- Elevated companion award stock: Alaska has lengthy allowed you to make use of further miles to guide some companion award tickets (although these will be quite pricey). The provider has dedicated to opening up “elevated award stock on 10% of companion routes” to additional develop this function.
- New companion award gross sales: Beginning in April 2024, Alaska will launch limited-time promotions and particular pricing for particular routes, companions and/or locations.
- Upcoming flexibility with companions: As of now, you possibly can solely mix Alaska-operated flights with partner-operated flights on one-way award tickets. Nevertheless, the provider is engaged on providing “mileage redemption when combining two companion airways in a single itinerary on a one-way journey.”
- No change to stopover coverage: Alaska’s award ticket stopover coverage is among the most beneficiant on the market, permitting you so as to add a cease of as much as 14 days on one-way, worldwide award tickets. This isn’t altering with the brand new award chart.
Our tackle the Alaska modifications
The brand new award chart is a combined bag for Alaska vacationers. Typically talking, a distance-based award chart tends to learn those that guide shorter, nonstop itineraries — since including a connecting flight will increase the gap you fly and thus has the potential to push you into a better pricing band. This logic seems to carry with Alaska’s new award chart.
Nevertheless, it is nice to see unified pricing, and for these exterior the U.S., will probably be a pleasant enhancement to have the ability to guide awards between two worldwide locations throughout all of Alaska’s companions.
After all, it is also value noting that utilizing “ranging from” in a printed award chart continues so as to add some notable uncertainty to reserving award tickets with Alaska miles. Whereas trying to find award availability, we have seen fluctuating costs. In spite of everything, there is not any assure that you’ll discover an award ticket at that value on the date you wish to journey.
For instance, checking Alaska’s award calendar for flights from Seattle to Anchorage in July, there are one-way flights between 12,500 miles and 30,000 miles. Due to this fact, when you’re versatile together with your journey days, we advocate looking out Alaska’s award chart calendar, as chances are you’ll discover a cheaper redemption.
Backside line
Alaska Airways Mileage Plan overhauled its award chart, shifting to a distance-based mannequin overlaying three areas: the Americas, Europe, the Center East, Africa and Asia. This has led to some decreases in award costs, however among the provider’s candy spots will now require extra miles.
Nevertheless, this isn’t a set award chart and solely exhibits introductory mileage charges. Due to this fact, we advocate checking Alaska’s award chart calendar to seek out the most cost effective redemption.
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