Alaska Airlines MVP elite status: What it is and how to get it
- Noboundlife
- Mar 17
- 9 min read
Section
In addition to earning valuable miles, travelers who fly with Alaska Airlines and its partner airlines can credit their flights to the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan loyalty program and potentially qualify for MVP elite status. Achieving elite status grants access to exclusive benefits and perks, enhancing your overall travel experience.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K received recognition for its impressive perks, which include complimentary first-class upgrades, preferred seating, lounge access, and bonus miles that can be redeemed for future travel on Alaska or its partner airlines.
If you're considering pursuing these perks, it's essential to weigh the benefits against the drawbacks of staying loyal to a single airline program. For some, especially those living near an Alaska Airlines hub, focusing on elite status with one carrier may be a clear choice. However, others might find it more advantageous to remain flexible, selecting the best airline for each flight.
In this guide, we will explore MVP status, detailing the various status tiers, how to achieve them, and whether striving for this status is worthwhile for both occasional and frequent Alaska Airlines flyers. Additionally, with Alaska's recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines and plans to revamp Mileage Plan in 2025, obtaining elite status with this airline might be of interest to you.
What is Alaska Airlines status?
Alaska Airlines provides various MVP status tiers based on the elite qualifying miles earned through the airline and its global partners, as well as spending on Alaska's cobranded credit card. You can also be upgraded to MVP Gold or MBP Gold 75k with Nobound Life without any spending or miles requirements.
Related:
Your Alaska elite status activates once you meet the required threshold for that tier and remains valid for the remainder of the calendar year, typically expiring on December 31 of the following year. For instance, if you achieve your MVP Gold qualification in October 2024, your status will be valid until December 31, 2025.
Alaska elite status tiers
Anyone can join the Mileage Plan program for free online as a base member. Doing so will make you eligible to collect Alaska miles, and as you spend more time flying Alaska or its partners, you can also collect status.
Alaska Airlines' published elite status tiers from lowest to highest are:
MVP
MVP Gold
MVP Gold 75K
MVP Gold 100K
To qualify for MVP status, you must reach varying thresholds of elite qualifying miles based on Alaska, Oneworld and global partner airlines' flights and cobranded credit card spending.
Status tier | Number of elite qualifying miles required |
MVP | 20,000 |
MVP Gold | 40,000 |
MVP Gold 75K | 75,000 |
MVP Gold 100K | 100,000 |
As you fly more with Alaska Airlines or spend on a cobranded credit card, you can ascend the status ladder. Staying loyal to Alaska and reaching higher tiers unlocks increasingly valuable perks. For instance, you may enjoy complimentary lounge access or free upgrades.
The same applies to the four published elite status tiers of rival airlines United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. As you progress through these tiers, you also unlock valuable perks that enhance your travel experience.
How to qualify for Alaska elite status
Fly on Alaska Airlines-operated or partner flights to earn EQMs
While many airlines have shifted to calculating elite status based on spending, Alaska Airlines continues to base it on the actual mileage flown, distinguishing between elite qualifying miles and redeemable base miles.
The number of EQMs earned depends on the carrier and fare class. For example, a first-class ticket on Alaska in the J fare class earns 200% EQMs, while a Savor economy ticket in the X fare class earns only 30% EQMs.
Earn Alaska elite status through credit card spending
In 2023, Alaska Airlines announced significant changes to how elite members earn status. Starting this year, earning status through elite qualifying segments is no longer an option; members can now only earn status by accruing elite qualifying miles (EQMs). This means it's possible to achieve Alaska elite status without ever flying on an Alaska Airlines plane.
Additionally, following Alaska's acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, the airline expanded the ways members can earn EQMs through credit card spending. Currently capped at 20,000 EQMs per year, starting January 1, 2025, holders of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® and Alaska Airlines Visa® Business cards will earn 1 EQM for every $3 spent, with a maximum of 30,000 EQMs available each year on qualified purchases.
Therefore, if you spend $60,000 annually on your personal or business Alaska card, you can earn 20,000 EQMs, allowing you to achieve MVP status solely through credit card spending.
Earn Alaska MVP status through a status match
Following the merger of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, if you have status with either carrier, your status will be matched as follows:
If you have:Â | You'll be matched to: |
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP status | HawaiianMiles Pualani Gold status |
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K or MVP Gold 100K status | HawaiianMiles Pualani Platinum status |
HawaiianMiles Pualani Gold status | Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP status |
HawaiianMiles Pualani Platinum status | Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP Gold status |
Even if loyalty members don't have status with either airline, they can combine their elite qualifying miles from both programs to achieve status.
Combined EQM balance:Â | Status you'll get with Mileage Plan: | Status you'll get with HawaiianMiles: |
20,000 EQMs | MVP | Pualani Gold |
40,000 EQMs | MVP Gold | Pualani Platinum |
75,000 EQMs | MVP Gold 75K | Pualani Platinum |
100,000 EQMs | MVP Gold 100K | Pualani Platinum |
Upgrade to Alaska MVP Gold 75k status with Nobound Life
Good news! You can now obtain Alaska Airlines MVP Gold 75K Status or MVP Gold at an affordable price, with an immediate upgrade to your account for 90 days. To maintain your status, you need to earn 20,000 miles by flying on Alaska during this period. If you start your status match by the end of June and meet the requirements, your status will extend through the end of the calendar year. Alternatively, if you start between July and December, you can maintain your status through the end of the following year.
Additional ways to earn Alaska EQMs
In 2025, Alaska Mileage Plan members will have new opportunities to earn elite qualifying miles (EQMs). Members will earn 1,000 EQMs for every 3,000 miles accrued through non-flight activities, such as using Lyft, the Mileage Plan shopping portal, and the dining program. Additionally, members will start earning EQMs on award flights, receiving the same EQMs as they would on paid tickets, although they will not earn Alaska base miles on award redemptions.
What are Alaska's elite status benefits?
Alaska Airlines elite status offers a range of perks that increase in value as members progress through the tiers.
MVP
As the entry-level tier, MVP members enjoy benefits such as:
50% bonus miles (reducing to 25% in 2025)
Oneworld Ruby status
Priority check-in, security, and boarding
Preferred seating
Two free checked bags (until 2025; one free bag starting in 2026)
Priority call routing
Discounted Alaska Lounge membership
First-class upgrades at booking with Y and B fares
Premium-class upgrades at booking with Y, B, and H fares
First- and premium-class upgrades on nonqualifying fares (except Savor) 48 hours before departure
Access to extra-legroom seating on American Airlines starting 24 hours before departure
Complimentary access to domestic upgrades on American starting 24 hours before departure
MVP Gold
MVP Gold members receive all the MVP perks plus:
100% bonus miles (reducing to 50% in 2025)
Two free checked bags
Oneworld Sapphire status
Complimentary same-day flight changes and standby for full flights
Complimentary premium beverage or chocolate in Main Cabin
Four first-class upgrades at booking with Y, B, H, and K fares (until Dec. 31, 2024)
Premium-class upgrades at booking with Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S, and N fares
First- and premium-class upgrades on nonqualifying fares (except Savor) 72 hours before departure
First- and premium-class companion upgrades
First-class guest upgrades (maximum of four per year)
Access to extra-legroom seating on American Airlines at booking
Complimentary access to domestic upgrades on American starting 48 hours before departure
MVP Gold 75K
For frequent Alaska flyers, achieving MVP Gold 75K provides all MVP Gold benefits plus:
125% bonus miles (changing to 100% in 2025)
50,000 bonus miles upon qualification (available only through Dec. 31, 2024)
Oneworld Emerald status
Three free checked bags
Four Alaska Lounge day passes
First-class upgrades at booking with Y, B, H, K, and M fares
Premium-class upgrades at booking on all fares except Savor
First- and premium-class upgrades on nonqualifying fares (except Savor) 120 hours before departure
One one-way international upgrade certificate on American Airlines
Complimentary access to domestic upgrades on American starting 72 hours before departure
MVP Gold 100K
The top tier, MVP Gold 100K, includes all MVP Gold 75K benefits plus:
150% bonus miles
A 100K Choice Benefit upon qualification
A complimentary snack or meal in the main cabin
Two one-way international upgrade certificates on American Airlines
Upon reaching MVP Gold 100K, members can select one of the following 100K Choice Benefits for the next year:
50,000 bonus miles
Alaska Lounge+ membership
Ability to gift MVP Gold status
Complimentary Wi-Fi on every flight
Complimentary Clear Plus membership
In 2025, new 100K Choice Benefit options will include:
50,000 bonus miles
75,000 miles off an Extras* redemption
Alaska Lounge+ membership
Complimentary Wi-Fi on every flight
Four upgrade certificates
Nominate someone for MVP Gold status
Milestone Rewards
For members reaching 150K, 200K, and 250K milestones, two perks can be selected from:
15,000 bonus miles
25,000 miles off an Extras redemption
Two complimentary Alaska Lounge day passes
Two upgrade certificates
Roll over 10,000 EQMs to the following year
Additionally, Alaska will offer new milestone rewards in 2025, allowing Mileage Plan members to choose from the following upon reaching specific EQM thresholds:
10,000 EQMs:Â Choose one of the following:
750 bonus miles
Preorder a complimentary meal
One complimentary Wi-Fi pass
Try MVP status for a trip
Earn double miles with non-air partners
Upgrade your next Avis car rental
30,000 EQMs:Â Choose one of the following:
2,500 bonus miles
$25 off a future Alaska flight
Four Wi-Fi passes
Try MVP Gold status for a trip
$100 off an Alaska Lounge membership
55,000 EQMs:Â Choose two of the following:
5,000 bonus miles
10,000 miles off an Extras redemption
Gift MVP status for a trip
One complimentary Alaska Lounge day pass
Two upgrade certificates
85,000 EQMs:Â Choose two of the following:
15,000 bonus miles
25,000 miles off an Extras redemption
Two complimentary Alaska Lounge day passes
Two upgrade certificates
Gift MVP Gold status for a trip
Nominate someone for MVP status
Roll over 10,000 EQMs to the next year
*Extras is a travel experience platform featuring sporting events, concerts, and other activities that Alaska will launch.
Is it worth it to get Alaska Airlines elite status?
If you frequently fly Alaska Airlines or plan to in 2025, adding an Alaska Airlines credit card could simplify your path to earning elite status in the Mileage Plan program, making the benefits more appealing. With new perks and status-earning opportunities in 2025, qualifying for elite status may become even more attractive.
However, it's important to note that Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will merge into one loyalty program, with specific details expected to be announced in 2025. If you earned Alaska elite status in 2023, it will be valid through December 31, 2024. Consider your future travel plans with Alaska and Oneworld partners when deciding whether to extend your status into 2025 or 2026. For instance, pursuing MVP Gold 100K status is only beneficial if you travel frequently enough to utilize its perks.
It's also crucial to evaluate whether pursuing elite status is practical for you. Consider Alaska's service from your home airport and the convenience of reaching your desired destinations. If a cheaper nonstop flight with another airline, like Delta, is available, it may not be worth going out of your way for an Alaska flight.
For those who already hold elite status with another airline, a status match challenge is an option. You can submit your current frequent flyer status to receive equivalent Mileage Plan status for 90 days.
Bottom line
Alaska Airlines is highly regarded in the frequent flyer community, thanks to its MVP elite status and valuable mileage currency. With the acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines and the introduction of new milestone benefits and program perks in 2025, Alaska's elite status is increasingly appealing, even to loyal AAdvantage TPG staff members.
However, recent changes have raised some concerns, such as the introduction of a distance-based structure and high redemption rates for new partners. While reciprocal upgrade benefits with American Airlines are valuable for Alaska elite members, they may also lead to increased competition for upgrades, particularly for lower-tier members.
When considering whether to pursue MVP status, it's essential to assess your travel plans for this year and next to determine if the benefits will outweigh the costs. If you're putting in the effort to earn elite status, ensure that you will travel sufficiently with Alaska and its partners to make your hard work worthwhile.
With Nobound Life Alaska MVP Gold 75k upgrade, you will be directly upgraded to MVP Gold 75k status without the need to meet any miles or spending requirement.
Ultimately, having MVP status can significantly enhance your Alaska Airlines flying experience, making it more enjoyable and seamless.
