How to Redeem Alaska Airlines Miles

Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan is one of the best travel loyalty programs around, with plenty of ways to earn miles. But what about when it comes to redeeming them?

We currently value Mileage Plan miles at 1.4 cents each and a look back shows that they've only increased in value over the years:

If you've banked a significant number of Alaska miles, then it pays to know how to make the most of them. Here's how to redeem miles for maximum value:

» Learn more: Your complete guide to Alaska Airlines mileage plan

Book an award trip with Alaska or its travel partners

The first and most obvious choice for squeezing value out of your Alaska miles is redeeming them for flights. Award flights start at just 5,000 miles for a one-way ticket.

Here's the full list of airlines Alaska partners with:

The key to stretching your miles is to get familiar with the award charts to see the airlines with flights to the destinations you want to visit. From there, you can compare which one will offer the most value.

Alaska's award charts are distanced-based with award rates for flights on Alaska starting at 5,000 miles in economy for the shortest ditance band.

Distances less than 700 miles

• Economy starting at 5,000 miles.

• First class starting at 15,000 miles.

Distances of 701 - 1,400 miles

• Economy starting at 7,500 miles.

• First class starting at 25,000 miles.

Distances of 1,401 - 2,100 miles

• Economy starting at 10,000 miles.

• First class starting at 25,000 miles.

Distances of over 2,101 miles

• Economy starting at 12,500 miles.

• First class starting at 30,000 miles.

By comparison, partner redemption rates for flights within the United States and the Americas are as follows:

» Learn more: How much is 40,000 miles worth

Book with money and miles

If you don't have enough miles to cover your flight, you can also use a combination of money and miles.

Money & Miles awards are good for up to a 50% discount on coach and first-class fares. You just can't use them along with Saver fares; maximum discount limits apply.

Here's a snapshot of how you can apply Money & Miles awards:

» Learn more: How to earn miles with Alaska Airlines

Use miles to book hotels

Another way to put Alaska miles to work is by booking hotels. You can redeem miles at more than 400,000 properties worldwide. You also have the option of booking with a combination of cash and miles.

The best way to maximize your miles is to use the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card to pay for your stay. Doing so allows you to take advantage of discounted redemption levels, meaning you can book hotel stays with fewer miles, leaving more miles to use elsewhere.

» Learn more: Alaska Airlines Credit Card review: Well worth $75 a year

Upgrade to first class

If you want to make your next trip with Alaska Airlines more comfortable, you can use your miles to upgrade to a first-class fare. Upgrades require a flat 15,000 miles.

Of course, if you would rather save your miles for another redemption, you can always purchase a first-class upgrade. Upgrade fees range from $23 to $199 depending on the length of the trip.

Request a free stopover

Another way to extend the value of your Alaska miles is by booking a free stopover. You can get a free stopover per one-way ticket, which is basically a way to visit two cities for the price of one. You can do this online or you can get help from an Alaska Airlines agent at 1-800-252-7522.

Technically, you could use the stopover option for any destination where it's available, but it's typically most valuable on international flights. Just watch out for variations in taxes and fees, especially when booking with partner airlines.

Other ways to use your Alaska Airlines miles

You can also redeem your Alaska Airlines miles for:

• Charitable donations.

• Gifts to friends and family (for a fee).

While these options are nice if you want more flexibility, overall, your best bet for making miles count is using them for flights, hotels, first-class upgrades or stopovers.