Whereas Alaska Airways isn’t one of many “large three” US airways, the Seattle-based provider has fairly a sturdy loyalty program, which many individuals are loyal to. Particularly, Alaska Mileage Plan is the one main US frequent flyer program that also awards miles primarily based on how far you fly reasonably than how a lot you spend.
I figured I’d write a sequence about Alaska’s elite standing tiers, and on this publish I needed to check out Alaska MVP Gold 75K standing, which is the second highest of Alaska’s 4 revealed elite tiers. How do you earn MVP Gold 75K standing, what are the perks, and is it value it? In separate posts I’ll cowl MVP Gold 100K, MVP Gold, and MVP standing.
earn Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K standing
Alaska Mileage Plan elite standing might be earned primarily based on both accruing a sure variety of elite qualifying miles or a sure variety of elite qualifying segments. On prime of that, you should fly a sure variety of segments on Alaska.
Listed here are the necessities for the 4 Mileage Plan elite tiers, from the bottom to the very best tier:
- Mileage Plan MVP standing requires 20,000 elite qualifying miles OR 30 elite qualifying segments; on prime of that, not less than two eligible flights should be marketed and operated by Alaska
- Mileage Plan MVP Gold standing requires 40,000 elite qualifying miles OR 60 elite qualifying segments; on prime of that, not less than six eligible flights should be marketed and operated by Alaska
- Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K standing requires 75,000 elite qualifying miles OR 90 elite qualifying segments; on prime of that, not less than 12 eligible flights should be marketed and operated by Alaska
- Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K standing requires 100,000 elite qualifying miles OR 140 elite qualifying segments; on prime of that, not less than 24 eligible flights should be marketed and operated by Alaska
One of many issues that makes Mileage Plan nice is which you can not solely rack up elite miles on Alaska and its oneworld companions, but in addition on different accomplice airways, starting from Air Tahiti Nui, to Condor, to Icelandair, to Singapore Airways, opening up numerous alternatives to earn standing by flying with different airways.
Be aware that there are a few different methods to earn MVP Gold 75K standing:
Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K standing advantages
Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K standing comes with a wide range of perks, starting from complimentary upgrades, to oneworld elite standing, to further legroom seating. Let’s go over the main points of every of those perks, roughly within the order that I worth them.
Complimentary firstclass upgrades
MVP Gold 75K members obtain limitless complimentary area accessible upgrades on all Alaska Airways flights, besides on Saver fares. These upgrades are even legitimate for one companion on the identical reservation.
Complimentary elite upgrades can begin clearing as much as 120 hours earlier than departure, which is similar window at which MVP Gold 100K member upgrades begin clearing. Nevertheless, upgrades clear for MVP Gold 100K members forward of MVP Gold 75K members.
Inside every elite tier, the tie-breaker to scoring an improve is what fare class you’ve booked, with the upper fare courses getting precedence for upgrades.
How typically do you have to count on upgrades to clear as an MVP Gold 75K member? It actually depends upon the routes you fly, the times of the week you fly, what sort of fares you guide, and so forth. These days much more individuals are paying for firstclass than a number of years in the past, so don’t count on that upgrades will all the time clear. Nevertheless, I’d count on upgrades to clear a mean of perhaps half of the time as an MVP Gold 75K member.
oneworld Emerald standing (together with lounge entry)
MVP Gold 75K standing mechanically will get you oneworld Emerald standing, which I’d take into account to be essentially the most priceless alliance-wide standing on the market. For context, MVP Gold 100K and MVP Gold 75K members obtain the identical oneworld standing tier. This provides varied advantages when touring on any of the over dozen oneworld airways, together with precedence check-in, precedence boarding, and extra.
As a oneworld Emerald member you’ll additionally get entry to most oneworld first & enterprise class lounges when touring on lengthy haul worldwide flights. This contains every part from American Flagship Lounges, to the Qantas First Lounge LAX.
50,000 Alaska Mileage Plan bonus miles
MVP Gold 75K members obtain 50,000 bonus Alaska miles yearly once they qualify for standing (this doesn’t apply while you earn the standing by a standing problem). It is a big mileage bonus — personally I worth Alaska miles at 1.7 cents every, so to me these miles are value $850.
Complimentary Premium Class seating
Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K members obtain complimentary Premium Class seating for them and as much as one companion on the identical reservation on the time of reserving, topic to availability. The one exception is that in case you’re on a Saver fare (Alaska’s fundamental economic system), you’re not eligible to assign a Premium Class seat without spending a dime.
Premium Class is Alaska’s further legroom economic system seating, usually within the entrance of the economic system cabin and at exit rows, and it typically provides a number of further inches of legroom. Moreover, Premium Class provides complimentary alcoholic drinks, together with beer, wine, and cocktails.
125% standing mileage bonus
Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K members obtain a 125% mileage bonus on flights, so miles actually add up. In different phrases, if a flight covers a distance of 1,000 miles and also you booked a fare that earns 100% elite miles, you’d find yourself incomes 2,250 miles for the flight. In case you discover a low sufficient fare with Alaska, mileage working could nonetheless be a factor with the airline. That’s very true while you additionally issue within the 50,000 bonus miles you get when qualifying for the standing.
Alaska firstclass visitor upgrades
Whereas MVP Gold 75K members obtain limitless complimentary upgrades on Alaska, in addition they obtain 4 visitor upgrades per 12 months. These can be utilized to verify an improve on an eligible fare for any Alaska flight on the time of reserving, topic to improve area being accessible. This can be utilized both for the MVP Gold 75K member, or for a good friend or member of the family, as these might be transfered to others.
Alaska isn’t nice about making confirmable improve seats accessible upfront, however when you could find a use for these, it’s nice.
American Airways improve certificates
Alaska and American have a partnership, and as a part of that, MVP Gold 75K members obtain one complimentary confirmed American improve per 12 months. Consider this as being like an American systemwide improve, besides with a distinct identify. This could turn out to be useful to verify an improve, whether or not it’s a home or worldwide flight.
Precedence check-in, safety, and boarding
Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K members obtain a wide range of precedence providers on the airport, together with:
- Precedence check-in, with firstclass
- Precedence safety screening
- Precedence boarding, with Group A (proper behind firstclass and MVP Gold 100K members)
Typically I believe precedence boarding is essentially the most priceless of these advantages. Most individuals check-in on-line, and these days TSA PreCheck and CLEAR will usually prevent essentially the most time at safety, reasonably than a precedence safety line.
Identical day flight modifications & precedence standby
Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K members could make complimentary identical day flight modifications to a different flight in the identical market. There are capability controls to this, so don’t count on that it’s going to all the time be potential, even when there are seats accessible.
Past that, MVP Gold 75K members obtain precedence standby, because the standby listing is prioritized primarily based on elite standing. As an MVP Gold 75K member, you need to usually be close to the highest of the standby listing, simply behind any MVP Gold 100K members.
Three complimentary checked luggage
Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K members can verify three luggage freed from cost on all itineraries. This is applicable to the member and any companion touring on the identical reservation. Checking luggage with Alaska Airways is fairly painless, due to the provider’s 20-minute baggage assure.
With this, you’re promised that your bag will arrive inside 20 minutes of your arrival, or you possibly can declare 2,500 bonus Alaska miles or a $25 Alaska low cost voucher.
Complimentary drink or chocolate in economic system
To make the journey expertise a bit extra nice when upgrades don’t clear, MVP Gold 75K members obtain a complimentary premium beverage or chocolate on most flights of over 350 miles. Remember the fact that in case you’re in Premium Class, you already obtain free premium drinks, so then you definately’re in all probability finest off deciding on the chocolate.
4 Alaska Lounge day passes
Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K members obtain 4 lounge day passes per 12 months, which might be electronically deposited in your Mileage Plan account. These can both be used for your self, or shared with family and friends.
Reciprocal elite perks on American
Along with the worldwide improve certificates you obtain on American, there’s additionally a bigger reciprocal improve settlement between Alaska and American. Particularly, you possibly can probably be eligible for firstclass upgrades on American, in addition to Predominant Cabin Additional seating. The worth of this clearly relies upon primarily based on how a lot you fly with American.
Is Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K standing value it?
For non-top tier standing, I’d say Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K standing is extraordinarily profitable. To start with, I like how the standing will get you oneworld Emerald standing, which is extremely priceless in case you fly with oneworld accomplice airways with any frequency.
MVP Gold 75K standing can also be rewarding when touring with Alaska, from the 125% mileage bonus, to the 50,000 bonus miles yearly, to the upgrades, and extra.
In case you are an Alaska frequent flyer, it may very well be value making an attempt to purpose for MVP Gold 100K standing, as this may get you larger precedence for every part, in addition to Alternative Advantages, which might get you a lounge membership or 50,000 bonus miles, for instance.
The main catch with going for standing with Mileage Plan is that Alaska is a a lot smaller airline than the “large three” US carriers, so being loyal to Alaska takes effort. Happily Alaska has numerous accomplice airways, making miles simple to rack up. Nevertheless, you’ll typically discover that you simply get stronger perks while you’re truly flying with the airline you’ve got standing with.
Backside line
Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K standing provides numerous worth perks, particularly provided that it’s not even prime tier standing. From oneworld Emerald standing, to numerous upgrades (together with complimentary upgrades, improve certificates, and extra), to the power to earn an enormous variety of bonus miles, I believe most MVP Gold 75K members discover themselves to be fairly properly rewarded.
There’s one thing to be stated for going for MVP Gold 100K standing in case you can swing it, given the incremental perks are fairly priceless for “simply” 25,000 further elite miles in a 12 months.
In case you’re an Alaska MVP Gold 75K member, what has your expertise been?
