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Everything you need to know about booking a trip to Alaska with points and miles
Kyle Olsen is the former points and miles reporter at TPG. He specializes in maximizing points and miles, elite status and credit cards so readers travel more comfortably and at a lower cost.
August 20, 2023 • 12 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Alaska is a popular destination for its natural beauty, with several airlines offering points and miles redemption options to its main airports in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau.
Award flight availability and pricing vary by airline, with some using distance-based charts and others employing dynamic pricing models.
Major hotel loyalty programs offer point-redemption options in Alaska's largest cities, but chain hotels are limited outside these areas.
Travelers may need to use online travel agency rewards or travel portals to book accommodations with points in more remote locations.
What to consider
Some airline routes to Alaska are seasonal, especially during summer months, impacting award availability.
Dynamic award pricing for both flights and hotels means redemption rates can fluctuate and may require flexibility.
Not all airlines or hotel programs allow direct points transfers from major flexible currencies, so check transfer partners and ratios before planning.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed comparisons of airline and hotel loyalty program redemption options, including specific award rates and transfer strategies for maximizing points in Alaska.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Alaska is a captivating destination with its natural beauty and unique Alaskan experiences. Many tourists visit Alaska to see the northern lights, cruise along awe-inspiring fjords and explore the rugged wilderness.
While accessing Alaska may not be as straightforward as other parts of the U.S., several domestic airlines offer services to our northernmost state. This guide will explore the best ways to utilize points and miles with airlines and discuss point-friendly lodging options in Alaska.
Top airlines for redeeming miles to Alaska
Unsurprisingly, Alaska Airlines has the best network in Alaska. KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Alaska has three major airports: Anchorage's Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) and Juneau International Airport (JNU). Anchorage and Fairbanks see most of the flights from the lower 48 states. But, especially since Alaska has high seasonality, some routes are only available during summer.
Alaska Airlines
Unlike the major domestic carriers, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan still employs a distance-based award chart with starting award prices. This allows you to get an idea of the number of miles required for your flight in advance.
ALASKAAIR.COM
The distance from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Anchorage is 2,018 miles. So award tickets on this route should start at 10,000 Alaska miles each way in economy and 25,000 miles each way in first class, according to Alaska's award chart. But you'll often have to redeem more miles on this route.
ALASKAAIR.COM
Award tickets over 2,101 miles in the contiguous U.S., Alaska and Canada start at 12,500 Alaska miles each way in economy and 30,000 miles each way in first class. We can also find one-stop awards from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Anchorage for just 12,500 miles one-way in economy. You'll occasionally find mixed-cabin awards with some legs operated by American Airlines for 25,000 miles, but you should expect to spend at least 55,000 miles for a first-class one-way award from the East coast to Alaska.
ALASKAAIR.COM
Unfortunately, Alaska is not a transfer partner of any major flexible bank currencies. However, you can transfer points from Marriott at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer. Or, if you want to earn more Alaska miles for a future redemption, you could open an Alaska Airlines credit card.
Alaska Airlines is a Oneworld airline, so you can also book Alaska flights through Oneworld partners, including American Airlines and British Airways. British Airways calculates award prices based on distance and segments, making direct flights the most cost-effective. For instance, you can book a one-way flight between Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and Anchorage for just 13,000 Avios each way.
American Airlines operates flights to Anchorage from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Although American Airlines doesn't offer many nonstop flights to Alaska, you can often reach the state with just one stop, thanks to American's extensive route network.
American AAdvantage uses dynamic award pricing, so it's impossible to predict the award rates for a particular flight without searching. However, one-way Alaska-operated award flights typically cost 15,000 American miles in economy and 30,000 miles in first class. Expect to spend more than that if you book an award solely consisting of American-operated flights.
American Airlines is a Oneworld member, so you can also book American-operated award flights through Oneworld partners like British Airways and Alaska Airlines.
Delta offers nonstop flights to Alaska from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and Seattle. But like the other airlines in this roundup, you can find connecting flights to Alaska from various locations with one stop.
As the first legacy carrier to implement dynamic award pricing, Delta award prices vary. But a one-way flight from Seattle to Anchorage often costs 12,500 miles for basic economy, 15,000 miles in economy, 18,500 in Comfort+ and 32,500 miles in first class if you book far enough in advance.
DELTA.COM
It's easy to earn Delta miles, especially since you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio (beware of Amex's excise tax on transfers to U.S. airline loyalty programs, though). You can also earn Delta miles through Delta credit cards.
United MileagePlus also uses dynamic award pricing. But, one-way flights from San Francisco to Anchorage usually start around 15,000 United miles in economy class and 61,800 miles in first class. However, expect to spend significantly more miles if you don't have flexibility in your travel dates and times.
UNITED.COM
Luckily, it's easy to earn United miles. United is a transfer partner of Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards. Plus, you can earn United miles through United credit cards, including the United Club Card and the United Explorer Card.
Consider booking your United-operated flight to Alaska using Air Canada Aeroplan or Avianca LifeMiles if award space is available. The award rate may be less than if you booked through United MileagePlus. Plus, you can transfer various transferable currencies to Aeroplan and LifeMiles, making them more accessible to some travelers.
But if you're visiting Alaska's largest cities, you'll find various opportunities to redeem hotel points for your stay. Here's an overview of the options across some of the most popular hotel loyalty programs.
Hilton Honors
Hilton Honors has seven hotels in Alaska. Except for the Hampton Inn & Suites Fairbanks, all Hilton's Alaska properties are in Anchorage.
Hilton uses dynamic pricing, so redemption rates vary. But we found the following award rates for Hilton hotels in Alaska for a random date this fall:
Home2 Suites by Hilton Anchorage/Midtown: 42,000 points per night
Embassy Suites by Hilton Anchorage: 50,000 points per night
Hampton Inn & Suites Fairbanks: 50,000 points per night
Hilton Anchorage: 60,000 points per night
Hampton Inn Anchorage: 60,000 points per night
Hilton Garden Inn Anchorage: 70,000 points per night
Homewood Suites by Hilton Anchorage: 70,000 points per night
IHG One Rewards has one hotel in Fairbanks and three in Anchorage. IHG uses dynamic award pricing, so you can't predict how award nights will price. But for the same random date in October that we used in the Hilton example, here's a look at IHG award pricing:
Holiday Inn Express Anchorage: 26,000 points per night
Crowne Plaza Anchorage-Midtown: 32,000 points per night
Staybridge Suites Anchorage: 35,000 points per night
Candlewood Suites Fairbanks: 35,000 points per night
IHG.COM
Note that some IHG One Rewards credit cards, including the HG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, offer a fourth-night reward that lets you pay zero points for every fourth night on award stays of four nights or longer. To earn more IHG points, consider signing up for an IHG One Rewards credit card or buying IHG points during a 100% bonus sale.
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy is yet another program that uses dynamic award pricing. Here's a look at award pricing for Marriott hotels on the same random date in October that we used in the previous two examples:
Marriott Anchorage Downtown: 31,000 points per night
Sheraton Anchorage Hotel & Spa: 31,000 points per night
Aloft Anchorage: 32,000 points per night
SpringHill Suites Anchorage Midtown: 32,000 points per night
SpringHill Suites Fairbanks: 35,000 points per night
Residence Inn Anchorage Midtown: 37,000 points per night
Fairfield Inn & Suites Anchorage Midtown: 38,000 points per night
Courtyard Anchorage Airport: 41,000 points per night
Four Points by Sheraton Anchorage Downtown: 44,000 points per night
Four Points by Sheraton Juneau: 44,000 points per night
TownePlace Suites Anchorage Midtown: 59,000 points per night
SpringHill Suites Anchorage University Lake: Unavailable on this date
World of Hyatt has three properties in Alaska: Category 3 Hyatt Place Fairbanks, Category 3 Hyatt House Anchorage and Category 4 Hyatt Place Anchorage-Midtown.
HYATT.COM
At Category 3 Hyatt hotels, you must redeem 9,000 to 15,000 points per night for a standard room. At Category 4 Hyatt hotels, you'll need to redeem 12,000 to 18,000 points per night for a standard room.
Choice Privileges has several hotels in Alaska. Here's a look at award pricing at each of these properties:
Comfort Suites Anchorage International Airport: 20,000 to 30,000 points per night through Nov. 30, 2023
Clarion Suites Downtown in Anchorage: 20,000 to 30,000 points per night through Nov. 30, 2023
Quality Inn in Kenai: 20,000 to 30,000 points per night through Nov. 30, 2023
Quality Inn in Kodiak: 30,000 points per night through Nov. 30, 2023
Clarion Hotel & Suites Fairbanks near Ft. Wainwright: 20,000 to 30,000 points per night through Nov. 30, 2023
If you need to earn more Choice points, you can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One and Citi ThankYou Rewards. You can also earn Choice points with the new Choice Privileges Mastercards.
Wyndham Rewards
Wyndham Rewards has 12 hotels in Alaska, including some in cities not served by the loyalty programs we've discussed so far. Here's a look at the hotels in Alaska that you can book with Wyndham points:
Ramada by Wyndham Anchorage Downtown: 15,000 points per night
Bridgewater Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, in Fairbanks: 15,000 points per night
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Eagle River/Anchorage Area: 15,000 points per night
Super 8 by Wyndham Ketchikan: 15,000 points per night
Baymont Inn & Suites by Wyndham Anchorage Airport: 30,000 points per night
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Anchorage Airport: 30,000 points per night
Wingate by Wyndham Anchorage Downtown/Ship Creek: 30,000 points per night
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Fairbanks Airport: 30,000 points per night
Ramada by Wyndham Juneau: 30,000 points per night
Super 8 by Wyndham Juneau: 30,000 points per night
Travelodge by Wyndham Juneau: 30,000 points per night
Gilmore Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, in Ketchikan: 30,000 points per night
Multiple airlines provide service to Alaska's three primary airports. Alaska Airlines has the most extensive coverage and also provides many flights within Alaska. However, depending on your departure airport, you can also use your points and miles to fly with Delta, United or American Airlines. If you plan to redeem transferable points, compare cash fares with award redemption rates to ensure you get a good deal.
On the hotel front, the major chains have you covered in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. But if you plan to venture outside Alaska's major cities, you may need to use online travel agency rewards or book through a credit card travel portal if you want to use points.
Additional reporting by Jasmin Baron, Carissa Rawson, Katie Genter and Ariana Arghandewal.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
