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Always in the market for miles? This is part of a FrugalTravelGuy series on Ways to Earn More. Check out our other articles on how to earn more Krisflyer, United, American Airlines or Southwest miles. Want tips on how to earn more with another airline? Let us know in the comments section.
Alaska miles are one of the most valuable reward currencies out there, thanks to a yet-to-be-massively-devalued award chart, generous award routing rules, and a solid partner network. Stocking up on Alaska Miles is a good idea, whether you’re saving up for domestic or international travel. Here are 9 ways to earn more Alaska Miles:
- Alaska Airlines Co-Branded Credit Cards
The sign-up bonus on the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature and business credit card are admittedly a bit paltry compared to most other airline credit cards, but it’s a good start for stocking up on Mileage Plan miles. Occasionally, Bank of America not only raises the sign-up bonus to 50,000 miles but offers a $100 statement credit. In these instances, you should jump on this offer while you can. Outside of the sign-up bonus, the Alaska Airlines credit card offers an annual $121 companion fare, which can make keeping the card long-term worth it.
- Refer a Friend to the Bofa Card
If you already have an Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card, then you might want to give your account balance a boost by referring your friends and family. Bank of America offers existing cardholders the chance to earn 2,500 bonus miles for each friend or family they refer who gets approved. Just head over to the designated referral page, enter your information along with that of the folks you’d like to refer, and you’ll bank an easy 2,500 Alaska Miles.
- Transfer Starwood Points
Thankfully, co-branded cards aren’t the only way to earn Alaska miles via credit card spending or sign-up bonuses. Starwood points transfer to Alaska Mileage Plan at a 1:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 20,000 points transferred. Currently, both credit cards offer a 25,000 point sign-up bonus. The spending requirement for the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express is $3,000 within the first 3 months, while the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express requires $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
American Express does restrict sign-up bonuses to once per lifetime, so if you’ve had one of these cards before, you will not be eligible to earn the bonus again. You can, however, still get the card in order to earn miles on credit card spending. No matter which credit card you get, channel your daily spending on the card and you’ll be earning more Alaska miles in no time.
- Use the Alaska MileagePlan Shopping Portal
We all shop online, so why not get rewarded for it? In my experience, the Alaska MileagePlan Shopping Portal does offer competitive rates at popular merchants, though you still might want to search EvRewards for the best reward payouts. This is a simple, easy way to earn more Alaska miles on spending in addition to credit card rewards.
- Alaska MileagePlan Dining
I recently wrote about the best dining rewards program and while I would personally go with Southwest due to the ease of earning free flights, those who want to earn more Alaska miles might want to go with Mileage Plan Dining. Registered members earn 1 – 5 miles per $1 spent at participating restaurant, in addition to a new member bonus of 1,000 miles. There’s nothing easier than registering your credit card with a dining rewards program, using it to pay a restaurant bill, and watching your mileage account increase.
- Consider Booking Points Instead of Redeeming Miles
There are times when it makes more sense to pay for flights than to redeem miles. This can help you not only save Alaska miles but earn them as well. Book your Alaska airfare with a credit card like the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard and you’ll not only earn 2 miles per $1 spent, but you can redeem miles to cover the cost of airfare. The cherry on top: You’ll get 5% of your redeemed miles back.
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Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®
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$0 first year
$89 after first year |
60,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee Read Review » |
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Already have this card? Track it and maximize your rewards.
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Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® |
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- Request a Status Match
If you have top-tier elite status with another airline, requesting a status match from Alaska Mileage Plan can help you bank more miles on your paid flights. Check out this FlyerTalk thread for instructions on how to request a status match.
- Credit Points from Partner Flights to Alaska
Traveling with one of Alaska’s many airline partners? Then consider crediting your miles to Alaska Mileage Plan. You should check accrual rates beforehand, but crediting miles from the following airlines will earn you 100% of the miles earned, even in economy class: Fiji, Airways LAN, Hainan, Penair, Qantas, Ravn Alaska.
- Take Surveys
Both e-rewards and e-miles offer miles in exchange for completing surveys. E-miles is easier since most of the time, all you have to do is watch a short video or click through an ad in order to earn a small number of miles. I wouldn’t spend too much time doing this, but if you’re sitting around watching TV and need something else to do in order to feel less guilty about not being productive, then clicking through a few ads to boost your mileage account is a good option.
What are some of your favorite ways of earning more Alaska miles?
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Delta® Reserve for Business
- Annual Fee: $450 fee
- Foreign Fees: No
- Card Type: Travel
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- Earn 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs after you spend $3,000 in purchases with your new Card in the first 3 months.†
- Earn 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and 15,000 bonus miles after you reach $30,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in the calendar year.
- Earn 2 Miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
- Settle into your seat sooner with Priority Boarding and enjoy 20% savings on eligible in-flight purchases in the form of a statement credit.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas.‡
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club® Access.‡
- Terms and limitations apply
- See Rates & Fees
Delta® Reserve for Business
- Annual Fee: $450 fee
- Foreign Fees: No
- Card Type: Travel
| FTG Review | Reward Breakdown | Points Breakdown |
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Breakdown
Earn (pt.)
Spend
3 months
0
$3,000
Per dollar on eligible purchases with Delta Purchases
2.00
$1
All Purchases
1.00
$1
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