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Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan (Edit)

Even with reduced earning and recently raised redemption levels, Mileage Plan's earning and redemptive partners are so diverse as to allow opportunities even to flyers outside of the Pacific Northwest and West Coast. Recent expansion into markets such as Boston, both major Washington, D.C. airports, Denver and more destinations in Mexico have only increased the attractiveness of the program. In addition, Alaska Airlines traditionally offers double mileage promotions for extended periods following new route introductions, as well as other profitable promotional opportunities throughout the year. Alaska has been innovative and historically on the forefront with convenient features such as instant-ticket machines and Web check-in.

Features

Mileage Plan has only two elite levels -- MVP and MVP Gold. Qualification is based on a calendar year and elite status can be earned through either miles or segments. The MVP level requires 20,000 actual flight miles on Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, and MVP Gold qualification requires 40,000 miles. Qualification for MVP and MVP Gold can also be earned using a combination of Alaska and its varied partners, Horizon, Northwest, KLM, Air France, American or LanChile. A total of 25,000 actual flight miles or 30 segments will earn MVP status and 50,000 flight miles or 60 segments will earn MVP Gold status. MVP members earn a 50% bonus on Alaska, Horizon, American, Northwest, Air France and KLM flights while MVP Gold members earn a 100% bonus. In a move that emulates long-time partner Northwest, Alaska is migrating from paper upgrade certificates to unlimited automatic upgrades based purely on status.

Pros

In addition to status-qualifying mileage partners, Hawaiian Airlines, British Airways, Continental, Quantas, American Eagle, and Big Sky are also mileage-earning and redemptive partners -- offering almost unlimited opportunities for world travel. Note that redemption opportunities on Air France and KLM "will be available at a later date." Award booking on Alaska Airlines flights is easily accomplished through the program's Web site, and seats to many locations are readily available with minimal flexibility. Many partner upgrades are only available by phoning the Partner Desk (1-800-307-6912). Upgrades are redeemable on all published fares, including Web Specials, and to any destination including Mexico and Canada. For MVP Gold members, upgrades are confirmable at time of ticketing and they can also upgrade one traveling companion. Guest Upgrades issued to Gold members can be used by friends and family traveling separately. Service charge and ticket change fees for Alaska Air and Horizon Air flights are waived for MVP Golds, as is the initiation fee for Alaska's club, The Boardroom. Boardroom members flying on a Northwest ticket are also allowed access to World Clubs.

Cons

Alaska Airline's fleet consists primarily of Boeing 737's and MD-80's (which will be retired from the fleet by August 25, 2008), so first-class cabins are relatively small. Competition for first-class upgrades can be fierce, especially on routes in and out of Alaska where there is an abundance of MVPs and MVP Golds and also on popular leisure travel routes to Mexico. Despite the ease and availability of booking Alaska Airline award travel, partner awards can require a lot of flexibility as to flight dates and times.