Alaska Airlines Program

Alaska Mileage Plan: The Complete Guide

Alaska Mileage Plan is hands down one of the best-kept secrets in the miles game. While everyone obsesses over Chase and Amex points, Alaska quietly offers some of the most insane redemption values out there – especially for premium cabins on partners. The program is distance-based, has incredible sweet spots, and best of all: they’re the ONLY program that can book Starlux Airlines awards.

If you want to fly Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, or discover Starlux, you need Alaska miles.

Why Alaska Mileage Plan?

• Exclusive Starlux access – Only program that can book Starlux Airlines awards
• Incredible partner awards – JAL, Cathay Pacific, American Airlines at great rates
• Free stopovers – One free stopover on one-way international awards
• Distance-based pricing – Short flights cost fewer miles than other programs
• Easy to earn – Transfers from Bilt and Marriott, plus co-branded credit cards
• No close-in fees – Book awards up to departure without penalties

Best Ways to Use Alaska Miles (Sweet Spots)

1. Starlux Airlines from West Coast to Asia (50,000 miles Premium Economy)

This is THE exclusive redemption. Alaska is the only program that can book Starlux, Taiwan’s incredible new airline with modern cabins and excellent service. West Coast to Taipei starts at 50,000 miles in Premium Economy, with connections throughout Asia. Since nobody else can book Starlux awards, this is your exclusive access.

2. Japan Airlines to Japan (60,000 miles business, 75,000 from East Coast)

JAL business class is phenomenal, and Alaska charges 60,000 miles from the West Coast or 75,000 from the East Coast. The catch? JAL has severely restricted award availability to Alaska recently. JAL releases schedules 12 months out, but Alaska only searches 11 months, creating a gap. Still, when you find space, it’s fantastic value.

3. American Airlines Short-Haul (as low as 4,500 miles)

Flights up to 700 miles cost just 4,500 Alaska miles. DFW to Chicago? 7,500 miles. DFW to San Francisco? 12,500 miles. These short American Airlines hops give you incredible value per mile.

4. Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong (85,000 miles business)

Cathay’s business class from the U.S. to Hong Kong runs 85,000 Alaska miles. Cathay has one of the best business class products in the world, and this pricing is competitive.

5. LATAM to South America (30,000 economy, 60,000 business)

LAX to São Paulo, Brazil (12 hours) for just 30,000 miles in economy or 60,000 in business. Alaska treats all of South America as one region, making distant destinations incredibly valuable.

6. Qantas Australia Domestic (7,500 miles)

Flying within Australia? Book Qantas domestic flights for 7,500 Alaska miles each way for journeys under 1,500 miles. Perfect for exploring Australia on the cheap.

Important 2025 Update

The Amex → Hawaiian → Alaska transfer pathway ends in August 2025 due to the Alaska-Hawaiian merger. If you have Amex points, transfer them to Hawaiian, then immediately transfer to Alaska before August 2025.

How to Earn Alaska Miles

1. Credit Card Transfers

Two programs transfer to Alaska:

• Bilt Rewards – Transfers 1:1 (earn points paying rent!)
• Marriott Bonvoy – Transfers 3:1 (60,000 Marriott = 20,000 Alaska miles)

2. Bank of America Alaska Airlines Credit Cards

Alaska has several co-branded cards with solid bonuses:

• Alaska Airlines Visa Signature – Personal card, typically 40,000-60,000 mile bonus
• Alaska Airlines Business Card – Business version, separate bonus eligibility

The famous companion fare ($121 to bring someone with you) makes these cards valuable beyond the miles.

3. Flying Alaska or Partners

You earn miles based on distance and fare class. But credit cards are easier for most people.

How to Search for Alaska Award Space

Step 1: Create a Mileage Plan Account

Go to Alaska Mileage Plan and sign up for free.

Step 2: Log In and Search

Use the “Use Miles” option on AlaskaAir.com. Alaska’s search engine is decent but sometimes misses partner availability.

Step 3: Search Partners Directly

For JAL, Cathay, or Starlux, search on their websites first to confirm space exists:

• JAL – Search on jal.co.jp (need free JAL account)
• Cathay Pacific – Search on cathaypacific.com
• Starlux – Check starlux-airlines.com

Once you find space, call Alaska to book (800-252-7522). Their phone agents are generally helpful.

Step 4: Book or Hold

Alaska doesn’t have a formal hold policy, but phone agents can sometimes hold for 24 hours while you transfer points.

Alaska Mileage Plan Tips & Tricks

• Use the free stopover – One-way international awards include a free stopover. Fly to Asia via Hawaii for a week – zero extra miles
• Book Starlux NOW – As word spreads, availability will get harder to find. Alaska has exclusive access
• Call for JAL – Don’t rely on Alaska’s website for JAL space. Search on JAL.com, then call Alaska to book
• American short-haul is gold – 4,500-12,500 miles for domestic flights is phenomenal value
• Transfer Bilt monthly – Earn 1-2K miles/month paying rent adds up fast
• Companion fare hack – The Alaska credit card companion fare ($121) works on paid tickets, not just awards
• Miles don’t expire – As long as you have activity every 24 months, miles stay alive

Common Questions

Do Alaska miles expire?

Yes, after 24 months of no activity. But earning or redeeming even 1 mile resets the clock. Use the Alaska dining program to keep them alive easily.

Can I book one-way awards?

Yes! And one-way awards include the free stopover, making them incredibly flexible.

What happened to the Emirates sweet spot?

Emirates removed Alaska as a redemption partner in 2023. It’s gone. Focus on JAL, Cathay, Starlux, and American instead.

Should I transfer Bilt or Marriott to Alaska?

Bilt transfers 1:1, so they’re great. Marriott is 3:1, so only do it for specific redemptions where Alaska gives better value than Marriott hotels.

Why can’t I find JAL space on Alaska’s website?

JAL releases schedules 12 months out, Alaska searches 11 months out. Plus JAL restricts availability. Search on JAL.com first, then call Alaska to book what you find.

Bottom Line

Alaska Mileage Plan punches way above its weight. The exclusive Starlux access, incredible JAL pricing (when you find it), free stopovers, and American Airlines short-haul values make it a powerhouse program.

Yes, JAL availability is tough. Yes, you’ll need to call to book most partner awards. But when you’re flying Starlux’s brand-new A350s to Asia or getting a free week-long stopover in Tokyo on your way to Southeast Asia, those minor inconveniences fade away.

Earn miles through Bilt Rewards (especially if you’re paying rent anyway), grab an Alaska credit card for the companion fare, and focus on the sweet spots. Alaska might not be the flashiest program, but it’s one of the most valuable.