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Alaska’s Mileage Plan will make it even easier to requalify for elite status


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Alaska’s Mileage Plan program has been doing its best to take care of its frequent flyers this year. Not only have all Mileage Plan elite statuses been extended through April 2022, but members have also been able to earn 50% bonus elite miles all year long so earning and retaining Mileage Plan elite status hasn’t been particularly challenging (for most) this year.

Still, Mileage Plan is obviously very keen for its elite numbers not to fall as we’re now told that despite the generous measures we’ve already seen this year, anyone who held elite status at the beginning of 2021 and who doesn’t requalify for 2022 elite status by 31 December, will be given another opportunity to do so in 1Q 2022.

Alaska Mileage Plan fast track to elite status

If you held Alaska Mileage Plan elite status as of 1 January 2021 your status is secure through 30 April 2022. If you haven’t managed to retain that status by the end of this year, Alaska will have a fast track challenge for you in 2022.

To retain status through 31 December 2022…

  • MVP members will have to earn 5,000 base flight miles between 1 January and 30 April 2022.
  • MVP Gold members will have to earn 10,000 base flight miles between 1 January and 30 April 2022.
  • MVP Gold 75k members will have to earn 20,000 base flight miles between 1 January and 30 April 2022.

Key terms

  • This offer is valid only for Mileage Plan members that held MVP, MVP Gold, or MVP Gold 75K status as of January 1, 2021 that did not requalify for that same status in calendar year 2021.
  • Members who were participating in a status match challenge on January 1, 2021 and did not retain the status are not eligible.
  • This offer may not be used to achieve a higher status than the one held on January 1, 2021.
  • All eligible travel must take place between January 1 and April 30, 2022.
  • A minimum of 2 segments must be flown on Alaska marketed and operated flights.
  • Award travel and bonus miles are not eligible base flight miles.
  • Gold Guest Upgrades, Lounge Day Passes, and MVP Gold 75K MVP nominations will be available after the member has met the requirement for the respective elite status.
  • Members who receive MVP Gold 75K status as part of this offer are not eligible for the 50,000 bonus miles associated with qualifying for MVP Gold 75K status.

Full terms and conditions can be found on the Mileage Plan fast track page.

Quick thoughts

That all seems fair enough as there’s nothing particularly onerous in the terms and conditions.

It’s good to see that bookings on partner airlines will count towards the fast track targets (that will make American Airlines transcon flights appealing for some), and it’s good to see that Mileage Plan isn’t insisting that members fly an inordinate number of flights on Alaska Airlines aircraft as both of those things make hitting the required targets a lot easier.

A key thing to point out is that only base miles qualify for this promotion so bonus miles earned by flying in a premium cabin or from having elite status will not count towards the fast track targets.

Bottom line

Retaining Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan elite status in 2021 was already considerably easier than in most years courtesy of the year-long 50% bonus elite miles promotion and now it’s getting even easier. For the first four months of 2022, Alaska Airlines will be offering Mileage Plan elite members an opportunity to retain whatever status they held on 1 January 2021 by earning a set number of base flying miles, and as elite statuses have already been extended through 30 April next year, flyers will be able to retain their status without having to forgo any of their benefits.

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