Whereas Alaska Airways isn’t one of many “massive three” US airways, the Seattle-based service has fairly a strong loyalty program, which many individuals are loyal to. Specifically, Alaska Mileage Plan is the one main US frequent flyer program that also awards miles primarily based on how far you fly quite 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 try Alaska MVP standing, which is the entry-level standing of Alaska’s 4 printed elite tiers. How do you earn MVP standing, what are the perks, and is it value it? In separate posts I’ll cowl MVP Gold 100K, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold standing.
Find out how to earn Alaska Mileage Plan MVP standing
Alaska Mileage Plan elite standing may be earned primarily based on both accruing a sure variety of elite qualifying miles or a sure variety of elite qualifying segments. On high of that, you’ll want to 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 high of that, not less than two eligible flights have to be marketed and operated by Alaska
- Mileage Plan MVP Gold standing requires 40,000 elite qualifying miles OR 60 elite qualifying segments; on high of that, not less than six eligible flights have to be marketed and operated by Alaska
- Mileage Plan MVP Gold 75K standing requires 75,000 elite qualifying miles OR 90 elite qualifying segments; on high of that, not less than 12 eligible flights have to be marketed and operated by Alaska
- Mileage Plan MVP Gold 100K standing requires 100,000 elite qualifying miles OR 140 elite qualifying segments; on high of that, not less than 24 eligible flights have to be marketed and operated by Alaska
One of many issues that makes Mileage Plan nice is you can not solely rack up elite miles on Alaska and its oneworld companions, but in addition on different associate airways, starting from Air Tahiti Nui, to Condor, to Icelandair, to Singapore Airways, opening up a lot of alternatives to earn standing by flying with different airways.
Be aware that there’s one different method to earn MVP standing. With the Alaska Mileage Plan standing match problem program, you possibly can obtain MVP standing for a interval of 90 days, and preserve it by flying 5,000 miles throughout that trial interval.
Whereas there’s additionally an Alaska Mileage Plan million miler program, this lets you earn larger elite tiers for all times — you possibly can earn MVP Gold standing for all times while you earn a million base miles, and MVP Gold 75K standing for all times while you earn two million base miles.
Alaska Mileage Plan MVP standing advantages
Elite standing will get extra precious the upper your elite tier. In order you’d count on, MVP standing solely comes with a reasonably restricted variety of perks, particularly in comparison with larger elite tiers. Nonetheless, you possibly can count on house accessible upgrades, house accessible further legroom economic system seating, some precedence providers, and extra. Let’s go over the main points of every of those perks, roughly within the order that I worth them.
Complimentary top quality upgrades
MVP members obtain limitless complimentary house accessible upgrades on all Alaska Airways flights, besides on Saver fares. These upgrades are solely legitimate for the member, and never for any companions.
Complimentary elite upgrades can begin clearing as much as 48 hours earlier than departure. Upgrades are prioritized first by elite tier, which means that MVP Gold 100K, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold members, clear forward of MVP members. Inside every elite tier, the tie-breaker to scoring an improve is what fare class you’ve booked, with the upper fare lessons getting precedence for upgrades.
How usually must you count on upgrades to clear as an MVP member? Whereas there are numerous elements, I wouldn’t count on to attain all that many upgrades with this standing, particularly in aggressive markets. That’s to not say it gained’t occur generally, however don’t count on you’ll get upgrades wherever near a majority of the time.
Complimentary Premium Class seating
Mileage Plan MVP members obtain complimentary Premium Class seating on the time of reserving, however solely in fare lessons Y, B and H. For different fare sorts, Premium Class upgrades can be found as much as 48 hours earlier than departure, topic to availability. Not like different elite tiers, complimentary Premium Class companion upgrades aren’t supplied.
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 affords a number of further inches of legroom. Moreover, Premium Class affords complimentary alcoholic drinks, together with beer, wine, and cocktails.
50% standing mileage bonus
Mileage Plan MVP members obtain a 50% mileage bonus on flights. 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 1,500 miles for the flight.
As some extent of comparability, different elite tiers earn bonuses of 100-150%, so miles don’t rack up fairly as rapidly as an MVP member as with different tiers.
Precedence check-in, safety, and boarding
Mileage Plan MVP members obtain a wide range of precedence providers on the airport, together with:
- Precedence check-in, with top quality
- Precedence safety screening
- Precedence boarding, with Group B (this is identical boarding group as Premium Class)
Usually I feel precedence boarding is essentially the most precious 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, quite than a precedence safety line.
Two complimentary checked baggage
Mileage Plan MVP members can examine two baggage freed from cost on all itineraries. This is applicable to the member and any companion touring on the identical reservation.
Checking baggage with Alaska Airways is fairly painless, because of the service’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.
Reciprocal elite perks on American
Alaska and American supply reciprocal elite perks, together with house accessible upgrades. You’ll be able to probably be eligible for top quality upgrades on American, in addition to Most important Cabin Further seating. The worth of this clearly relies upon primarily based on how a lot you fly with American.
oneworld Ruby standing
MVP members obtain oneworld Ruby standing, which is the entry-level elite standing within the oneworld alliance. Sadly the perks of this are pretty restricted, and the principle profit you possibly can count on is enterprise class check-in when touring with associate airways.
Not like larger elite tiers, this standing doesn’t supply any entry to oneworld lounges. In case you really need worth relating to lounges, go for oneworld Emerald standing.
Is Alaska Mileage Plan MVP standing value it?
Finally the worth of entry-level standing with any main airline loyalty program goes to be marginal. On the plus facet, the standing is straightforward to earn, and requires solely 20,000 elite miles in a yr, which is among the many lowest thresholds for any standing with a US program.
MVP standing affords house accessible top quality and Premium Class upgrades, a 50% mileage bonus, and precedence providers. That’s higher than nothing, however don’t count on that you simply’ll be spending most of your flights in top quality as an MVP member.
In case you can swing it, I do assume there’s important worth to going for one of many larger elite tiers with Mileage Plan, given the large incremental perks, plus larger precedence for every little thing (together with upgrades).
The most important catch with going for standing with Mileage Plan is that Alaska is a a lot smaller airline than the “massive three” US carriers, so being loyal to Alaska takes effort. Thankfully Alaska has a lot of associate airways, making miles straightforward to rack up. Nonetheless, you’ll typically discover that you simply get stronger perks while you’re really flying with the airline you may have standing with.
Backside line
Alaska Mileage Plan MVP standing affords a wide range of primary advantages, together with house accessible top quality and Premium Class upgrades, a 50% mileage bonus, and precedence airport providers. In case you fly Alaska with some frequency, having standing is certainly higher than not having standing. Nonetheless, there’s much more worth to unlock with Alaska’s larger elite tiers.
In case you’re an Alaska MVP member, what has your expertise been?
