Late last week, Alaska Airlines announced major changes to its loyalty program for 2025, with the intent of making it easier for when the eventual merger of the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines programs comes sometime in the future. From more ways to earn miles while not flying, to easier transfers between the two operators, the Seattle-based carrier is putting its best foot forward during the first series of major changes to the program in 10 years. 

Transferring and Earning Across Alaska and Hawaiian 

As previously announced, miles between the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines programs can now be transferred at a 1:1 ratio with no associated fees, as well as flights being purchased using these miles can be booked for either airline from both websites. For example, an Alaska Airlines flight booked with miles from both the Alaska and Hawaiian loyalty programs, can be booked on the Hawaiian Airlines website. 

On the earning side, under the changes to the Alaska Mileage Plan, customers across both airlines will hit milestones as low as 10,000 elite qualifying miles (EQM's), giving perks to a broader range of members. Before, the lowest EQM threshold to see any sort of benefits was 20,000 EQM's for MVP Status, double the new initial 10k milestone. The 20k threshold for MVP status remains unchanged, but adding the first milestone at 10k is making it more enticing to build status through Alaska and Hawaiian. 

Additionally, additional milestones are being added outside hitting the thresholds for the 4 tiers of the Alaska Airlines status ladder, with additional rewards such as bonus miles, lounge access, and single trip status upgrades. 

Earning While Not Flying

Similar to many other airlines, Alaska is expanding how customers can earn miles while not flying on their aircraft. One of the main methods is through the airline's credit card, which offers a $3 to 1 EQM purchase rate. Cardholders can accrue up to 30,000 EQMs per year under this deal, and the card is automatically linked to a customer's Alaska Mileage Plan account when activated. 

Additionally, members can earn EQM's through Alaska's growing list of non-airline partners. Under this option, 1,000 EQMs can be added for every 3,000 miles earned under any of the eligible non-airline partners. 

Additionally, one of the milestone choices once Mileage Plan members hit 85,000 EQMs is rollover EQMs. Meant to be a way of getting a head start for status the next year, Alaska is offering the ability to rollover 10,000 EQMs into the next year for anyone who hits the aforementioned 85k EQM milestone. 

Award Travel and Multi-Carrier Redemptions

Alaska is also making award travel more appealing when it comes to earning status, with award tickets on Alaska, Hawaiian, or other partner airlines earning their own miles based on distance flown. For example, if you fly from Seattle to Tokyo roundtrip with an award ticket, you will earn EQMs equivalent to the distance of the roundtrip flights, which is 9,538 miles in this case. With the first milestone in Alaska's new program being 10,000 miles, this trip would cover 95% of the miles needed to hit said threshold. 

Also in the works for the new plan is multi-airline tickets for partner airlines with Alaska and Hawaiian. For example, you could purchase a ticket on American Airlines and British Airlines (from the Alaska Airlines website) for a ticket to Europe, where Mileage Plan members will still earn 100% of the miles they fly. Also, travel in premium cabins on tickets across partner airlines get premium miles. Premium Economy will earn 150% of miles flown, Business Class sees 200% and International First Class will earn a whopping 350% of miles flown.  

Summary

With many changes in store, Alaska Airlines is ready to set the stage for one of the most interesting airline merges in the last two decades, and their new Mileage Plan changes are set to make it better for their  consumers base. With new ways to earn points, and better rewards for those in the program, these changes are hopefully a sign of things to come when Alaska and Hawaiian fully combine their programs in the near future. 

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