Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Program Changes from 2024 - An Asia Pacific Perspective

Alaska Airlines has announced some pretty significant award chart changes that are coming in March 2024 - while it is mostly bad news for those of us based in Asia Pacific (since you will require more Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles for the same flights), the frequent flyer program has just announced some largely positive changes to the Mileage Plan program. 

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Photo Credit: Alaska Airlines

The most significant change to the Mileage Plan program in 2024 is the removal of the requirement to fly on Alaska Airlines - you will be able to achieve elite status in the frequent flyer program by simply meeting the number of elite-qualifying miles (EQMs) earned through oneworld Alliance carriers, and partners (including Singapore Airlines). Even though I am based in Singapore, I have been crediting most of my revenue flights on Singapore Airlines (especially in Business Class and above) to the Mileage Plan program since 2019 as it allows me to double dip on earning PPS Value(with Singapore Airlines) and EQMs in the Mileage Plan program at the same time. It is also relatively easy to earn KrisFlyer Miles in Singapore but earning Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles in this part of the world is pretty tough - even though they will be worth a lot less from March 2024.

Photo Credit: Alaska Airlines

Earning Elite Status (oneworld Status) with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Program

Members will no longer need to fly a minimum number of flights on Alaska Airlines metal from 2024 to qualify for elite status in the Mileage Plan program - you will earn status based on elite-qualifying miles (EQMs) earned on Alaska Airlines, oneworld Alliance carriers, as well as their global partners: 

• MVP (oneworld Ruby): 20,000 EQMs

• MVP Gold (oneworld Sapphire): 40,000 EQMs

• MVP Gold 75K (oneworld Emerald): 75,000 EQMs

• MVP Gold 100K (oneworld Emerald): 100,000 EQMs

Crediting Singapore Airlines Flights to Mileage Plan
Photo Credit: Alaska Airlines

MVP status in the Mileage Plan program gives you plenty of benefits when flying with Alaska Airlines but for those of us based in Asia Pacific, earning MVP Gold (oneworld Sapphire) unlocks Business Class lounge access when traveling on oneworld Alliance carriers regardless of cabin class - if you are flying from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Airlines (even in Economy Class), you will be able to access fantastic airport lounges like The Qantas Singapore Lounge as well as the British Airways Lounge and Concorde Bar. Earning 40,000 EQMs is also not extremely tough if you tend to travel in Business Class or higher on Singapore Airlines - you can then earn both PPS Club membership and MVP status at the same time!

Photo Credit: Alaska Airlines

The Mileage Plan program offers one of the most generous elite bonuses in the market but this will be reduced from 2025. If you are able to get to MVP or MVP Gold status relatively early in 2024, you can seriously build up quite a fair bit of miles in the year ahead. Do keep in mind that the number of required miles for award flights will be going up from March 2024, but as I have mentioned before, it is relatively easy to earn KrisFlyer miles in Singapore so you might want to keep that at the back of your head while deciding whether or not to invest in the Mileage Plan program. Thankfully, Alaska Airlines will not be moving the Mileage Plan program to a revenue-based model (like most US-based frequent flyer programs) so there are still sweet spots to take advantage of in the two years ahead.