Now live: Alaska adds exciting new airline partner — Starlux — with fantastic redemption rates

Update (7/27/2023): After just 24 hours, Alaska has already raised most one-way business-class award rates from 60,000 miles to 165,000 miles for Starlux transpacific business class.

Alaska Airlines’ impressive portfolio of airline partners is growing with the addition of Starlux Airlines, a new Taiwan-based carrier.

As of July 26, Starlux Airlines flights are bookable with Alaska Mileage Plan miles for lucrative introductory rates on nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Taipei, Taiwan.

Through Aug. 31, redemptions can be booked on this route for one-way travel starting at:

• 20,000 miles for economy
• 40,000 miles for premium economy
• 60,000 miles for business class

First-class redemptions are not available.

It isn't immediately clear how much more expensive the Mileage Plan rates will get starting in September, so we'd recommend locking in your flights as soon as possible.

Better yet, there's currently an impressive amount of award space nearly every day through the end of the schedule. Most flights currently have seven (or possibly even more) business-class seats available for redemption. You can see this in the calendar from Alaska's website below.

Redeeming 60,000 miles via Alaska — worth $1,080 according to TPG valuations — is an outright bargain when compared to spending $5,500 or more for business-class fares.

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You can search and book Starlux flights directly on Alaska's website. Just note that the introductory rates are only available on the nonstops between Los Angeles and Taipei. Other routes, including connecting itineraries, have variable pricing; it ranges from 50,000 miles for an intra-Asia, business-class award up to 130,000 miles for a one-way ticket from the U.S. to cities in Asia other than Taipei.

Perhaps this is a harbinger of what's to come post-Aug. 31, so I'd definitely recommend booking your Starlux tickets before this promotion ends.

If you’re not familiar, Starlux is a Taipei-based luxury airline startup that began operations in January 2020 with a handful of intra-Asia routes. The pandemic paused the carrier’s growth ambitions, but Starlux is now back in expansion mode. Its inaugural U.S. flight to Los Angeles launched in April, with an expansion to San Francisco expected later this year.

The ability to redeem miles for Starlux flights builds on existing accrual benefits for Mileage Plan flyers that launched in April.

Since April 26, you can credit any Starlux flight to your Alaska Mileage Plan account. As seen in the table below, you’ll accrue miles according to the fare class purchased and distance flown.

To calculate your earnings, you’ll want to check your ticket to see which fare class you purchased. Alternatively, you could theoretically credit your Starlux flight to the airline’s Cosmile loyalty program, but infrequent U.S.-based travelers will likely be better off accruing Alaska miles.

It’s interesting that this initial partnership is limited to loyalty members, as Alaska and Starlux will not be offering codeshares to enhance connectivity on both sides of the Pacific. Perhaps that level of cooperation could be coming in a future update to the partnership.

Related reading:

• When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
• The best airline credit cards
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What are points and miles worth? TPG’s monthly valuations