US carrier 
Alaska Airlines
today announced the next set of improvements to its frequent flyer program, which will come into effect in January. Members of the airline’s Mileage Plan loyalty program will receive additional incremental benefits as they earn elite status, with the first perks arriving at 10,000 elite qualifying miles (down from 20,000).
Earn elite perks, faster
The airline follows fellow 
oneworld
Alliance carrier American Airlines in introducing new benefits for frequent flyers on the way to elite status. Earlier this year, American introduced a lower status tier with benefits at just 15,000 loyalty points, and Alaska is now following suit.
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From January 2025, Mileage Plan
members will be able to choose from a selection of perks at new milestone moments between elite status levels. The rewards include bonus miles, lounge access, trying an elevated status for a trip, rollover elite-qualifying miles, and access to exclusive events. Brett Catlin, Vice President of Loyalty, Alliances and Sales at Alaska Airlines, expressed his excitement for the new perks to roll out:
“We’re on a multi-year journey to make the industry’s most generous loyalty program even more rewarding.
“In 2025, Mileage Plan members will have access to all-new, more frequent perks along with expanded ways to earn elite status, including on award travel.”
Photo: Ian Dewar Photography | Shutterstock
According to the airline’s statement, the new changes are being implemented to make perks accessible to a broader range of Mileage Plan members, not just those with elite status.
What are the benefits?
The airline has several new incremental status tiers, which it calls “Milestone Moments.” The first such moment is at 10,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs). Additional milestones happen at 30,000, 55,000, 85,000, 150,000, 200,000, and 250,000 elite-qualifying miles. The existing status levels are MVP (20,000 EQMs), MVP Gold (40,000 EQMs), MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K.
10K milestone – 10,000 elite-qualifying miles (Coming next year)
Mileage Plan members may choose from one of the following perks
- Obtain 750 bonus miles.
- Pre-order a complimentary meal for one flight.
- Get one complimentary WiFi pass.
- Try MVP status for a trip.
- Earn double miles with non-air partners.
- Upgrade their next Avis rental.
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MVP / oneworld Ruby – 20,000 elite-qualifying miles
As the bottom tier of alliance-wide elite status, the top benefits of MVP status include the following:
- 25% bonus miles on every flight, including with Alaska’s partners.
- Exclusive day-of-travel benefits, including upgrades to First Class and Premium Class on Alaska Airlines, when available.
- Companions traveling on the same flight in the same reservation will become eligible for First Class and Premium Class upgrades when available (coming later in 2025).
- Access to oneworld Ruby privileges, including upgrades to First Class and Main Cabin Extra on American Airlines.
- Extra benefits with non-air partners, including a status match to Avis Preferred Plus status and discounts on a Clear Plus membership.
Photo: Alaska Airlines
30K milestone – 30,000 elite-qualifying miles (Coming next year)
Frequent flyers can choose one of the following perks:
- 2,500 bonus miles
- $25 off a future Alaska flight
- Four WiFi passes
- MVP Gold status for a trip
- $100 off an Alaska Lounge membership
MVP Gold / oneworld® Sapphire – 40,000 elite-qualifying miles
The next tier of elite status, MVP Gold, offers a range of new benefits, including:
- 50% bonus miles on every flight, including with the airline’s partners
- Access to oneworld Sapphire privileges, including Business Class lounges when traveling on a oneworld member airline to a destination outside the US, Canada, or Mexico.
- A complimentary premium drink or chocolate when flying in Main Cabin
- Standby and waitlist for full flights
- Complimentary same-day flight changes
- Extra benefits with non-air partners, including status-matching to Avis Preferred Plus status and discounts on a Clear Plus membership
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55K milestone – 55,000 elite-qualifying miles (Coming next year)
For the next incremental update, members can pick two options from the following list:
- 5,000 bonus miles.
- 10,000 miles off an Extras redemption (coming soon).
- Gift MVP for a trip.
- One complimentary Lounge day pass.
- Two upgrade certificates.
Photo: Alaska Airlines
MVP Gold 75K / oneworld Emerald – 75,000 elite-qualifying miles
The top benefits of MVP Gold 75K include:
- Earn 100% bonus miles on every flight, including with airline partners.
- Complimentary upgrades into Premium Class upgrades at booking for all Main Cabin fares (excluding Saver).
- Alliance-wide oneworld Emerald privileges, including access to Business and First Class lounges, when traveling on a oneworld member airline to a destination outside the US, Canada, or Mexico.
- A complimentary premium drink or chocolate when flying in Main Cabin.
- Extra benefits with non-air partners, including status-matching to Avis President’s Club status and discounts on a Clear Plus membership.
85K milestone – 85,000 elite-qualifying miles (Coming next year)
At this level, members can pick two options from the following list:
- 15,000 bonus miles.
- 25,000 miles off an Extras redemption.
- Two complimentary Lounge day passes.
- Two upgrade certificates.
- Gift MVP Gold status for a trip.
- Nominate someone for MVP status.
- 10,000 elite-qualifying miles rolled over.
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MVP Gold 100K / oneworld Emerald – 100,000 elite-qualifying miles
Additional benefits are earned at MVP Gold 100K, including:
- Earn 150% more bonus miles on every flight.
- A complimentary premium drink or chocolate and meal when flying in Main Cabin.
Additionally, members are eligible to pick one of the following 100K Choice Benefit perks:
- 50,000 bonus miles.
- 75,000 miles off an Extras redemption.
- Alaska Lounge+ membership.
- Complimentary WiFi on every flight.
- Four upgrade certificates.
- Nominate someone for MVP Gold status.
There will also be three new milestones above MVP Gold 100k to celebrate the most loyal of frequent flyers.
- 150K milestone – 150,000 elite-qualifying miles
- 200K milestone – 200,000 elite-qualifying miles
- 250K milestone – 250,000 elite-qualifying miles
At each of the new milestones, members can pick two options from the following list, which could lead to a significant number of free miles and lounge passes as the perks can be stacked.
- 15,000 bonus miles.
- 25,000 off an Extras redemption.
- Two complimentary Lounge passes.
- Two upgrade certificates.
- 10,000 elite-qualifying miles rolled over.
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The airline also announced that Million Milers would receive the highest priority within their tier. After Million Milers, guests will be prioritized by how many elite-qualifying miles they’ve earned, not by how much they paid for their ticket.