2025 Alaska Mileage Plan Changes: Easier Path to Elite Status, New Milestone Perks

Alaska Airlines continues to impress. After already ranking as NerdWallet’s favorite overall airline and best airline rewards program of 2024, Alaska Airlines has announced changes to the Mileage Plan program that will add even more value for most people.

The most notable change: Beginning in January 2025, you’ll be able to earn elite-qualifying miles (or EQMs, which allow you to earn elite status with Alaska) when you redeem your Mileage Plan miles for flights, even on partner airlines. Currently, most airlines don't allow you to earn elite miles on award flights, and only Delta lets you earn elite miles on partner award flights (though the cost to use miles on partner flights is usually prohibitive).

This a huge boon for Alaska Airline loyalists — especially because the requirements to qualify for each status tier in the Alaska Mileage Plan remain unchanged, even with more ways to qualify for elite status.

What’s new in 2025

These are the most noteworthy Alaska Mileage Plan changes that will take effect in January 2025:

• EQMs on award flights and partner airlines: All award flights booked using Mileage Plan miles on Alaska and partner airlines will now count towards elite status and earn EQMs based on distance flown. You’ll earn one EQM for each mile flown. 

• EQMs on credit card spend: The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card will earn one EQM for every $3 spent on qualifying purchases, up to 30,000 EQMs per year. Previously, this card didn’t earn EQMs.

• EQM bonuses through other partners: Earn 1,000 EQMs for every 3,000 miles earned through the Mileage Plan shopping and dining portals and through non-airline partners like Bilt and Lyft. Previously, you could earn bonus miles through these partners, but not EQMs.

• New milestone rewards: Earn selectable milestone rewards, such as bonus miles and lounge access, after eclipsing each of the following EQM thresholds in a calendar year: 10,000; 30,000; 55,000; 85,000; 150,000; 200,000; and 250,000 EQMs. Previously, you’d have to qualify for a new level of elite status (starting at 20,000 EQMs) to get such rewards.

• Lower mileage rates for booking partners directly: This was the one negative change in Alaska’s news, but it affects a smaller group of flyers. Mileage earnings rates will now be lower if you book travel through a partner airline’s website and credit your flight to Mileage Plan, but will remain generally unchanged if you book with a partner directly through Alaska Airlines. 

» Learn more: 9 ways to earn Alaska Airlines miles

The best airline rewards program gets better (for most people)

This addition of benefits without requiring more EQMs to qualify for each loyalty tier has the Alaska Mileage Plan flying in rarefied air, especially when compared to the loyalty program devaluations we’ve grown accustomed to.

One exception will be for people who fly frequently on partner airlines and credit their flights to Mileage Plan. To get the most airline miles and EQMs on partner airlines, you’ll now have to book those flights directly through Alaska Airlines, which may be more expensive or potentially not available.