Seattle, Chile, or Dublin? Fiji, Sydney, and Tokyo? What do these places have in common? They're all places you can get to for a great deal using Alaska Airlines miles.
Alaska's frequent flyer program – dubbed Alaska Mileage Plan – offers some of the best deals to these destinations and others throughout the world, whether you're flying economy or splurging for business.
Alaska miles typically aren't as easy to earn as many other airlines, as you can't transfer them from major credit cards like Chase, Amex, or Capital One…at least not directly. Alaska's impending merger with Hawaiian Airlines has created a roundabout way to get Alaska miles that has made them much easier to earn right now.
While changes to its award chart and a recent rate hike for many partner airline redemptions have taken some of the shine off Alaska miles, there are plenty of excellent sweet spots and unique perks with Alaska miles that may leave you yearning to add more to your arsenal.
Let's go over six of the best ways to use Alaska miles. But first, let's learn a bit about how the Alaska Mileage Plan works.
The Basics of Alaska Mileage Plan
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is perhaps the most lucrative mileage program among all U.S. airlines. While the miles are harder to earn (unless if you're a frequent Alaska flyer) they can take you to some amazing places all over the world for much less than other frequent flyer programs charge.
If you thought you could only get to Alaska with Alaska miles, you're in for a nice surprise. While Alaska Airlines doesn't fly beyond the U.S., Canada, Mexico, or Central America, it has several airline partners as part of the Oneworld alliance. And it goes beyond that with more partners outside of the alliance, too.
30 Alaska Airlines Partners
Outside of its new relationship with Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska partners with a total of 30 airlines, allowing you to redeem Alaska miles for (nearly) free flights or even pile up more Alaska miles when you book a cash fare. And they're some of the best airlines out there.
Here are the Oneworld and partner airlines where you can currently earn Alaska miles and redeem your rewards:
- Aer Lingus
- Air Tahiti Nui
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Condor
- El Al
- Fiji Airways
- Finnair
- Hainan Airlines
- Iberia
- Icelandair
- Japan Airlines
- Korean Air
- LATAM Airlines
- Malaysia Airlines
- Oman Air
- Porter Airlines
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- Ravn Alaska
- Royal Air Maroc
- Royal Jordanian
- Singapore Airlines
- Sri Lankan Airlines
- Starlux Airlines
You can't mix partner airlines when booking with Alaska Airlines miles, but you can combine a partner flight with an Alaska Airlines flight if these airlines don't fly from your home airport.
For years, Alaska had separate award charts for each of its partner airlines, each determining how many miles it'd cost you to book a flight depending on where you're going. But that approach disappeared late last year as Alaska rolled out a new “streamlined” award chart … which spelled trouble for many of those fantastic redemptions.
Through early 2024, Alaska moved to a new setup with three award charts: One for flights in the Americas, one for Asia-Pacific redemptions, and another for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. And exactly how many miles each flight will cost you hinges on the distance of that flight.
Here are the new award charts for each region:
Americas Award Chart
Asia Pacific Award Chart
Europe, Middle East, & Africa Award Chart
New award charts typically spell out bad news, as airlines change how they price award flights and lead to many flights costing more miles to book than they previously did. Some of the best deals to book business or first class on Oneworld partner airlines to Hong Kong (HKG) or Australia have disappeared – though some of those had become largely impossible to actually book, anyway.
But there's a genuine upside to Alaska's award chart changeover, including some redemptions that are getting a bit – or even much – better.
Free Stopovers, Mixed-Carrier Reservations & Sales on Partner Airline Awards
Some of the best parts of Alaska's Mileage program aren't going anywhere – and the airline is even teasing some new features on the way that will add to this list.
- Alaska has committed to continue offering one of the most generous stopover policies on award tickets in the airline industry: You can add a free stopover to any award ticket, squeezing in two destinations for the price of one. And yes, that includes even one-way award tickets.
- Sometime later this year, the airline will introduce the ability to book multiple partner carriers on the same itinerary, like flying to Hong Kong by connecting from Japan Airlines to Cathay Pacific.
- Alaska has said it plans to offer quarterly partner award sales, with discounts of up to 50% off on specific partners, routes, and destinations. That means some of the redemptions you see above could occasionally get even better.
The 6 Best Ways to Use Alaska Airlines Miles
Without further ado, let's get to the best deals you can book when redeeming Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles, whether you want to take a domestic trip or a multi-stop journey to the other side of the world.
Fly Japan Airlines Business Class to Asia
Japan Airlines has one of the best premium cabin experiences in the world. For years, using Alaska miles is one of the cheapest ways to do it.
Read our review of Japan Airlines business class from Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) to Tokyo-Narita (NRT)!
You can find Japan Airlines flights out of Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), New York City (JFK), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), Honolulu (HNL) and Vancouver (YVR), or connect to one of these gateways on an Alaska Airlines flight. Even in business class, you'll enjoy a comfortable ride across the Pacific.
Most Japan Airlines flights from the U.S. measure 5,000 miles or more, meaning they'll cost at least 37,500 miles in economy while business class will run you 75,000 miles. That's an increase flying to and from several West Coast gateways but actually a slight improvement on the longer routes. This flight from Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) to Tokyo-Haneda (HND) previously cost 45,000 miles in economy and 80,000 miles for Japan Airlines business class.
But Alaska's new award chart also carves out an even better deal on the shortest flights to Tokyo from Seattle (SEA) and Vancouver (YVR). Because flights from both cities clock in under 5,000 miles, a one-way in economy now costs 35,000 miles … while business class will run you just 60,000 miles.
At the time of publication, only Japan Airlines' shortest U.S. route to and from Honolulu had wide-open availability in business class for 60,000 miles flying to Tokyo (NRT), Nagoya (NGO), and Kansai (KIX).
Fiji Airways Business Class to Fiji, Australia, or New Zealand
Another incredible deal you can book using Alaska miles is to fly Fiji Airways nonstop to Fiji, or continue all the way down to Australia or New Zealand starting from just 75,000 miles one-way in business class!
This is about as cheap as it gets to fly in business class to the land down under – and unlike nonstop flights to Australia, finding award space to book it is actually possible. Add in the fact that you can stopover in Fiji for some island time on your way to or from (or both) for no extra miles, and this is one of the best deals you can book with any mileage program, if you ask me.
While these flights could previously be booked for much less – just 55,000 miles each way – a premium cabin across the Pacific for 75,000 miles is a deal you shouldn't sleep on.
Fiji Airways flies from several U.S. gateways including Los Angeles (LAX), Honolulu (HNL), San Francisco (SFO), Dallas (DFW), and Vancouver (YVR). But you can connect on Alaska Airlines flights to one of these cities, opening up the opportunity to book an award from several other cities throughout the U.S.
Don't care to fork over the extra miles for business class? Economy flights to Fiji (and beyond) have actually gotten cheaper under Alaska's new award chart, now just 37,500 miles each way.
Fly LATAM Business Class to South America
Using Alaska miles to fly LATAM is one of the best ways to get to South America in business class – especially when you can get all the way down to Santiago (SCL) in Chile for a low rate.
Under Alaska's new Americas award chart, flights between 4,001 and 6,000 miles cost just 50,000 miles each way for business class. And that's the rate you'll pay whether you're flying from Miami (MIA) to Santiago (SCL) or the longer route from New York City (JFK) to Santiago.
You'll find LATAM flights to cities throughout South America from several U.S. gateways: Boston (BOS), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York City (JFK), and Orlando (MCO).
You may even be able to add on a connecting flight down to Chilean Patagonia to your award ticket, but even if you just get to Santiago using miles, you'll be able to find super cheap cash tickets for just over $100 roundtrip to go see one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth in Torres del Paine National Park.
Business Class to Europe from 45K
Perhaps the best example is using Alaska miles to book lie-flat, business class seats to Europe.
Fly in a lie-flat, business class seat on Aer Lingus to Ireland and beyond to other destinations in Europe for just 45,000 Alaska miles + $19 in taxes and fees one-way.
Plus, you can stop in Dublin for a taste of Guinness straight from the source on your way to another European destination.
Read next: 5 Things I Loved Flying Aer Lingus Business Class (& 2 I Didn't)
Aer Lingus flies from several North American gateways, including Boston (BOS), Los Angeles (LAX), Las Vegas (LAS), Minneapolis (MSP), Miami (MIA), Newark (EWR), New York City (JFK), Orlando (MCO), Philadelphia (PHL), Seattle (SEA), San Francisco (SFO), Toronto (YYZ), and Washington D.C.-Dulles (IAD).
Condor business class is one of the most underrated ways to get to Europe – especially without paying the huge surcharges you'd face flying other carriers like British Airways. And it's still a sweet spot with Alaska Miles.
From East Coast cities like Boston (BOS) and New York City (JFK) as well as Toronto (YYZ), it'll cost you just 55,000 miles to get to Frankfurt (FRA) in a lie-flat seat. Even longer flights from Baltimore (BWI) and Miami (MIA) cost the same amount.
Starlux Business Class for 75K
Using Alaska miles to book a business class flight with the new, Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines is one of the best deals to get from the West Coast to Taipei (TPE) and other destinations in Asia. Despite all the changes with Alaska miles, this redemption escaped unscathed.
A one-way, business class flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Taipei on Starlux is still just 75,000 miles each way.
You could also find business class availability departing from Los Angeles (LAX).
This is an unbelievable deal to get to Asia in business class, considering flights could easily run you over $3,000 one-way.
Short-Haul U.S. Flights from 4.5K Miles
Alaska previously had an award chart for flights within North America (typically on either Alaska Airlines itself or American Airlines). Now, it's been rebranded as the “Americas” – including North America as well as both Central America and South America.
The longer the flight, the more miles it may cost you. That's not a major change from how Alaska previously priced these awards. But the amount you'll pay for those flights has changed.
Other than lumping in flights to, from, or within Central and South America into this same pricing rubric, the big change is that the shortest flights now cost fewer miles: as low as 4,500 miles in economy and 13,500 in first class for flights under 700 miles in distance. Under the old system, those same flights used to cost at least 5,000 miles and 17,500 miles, respectively.
Here's a look at a short flight from Seattle (SEA) to San Francisco (SFO) as an example.
When these short flights are looking expensive, being able to turn to your Alaska miles to book for less is always a great workaround.
How to Earn Alaska Airlines Miles
So, how do you earn the miles to book these sweet spots?
Unfortunately, Alaska doesn't partner with any of the major banks that have transferrable points like Chase or American Express, so it's a little harder to earn Alaska miles compared to some other programs. But there are still a handful of ways to quickly earn a bunch of Alaska miles to get you started.
The best path to getting a big stash of miles was by opening the *alaska visa card*. Right now, though, you've got a few more options.
As part of the merger agreement for Alaska and Hawaiian, HawaiianMiles must convert to Alaska Mileage Plan on a 1:1 basis and vice versa. That will open an easy avenue to turn Amex Membership Rewards points from cards like the *amex gold* or *amex platinum* into Alaska miles … because while Alaska isn't an Amex transfer partner, Hawaiian Airlines is. So you can transfer Amex points to Hawaiian now and be able to kick them over to Alaska down the line.
Alaska miles are so valuable that we're even giving the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® a hard look for the first time … ever. With the current publicly available welcome bonus offer, you can earn 70,000 miles after spending $2,000 within 90 days. You could earn those miles even faster by applying through this link (and entering any six-digit promo code).
That bonus of 70,000 miles might not do much with Hawaiian itself. But by sending those miles over to your Alaska account, they'll go a long way. Alaska has said the ability to transfer miles over to Hawaiian (on a 1:1 basis) is coming “later this month.”
Outside of credit card welcome bonus offers, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan has a big advantage over almost every other major U.S. airline. While you now earn miles based on how much you pay with other airlines, Alaska still credits mileage based on the actual distance of your flight. That's a boon for earning miles flying Alaska, especially if you live on the West Coast where Alaska has the most routes.
Every Alaska-operated flight earns at least 100% of the miles flown – even Alaska's Saver Fares – while some fare classes like first class or full-fare economy will get a bonus. Here's a quick breakdown:
Of course, you can also credit miles flown with Alaska Airlines' partner carriers. Use a great resource like wheretocredit.com to figure out exactly how much you'll earn by pooling those miles with Alaska instead.
You can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Alaska miles at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred. But that’s probably only useful as a last resort to top off your account for the final few thousand miles you need.
Read more: 5 Quick (& Easy) Ways to Earn Alaska Airlines Miles
Bottom Line
Alaska Airlines miles are incredibly valuable – in fact, they're still easily the most valuable miles among any major U.S. airline.
Not only can you find great deals for domestic flights flying Alaska Airlines itself, you can also fly far distances on some of the best airlines in the world. The low redemption rates along with the fact that you can add in stopovers on one-way flights for no extra miles makes using Alaska miles one of the best ways to book your next big trip … at least if you've got some Mileage Plan miles to burn.