Customers can sign up to Alaska Airline Mileage Plan free of charge. Points are earned primarily per mile flown - as opposed to dollars spent - and can also be acquired by using Alaska Airline credit cards and booking specific hotels. When you have enough, these can then be spent on flights, cabin upgrades, and hotels.

Alaska’s recent inclusion into the Oneworld Alliance means that customers can now earn and spend miles with 23 partner airlines, opening up over 900 destinations worldwide. Those spending enough time in the air can unlock ‘Elite Status’, which has four distinct tiers, each one with its own benefits. These include automatic upgrades to first class, better points to mile ratios and complimentary flight changes. Alaska Airlines Elite Status also transfers over to Oneworld Alliance members, albeit with different perks.

Alaska Airline offers three types of fare:

Saver

The budget friendly offering provides a cheap way to travel, without bells and whistles.

 No seat selection
 Last boarding and overhead storage access
 Limited usage of mileage plan Elite Benefits
 No flight changes (outside of 24 cancellation policy)
 Points earned per mile flown
 One free carry-on

Main Class

Alaska’s middle of the range package, striking a balance between comfort and cost.

 Seat selection within the main cabin
 General boarding and overhead storage access
 Usage of Mileage Plan elite benefits
 Flight changes available
 Points earned per mile flown

Main Class Premium

Offers everything main class does, but with a few added perks:

 Seat selection within the main cabin
 General boarding and overhead storage access
 Usage of Mileage Plan elite benefits
 Flight changes available
 Points earned per mile flown
 Complimentary beverages
 Board and exit before main class
 Four inches extra legroom

First Class

As Alaska’s most luxurious package, first class offers the full range of perks and amenities.

 Seat selection
 First to board and first to exit
 Priority use of overhead storage access
 Use of Mileage Plan elite benefits
 Flight changes available
 Points earned per mile flown
 Access to Alaska lounges
 Free food and beverages
 Two free checked-in bags