Chasing elite status on Alaska Airlines? A flight to California this fall could help
Heads up, frequent Alaska Airlines flyers: If you've fallen behind in your attempt to gain or keep elite status in the Mileage Plan program, here's a chance to get back in the game and enjoy some warm fall weather while you're at it.
Starting this weekend, through the early part of November, you can earn a 50% boost on elite qualifying miles for certain flights.
Here's the key rule: It has to be a flight to, from or within the state of California between Oct. 1 and Nov. 10.
Alaska Airlines announced the promotion on Twitter Friday afternoon.
Elite qualifying miles are the way Alaska Mileage Plan members earn elite status, with 20,000 elite qualifying miles earning you the first status tier of MVP. That will get you started with complimentary upgrades, priority check-in and 50% mileage bonuses on all flights.
These 50% bonuses could go a long way toward earning you elite Alaska status for the first time, helping you keep status, or reach the next status level.
For perspective on what a boost this promotion could provide toward your elite status goals, let's say you live in New York and have flown on Alaska a few times this year, earning 13,000 elite qualifying miles, year to date. You're more than halfway to MVP status, but have a ways to go to get there before the end of the year.
A single round trip from Newark/Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) could put you over the top. For the $496 October round trip, you'd ordinarily earn 2,447 elite qualifying miles in each direction or 4,894 miles round-trip. With this promotion, though, you'd earn a 50% bonus on those miles — bringing your total earnings to 7,341 miles.
Just one transcontinental flight to California could also put a big dent in your earnings if you already have elite status and are hoping to renew or improve that status. Bonus earnings are capped at 10,000 miles, according to the official terms.
Again, this is a fall-oriented promotion, so you'll need to travel between Saturday and Nov. 10.
Bottom line
Whether it's an excuse to fly Alaska Airlines to Los Angeles and visit Disneyland, go to San Francisco to explore the Bay Area or even rent a car from there and head out to do some wine tasting in Napa, visiting the Golden State could be a great way to enjoy some warm weather this fall and put yourself in prime position for elite status while you're at it.
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Rewards
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
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The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
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Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Rewards Rate
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro Offer
Earn 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200K miles when you spend $150K in the first 6 monthsLIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month