(EXPIRED) Earn Alaska elite-qualifying miles with credit card spend

A reader just forwarded an email about a promotion I had missed: Alaska Airlines is offering credit card holders 2,500 Elite Qualifying Miles for each $2,500 in spend on their co-branded credit cards from September 16, 2021 through November 15, 2021. This promo launched the day after we flew back to the US from the Maldives and must have gotten lost in the shuffle, but I figured better to report it now in case any readers also missed it last month.

The Deal

• Alaska Airlines credit card holders can earn 2,500 Elite qualifying miles for every $2,500 spend done on an Alaska Airlines co-branded credit card between September 16, 2021 and November 15, 2021 (up to 20,000 elite qualifying miles max)

Key Terms

• Purchases from different Alaska Airlines accounts cannot be combined to reach the $2,500 threshold
• Maximum of 20,000 elite-qualifying miles via this campaign even if you have multiple cards
• Elite qualifying miles will be credited to your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account within two billing cycles

Quick Thoughts

Alaska Airlines is also offering 50% more elite qualifying miles on flights through December 31, 2021, so 2021 has already been a relatively easier year to qualify for Alaska elite status. With this credit card promotion, the path gets reduced further.

While most spend on an Alaska Airlines credit card is at just 1 mile per dollar spent and that doesn’t represent particularly good value, those chasing elite status may find the easy qualifying miles attractive nonetheless. Keep in mind that Alaska elites enjoy some reciprocal benefits on American Airlines now that Alaska has joined oneworld, so the boost here could be worth the effort.

Alaska’s entry-level MVP elite status only requires 20,000 elite-qualifying miles, so credit card spend alone could meet that part of the requirements. However, keep in mind that Alaska also requires minimum numbers of segments flown on Alaska for status, so you’ll need at least 2 flights on Alaska in addition to spend (and 4/ 6 / 24 flights for MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K).

I doubt that many people will find it worth putting $20K on an Alaska credit card in short order, but anyone within striking distance of a next elite level would probably find it far easier to put some spend on an Alaska credit card than mileage run. This will be most useful for those without far to go before the next elite level.

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