A lot of negative changes happened to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan in the past 2 to 3 years. In a final blow to the once-amazing Frequent Flyer Program (FFP), new award pricing will come into effect from March 2024.
New distance-based award chart
This unified distance-based award chart is for travel on all of Alaska’s partner airlines, between Asia Pacific and:
- Asia
- Europe
- Middle East
- South Pacific
- Africa
- USA
| Distance (miles) | Economy miles from | Premium Economy miles from | Business miles from | First miles from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 | 7,500 | 10,000 | 15,000 | 22,500 |
| 1,501–3,000 | 25,000 | 32,500 | 50,000 | 75,000 |
| 3,001–5,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 | 60,000 | 90,000 |
| 5,001–7,000 | 37,500 | 50,000 | 75,000 | 110,000 |
| 7,001–10,000 | 42,500 | 55,000 | 85,000 | 130,000 |
| Over 10,000 | 65,000 | 85,000 | 130,000 | 195,000 |
Beware of dynamic award pricing
As shared in the table above, the mileage requirements for each distance band “starts from” those values. In other words, those are the lowest award rates that you may see, and you may find higher rates on certain dates.
Is this a Devaluation?
Unfortunately, yes. From March 2024, this new award chart will completely kill most of Suitesmile’s Alaska sweet spots.
Related: Best ways to redeem Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles
Let’s have a look at the two major devaluation:
Within Asia on Cathay Pacific
At the moment, travellers can fly within Asia at very low award rates on Cathay Pacific, although, award availability has been poor post-COVID.
Here are the new award rates:
Economy: 12.5k 25k
Business: 22.5k 50k
Asia-North America on Cathay Pacific
At the moment, travellers can fly between Asia and North America at very low award rates on Cathay Pacific. Award availability on this route has also been really poor post-COVID.
Here are the new award rates:
Economy: 30k 42.5k
Business: 50k 85k – 130k
Exit Plan: What should you do with existing Alaska miles?
The signs were there, over a year ago.
If you are based in Singapore and (and Southeast Asia), it’s probably a good idea to completely take Mileage Plan out of your travel-hacking strategy.
The big challenge here is that there’s hardly any Cathay Pacific award availability within Asia and to/from North America.
That said, the best option that you have right now is to use your Alaska miles for STARLUX flights, on routes between Taipei and selected Asian airports, within the 1,500 miles band:
- Hanoi
- Manila
- Ho Chi Minh
- Seoul
- Tokyo
- Okinawa
- Osaka
- Fukuoka
Award rates on these routes will remain unaffected from March 2024. However, with very little use cases, it’s probably a good idea to wipe out your Alaska miles balances and leave the FFP for good.
Economy: 7.5k
Premium Economy: 10k
Business: 15k
Bottom line
From March 2024, Alaska Mileage Plan will be almost-completely useless for travellers based in Singapore (and the region).
Alaska miles have always been difficult to earn, as the FFP do not have any Asian credit card partners. With the upcoming changes, there will be hardly any good reasons to continue accumulating Alaska miles.
I’ve had loads of fun with Alaska sweet spots over the years. It was fun while it lasted. RIP. 🥲
Does this kill the JAL “joyride” from SIN to CGK, SGN etc as well?
It should, unless if the system continues to ignore the distance of the layover airport (HND/NRT).