Alaska Air to Add New Elite-Qualifying Partners

For a relatively small regional airline, Alaska Airlines boasts a loyalty program that is among the industry’s most robust. In particular, the program features 14 airline partners, allowing Mileage Plan members to earn and redeem miles on a wide range of airlines, including AeroMexico, Air France, American, Cathay Pacific, Delta, KLM, Korean, LAN, and Qantas.

On January 15, 2014, the program gets another value boost, when the miles earned for five current Mileage Plan partner airlines begin counting toward elite status. The partners: British Airways, Cathay pacific, Fiji Airways, Korean Air, and Qantas.

Currently, Mileage Plan members earn elite-qualifying miles for flights on Alaska, AeroMexico, Air France, American, Emirates, Delta, KLM, and LAN.

There are two roads to Mileage Plan elite status. If all qualifying miles are on Alaska Airlines flights, MVP status is awarded at 20,000 miles; MVP Gold status requires 40,000 miles; and MVP Gold 75K status takes effect at 75,000 miles. If qualifying miles are earned on a combination of Alaska and partner flights, the thresholds increase to 25,000 miles, 50,000 miles, and 90,000 miles, respectively.

The ability to earn elite miles with these mostly world-class airlines, with world-spanning route networks, is a definite plus for Mileage Plan members.

And in a world where the largest programs seem intent on devaluing loyalty, it’s another heartening example of a small program managing to exceed expectations.

This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.
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