Down to the Wire: Crafty Ways to Snag Alaska MVP Status at the Last Minute

Down to the Wire: Crafty Ways to Snag Alaska MVP Status at the Last Minute - Max Out Mileage Plan Credits

One of the best ways to get a leg up on Alaska MVP status is to max out your Mileage Plan account with credits. This may seem obvious, but many travelers don’t realize just how valuable those Miles can be toward elite status qualification.

Unlike with some other airlines, Alaska doesn’t require a minimum dollar amount spent to earn MVP. It's all about the miles. You’ll need 20,000 Miles earned on Alaska flights to hit the lowest MVP tier of Gold. And remember that these need to be butt-in-seat Miles, not from partners or credit cards.

- Book a last minute mileage run. This may be the most enjoyable option, if not the most budget-friendly. Look for routes that provide the most miles per dollar spent. Two roundtrips between the West Coast and Hawaii could easily net 10K miles.

Down to the Wire: Crafty Ways to Snag Alaska MVP Status at the Last Minute - Book a Mileage Run

One of the most enjoyable ways to top up your Mileage Plan balance is to book a mileage run. This strategy involves deliberately booking a last-minute trip solely to rack up Alaska miles. While it's not the most budget-friendly approach, it beats buying miles outright.

To maximize your MVP qualifying miles, you’ll want to focus on high-yield routes. Flights between the West Coast and Hawaii are a prime option, as they can easily net 10,000 miles roundtrip. Other lucrative routes include Seattle to Boston (9,000 miles roundtrip) and Los Angeles to New York (8,000 miles roundtrip).

Aim to book flights and fare classes that earn at least 100% of flown miles. Discounted economy tickets only earn 25-50% of miles flown. Pay a bit more for main cabin and you’ll earn 100% of miles. First class tickets on Alaska earn 150% of miles flown.

When booking your mileage run, think strategically about timing. Late fall and winter tend to have better award availability and cheaper fares compared to peak summer travel season. You’re more likely to score a deal on flights during shoulder seasons.

Be sure to crunch the numbers to determine the value you’re getting per mile. Divide the base fare (minus taxes/fees) by the minimum miles earned to calculate your cost per mile. Under 2 cents per mile is a solid redemption rate.

Join Alaska’s mileage run forums and Facebook groups to get inspired and swap tips with fellow flyers. Follow flight deal accounts on social media for alerts on cheap fares. Sign up for fare alerts on Google Flights to stay on top of price drops.

While a last-minute mileage run takes effort and planning, many Alaska loyalists swear it's worth it. They enjoy the thrill of the challenge along with crossing new destinations off their bucket list.

"I never thought I'd fly from San Francisco to Orlando just to turn around the next day. But the $250 roundtrip fare plus 15,000 miles earned made MVP status possible for me last December," says David S., an Alaska MVP member since 2018.

Down to the Wire: Crafty Ways to Snag Alaska MVP Status at the Last Minute - Fly First Class

Flying first class on Alaska is one of the fastest ways to supercharge your MVP qualifying miles. While splurging on a first class ticket isn't realistic for everyone, it can be a savvy strategy for securing status in the 11th hour.

Alaska is unique among U.S. airlines in that first class fares earn 150% of miles flown. That's significantly more than the 100% miles earned for a regular main cabin ticket. So if you booked a last-minute LAX-JFK first class award, you'd earn 12,000 MVP qualifying miles instead of just 8,000 miles in coach.

Upgrading from economy to first class also boosts your MVP qualifying miles, though to a lesser extent. Complimentary upgrades on Alaska earn 125% miles, while paid upgrades earn 150% miles. Still, those extra miles can add up quickly and make a difference in crossing the MVP threshold.

Keep an eye out for discounted first class fares close to departure. While walk-up first class tickets are often exorbitantly priced, Alaska does offer occasional sales like 50% off premium cabin awards. Sites like Secret Flying and Thrifty Traveler post alerts on discounted premium fares across airlines.

Another option is to use miles to book first class awards. Alaska Mileage Plan members can upgrade from economy to first class on award tickets for just 15,000 miles each way. Booking premium cabin partner awards can offer even better value, like only 30,000 miles for Cathay Pacific first class between the U.S. and Asia.

Upgrading with miles does not boost your MVP qualifying miles, however flying in first class on any fare still earns 150% miles. So a San Francisco to Hong Kong first class ticket would net around 18,000 qualifying miles - 6,000 more than in coach.

Keep in mind that first class airfare counts toward elite status qualification, while upgrades do not. To earn MVP, you’ll need to clock 20,000 qualifying miles by flying paid fares. Miles earned from upgrades or award tickets do not count.

Of course, crossing the Pacific in Cathay or Japan Airlines first class doesn't sound like a bad way to pad your MVP account. As member Neil W. said, "Spending 16 hours sipping Krug champagne actually made the Hong Kong trip worthwhile, even if it barely nudged me toward status."

The key to successfully earning status via first class flights is being flexible. Last-minute unsold seats are often available at discounted fares, especially on less competitive routes. Consider flying to Hawaii in early December, or to Europe in January.

Down to the Wire: Crafty Ways to Snag Alaska MVP Status at the Last Minute - Take Advantage of Bonus Offers

Alaska regularly runs targeted promotions awarding bonus Miles to Mileage Plan members. Keep an eye out for emails with offers like “Earn double miles” or “Get 3,000 bonus miles” when you fly certain routes or hit a spending threshold. These limited-time offers can help give your MVP qualifying balance a welcome boost.

For instance, Alaska might send you an offer to earn 1,000 bonus miles on your next flight from LAX to Hawaii. They also rollout systemwide double miles promotions around major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. You might even luck out and be targeted for a triple or quadruple miles promo.

“Earlier this year I got an email from Alaska saying I could earn quadruple miles on any flights to Mexico,” says FlyerTalk member coolcats64. “I booked a quick weekend mileage run down to Cabo and earned over 20,000 miles including the 4X multiplier. It put me over the top to requalify for MVP status.”

Keep an eye out for notices to “unlock” bonus miles by completing activities like opening an Alaska credit card, booking a hotel stay or renting a car. Mileage Plan shopping portals often offer additional bonus miles for purchases with retailers like Best Buy and Gap.

Partner bonuses can also help give your balance a boost. For instance, Alaska frequently offers double miles for Lyft rides during the winter holidays. Seattle-based Mileage Plan members might earn a 500 mile bonus for signing up with Zipcar.

Alaska also grants bonus elite qualifying miles through Partners like Hyatt. Just two or three nights at high-end Hyatt properties like the Andaz Maui or Park Hyatt Beijing can earn thousands of additional MVP miles via these promos.

Mileage Plan members recommend adding your Mileage Plan number anywhere you can - hotels, car rentals, dining programs, even catalog shopping orders. “Those bonus miles from random everyday purchases ended up making the difference for me earning MVP status,” says member flying_ak.

Keep in mind these bonuses typically have caps, so five Hyatt nights might earn 5,000 bonus miles while ten nights earns the maximum of 10,000 miles. Make sure to read the fine print so you can optimize the opportunities. Set calendar reminders so you don’t miss out on registering for promos.

Down to the Wire: Crafty Ways to Snag Alaska MVP Status at the Last Minute - Buy or Gift Miles

Alaska offers the ability to buy Miles to top up your account balance starting at 2.7 cents per mile. Rates vary based on your elite status and volume purchased. Buying miles to meet a status threshold can make sense in some cases.

"I was about 8,000 miles short of requalifying for MVP with only two weeks until December 31,” explains member coasting_in_SEA. “I decided buying 8K miles at 2.5 cents each was worthwhile to renew my benefits for another year."

Yet miles purchases can add up quickly, so run the numbers before swiping your credit card. 10,000 purchased miles would cost a minimum of $270. Compare that to the value gained from perks like free upgrades, waived baggage fees, and bonus miles as an MVP.

Partner miles like through a credit card signup bonus offer much better value than buying directly. However, they do not count as elite qualifying miles for status. Only base miles earned from Alaska flights qualify.

If gifting status is within your budget, it can be an incredibly generous gesture. Alaska charges a flat $899 fee to gift MVP status at any tier. While still pricey, it is less than some other airlines that base gift status pricing on high revenue fares.

Gifting status also gives the recipient a 60,000 mile bonus and MVP benefits through January of the following year. That means if you gifted MVP in November 2022, your lucky friend would gain status through January 2024.

Do note gift status does not count toward your own requalification requirements. And you cannot gift complimentary Gold status from the Alaska credit card. You’d be gifting the higher MVP, MVP Gold or MVP Gold 75K tier.

Who’s eligible to receive gifted MVP status? The recipient must be an Alaska Mileage Plan member who had MVP status prior, but has not yet requalified for the next year. You cannot gift status to someone who has never held MVP before.

Some members use gifting as a way to pay back friends who helped them earn status through mileage runs. Others gift it to family members unable to travel frequently enough to qualify on their own.

Consider gifting status to maximize benefits for couples or families. For instance, member oregonian gifted MVP status to his wife so they both could enjoy perks like free checked bags and premium cabin upgrades when traveling together.

No matter how you choose to gift status, it makes a meaningful and memorable present for Alaska loyalists. Just be sure not to wait until the last minute, as processing gifted status can take up to 72 hours.

"When my client surprised me with gifted MVP status, I actually teared up a bit,” shares FlyerTalk user LovesAlaska. “It's a gift I'll appreciate on every single flight next year.”

Down to the Wire: Crafty Ways to Snag Alaska MVP Status at the Last Minute - Get an Alaska Credit Card

Scoring an Alaska co-branded credit card is one of the easiest ways to fast-track your progress toward MVP status. These cards offer hefty signup bonuses of up to 60,000 bonus miles, allowing cardholders to earn the 20,000 Butt-In-Seat miles required for MVP status without even stepping foot on a plane.

- Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card from Bank of America: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Plus, score Alaska's Famous Companion Fare from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) for the primary cardholder.

- Alaska Airlines Visa® Business credit card: Get up to 60,000 bonus miles - 30,000 miles after making $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account, plus 30,000 more miles after spending a total of $5,000 on purchases within the first 6 months of account opening.

- Alaska Airlines World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) after you make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

FlyerTalk member coasting_in_SEA shares: "The signup bonus from the Alaska Visa alone earned me over one third of the miles I needed for MVP status. Pair it with a mileage run or two, and I reached MVP quickly as a new member."

The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature earns 3x miles on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. While credit card miles don't count as elite qualifying miles, they can be redeemed for flights where you'll then earn qualifying miles. This cycle makes it easier to boost your MVP balance over time.

Alaska credit cards also offer generous mileage earning rates on categories like dining, groceries, and at gas stations. The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature earns 2x miles at restaurants and on online shopping purchases. The Alaska Airlines World Elite Mastercard earns 3x miles on airfare purchased directly from airlines, and 2x miles at grocery stores, gas stations, and drugstores.

Cardholders also get Alaska's Famous Companion Fare each year, allowing you to fly a friend or family member for just taxes and fees on the same itinerary. This perk alone can make the annual fee worthwhile, as it saves $99+ on Alaska flights for your companion.

Dedicated Alaska flyers recommend maximizing multiple cards to multiply your mileage earnings. Just be mindful of Chase and Amex credit card application rules if you apply for more than one.

"Between flying paid fares and maximizing Alaska card bonuses, I earned MVP Gold status for the first time," explains member flying_ak. "The Companion Fare discount allowed me to take my wife to Hawaii, helping me retain status by racking up more miles."

Down to the Wire: Crafty Ways to Snag Alaska MVP Status at the Last Minute - Leverage Partnerships

Alaska partners with numerous hotel, rideshare, dining, and shopping programs that make racking up extra Miles a breeze. Savvy MVP qualifiers always make sure to link their Mileage Plan account number anywhere they can to enjoy bonus Miles. Those little extras can quickly add up and propel you over the finish line.

For instance, Alaska has partnerships with major hotel chains like Marriott, Hyatt, and Hilton. Simply join their loyalty programs and enter your Mileage Plan number when booking. Many hotels offer 500 bonus Miles per stay, with elite members earning even more. Do the math - just five or six hotel nights could score an additional 5,000 miles towards MVP status.

Hyatt takes it a step further by granting MVP elite qualifying Miles for stays, with top-tier properties offering the biggest bonuses. A two night stay at the Park Hyatt Beijing nets 1,250 bonus MQMs, while five nights at the Andaz Maui earns 4,250 MQMs. Hyatt also frequently runs double MQM promos that can accelerate earnings exponentially.

Ridesharing services are another prime partnership opportunity. Alaska has offered anywhere from 200 to 1,500 bonus Miles for signing up with Lyft, plus additional miles for every ride taken. During a recent promotion, members earned 600 Miles per Lyft ride - taking just 34 rides would score 20,000 MVP qualifying Miles.

Dining programs are another fruitful avenue for padding your Mileage Plan account. Alaska is linked with Rewards Network, which encompasses 100,000+ restaurants worldwide. Members earn up to five Miles per dollar spent when dining at participating eateries. Frequent flyers recommend getting in the habit of entering your Alaska number when dining out.

FlyerTalk member LoveSEA says, "I can easily rack up 5,000 dining Miles in a quarter without really trying. Be sure to check Rewards Network's bonus mileage offers - they regularly run double or triple Miles promos at restaurants."

Shopping portals are another prime partnership opportunity. Alaska is connected with major retailers via Mileage Plan Shopping. Members earn bonus Miles for purchases from stores like Nordstrom, Best Buy, Macy's and Gap. Comb through their frequent double and triple mile offers to really optimize your earnings.

Member coasting_in_SEA explains, "I always click through the Alaska shopping portal before ordering from big retailers online. The triple mile bonuses add up incredibly fast - I earned about 8,000 bonus Miles this year through shopping portal promotions."

Maximizing these partnerships takes some strategy and planning. But dedicated MVP status qualifiers swear the extra time and effort pays off in amplified earnings. Set calendar reminders so you don't miss out on limited-time bonuses and make hitting thresholds easier.

Down to the Wire: Crafty Ways to Snag Alaska MVP Status at the Last Minute - Consider a Status Match

With airlines eager to poach elite flyers from competitors, status match and challenge options have grown increasingly generous. Alaska's MVP program allows for both match and challenge requests, making it possible to shortcut your way to status without starting from scratch.

Status matches simply grant instant elite status, while challenges require flying a certain amount within 90 days to earn status. Both options enable Alaska fliers with status on other airlines to transfer their benefits.

To qualify for a status match, you must currently hold equivalent status with American, Delta or United. Alaska will match your status exactly – for instance, Delta Platinums and American Platinums match to MVP Gold 75K. United Silver elites match to MVP, while United Gold matches to MVP Gold.

The key advantage is that status matches register immediately in Alaska's system, so you keep your perks without interruption. Complimentary upgrades, free checked bags and bonus miles kick in from day one.

"I was slated to lose my United Gold status from dropping travel. When I learned Alaska would instantly match me to MVP Gold, I switched my loyalty the very next day," explains FlyerTalk user loyal2AS.

Unlike matches, challenges allow you a trial run to earn elite perks and see if MVP status fits your needs before committing long-term. Alaska's challenges require flying anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 Miles within three months to earn MVP Gold status.

Once approved, you gain temporary status with all the associated rewards. As long as you complete the required Miles, the new status is yours. Fail to hit the target, and your status expires.

For instance, Alaska frequently offers thousand mile discount codes for those taking on status challenges. Member flying_ak shares, "I had a lapsed United Silver status, so Alaska gave me a $200 discount code for taking their 10K Mile MVP challenge. The cheap mileage run fares helped me hit the target easily."

Keep in mind matches and challenges are limited to one per member. And certain types of elite status, like gifted, trial or credit card status don't qualify you for a successful match. Be sure to read the fine print before requesting a match or challenge.