Alaska Airlines makes it even easier for elites to requalify for 2022 status

With the exception of Delta, most U.S. carriers will not be outright extending elite status for another year like they did in 2020. However, some are still offering partial extensions and fast-track opportunities that make requalifying for status easier.

Throughout 2021, Alaska Airlines has been following reduced qualification thresholds and awarding bonus elite-qualifying miles on all Alaska Airlines-operated flights. In September, the airline announced that it would further help elites requalify for status, but details were light. We only knew that 2021 status will be extended through April 2022 and that there will be an opportunity to requalify by flying a minimum number of miles in the first quarter of 2022.

Well, Alaska just revealed details on how this will all work exactly, and here's what you can expect.

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Alaska's new opportunity to requalify for status

Any current elite who doesn't requalify for status will automatically have their status extended through April 30, 2022. They'll then be able to extend their status through Dec. 31, 2022, by earning the following number of base flight miles between Jan. 1 and April 30, 2022:

• MVP members: 5,000 miles (MVP is normally earned with 20,000 elite-qualifying miles or 30 segments in a calendar year)
• MVP Gold members: 10,000 miles (normally earned with 40,000 elite-qualifying miles or 60 segments in a calendar)
• MVP Gold 75K members: 20,000 miles (normally earned with 75,000 elite-qualifying miles or 90 segments in a calendar year)

Just to give you an idea, a nonstop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to New York-JFK is 2,586 miles. In turn, you only need one round-trip cross-country itinerary to requalify for MVP status, or four of these trips to retain MVP Gold 75K status. Of course, you can earn more miles faster by tagging on connecting flights or booking first class fares.

You'll always earn a minimum of 100% of the miles flown on Alaska, even in basic economy. But when you book first class, you can get a 50% to 75% bonus.

Related: United extends elite status for some, announces reduced requirements for next year

There's no registration required to participate in this offer. Just note that this may not be used to achieve a higher status than the one held on Jan. 1, 2021. Further, a minimum of two segments must be flown on Alaska-marketed and operated flights.

If you requalify through this fast track, it will be almost as if you earned your status "the hard way." Alaska Gold Guest Upgrades, lounge day passes, and MVP Gold 75K MVP nominations will be awarded after meeting the requirements for the respective elite status levels. However, those that requalify for MVP Gold 75K status through this offer will not receive the 50,000 bonus miles normally associated with qualifying for this tier.

For more on elite status extensions and shortcuts to requalify, see this guide.