It's fantastic that you're looking to maximize your travel rewards by earning Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles on your American Airlines flights! This is a smart strategy, as both airlines are part of the oneworld alliance, allowing for some excellent cross-pollination of benefits. Let's dive into a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to make sure you earn every possible mile.
Unlocking the Skies: Earning Alaska Miles on American Airlines
Have you ever wished you could consolidate your airline miles into one powerful loyalty program, even when flying on different carriers? Well, with the partnership between Alaska Airlines and American Airlines, you absolutely can! This guide will walk you through the process, ensuring you don't miss out on those valuable Alaska Mileage Plan miles when you fly with American.
Step 1: Ensure You Have an Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Account
First things first, to earn Alaska miles, you need a place for them to go!
Sub-heading: Are you already a Mileage Plan member?
If Yes: Great! You're one step ahead. Make sure you know your Mileage Plan number.
If No: No problem at all! Head over to the official Alaska Airlines website (alaskaair.com) and sign up for a free Mileage Plan account. It's a quick and easy process. You'll receive a Mileage Plan number that you'll use to credit your American Airlines flights. Don't skip this crucial step!
Step 2: Understand the Partnership and Earning Rates
Alaska Airlines and American Airlines are both members of the oneworld alliance. This alliance is the key to earning miles on partner airlines. However, it's important to understand how you'll earn.
Sub-heading: Mileage Earning is Based on Fare Class and Distance
Unlike some airlines that award miles based on the ticket price, Alaska Airlines generally awards miles based on the actual distance flown and the fare class of your ticket. This means that a longer flight will typically earn more miles, and a higher fare class (like First Class or Business Class) will earn you a higher percentage of those miles, often with a bonus.
Locate the Earning Chart: Visit the Alaska Airlines website and navigate to their "Partner Airlines" section, then select American Airlines. You'll find a detailed earning chart that specifies the percentage of miles you'll earn based on your American Airlines fare class (e.g., Economy, Business, First) and the specific booking code within that class (e.g., Y, B, H for Economy; J, C, D, I for First Class).
Example: You might find that a full-fare economy ticket (like a "Y" fare) earns 100% of the miles flown, while a deeply discounted economy ticket (like an "X" or "Q" fare) might earn only 50% or even 25%. Always check this chart before booking to set your expectations!
Step 3: Booking Your American Airlines Flight
This is where the magic happens – ensuring your Alaska Mileage Plan number is attached to your American Airlines reservation.
Sub-heading: Inputting Your Mileage Plan Number at Booking
When Booking on American Airlines' Website (aa.com):
During the booking process, you'll typically be prompted to enter your frequent flyer number. Look for a field labeled "Frequent Flyer Number," "Loyalty Program," or similar.
Crucially, ensure you select Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan from the dropdown menu, and then enter your Alaska Mileage Plan account number. Do NOT enter your AAdvantage number if your goal is to earn Alaska miles.
When Booking Through a Travel Agent or Online Travel Agency (OTA):
Inform your travel agent explicitly that you wish to credit your flight to your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account and provide them with your Mileage Plan number.
If booking through an OTA (like Expedia, Kayak, etc.), there will usually be a section during checkout to add frequent flyer information. Double-check that you select Alaska Mileage Plan and input the correct number.
If You've Already Booked: Don't panic! You can often add your Mileage Plan number to an existing American Airlines reservation.
Online: Log into your American Airlines reservation using your confirmation code on aa.com. Look for an option to "Edit Traveler Details" or "Add Frequent Flyer Number." You should be able to add or change your loyalty program there.
Call American Airlines: If you're having trouble online, call American Airlines reservations and ask them to add your Alaska Mileage Plan number to your booking. Have your confirmation code and Mileage Plan number ready.
At Check-in: As a last resort, you can provide your Alaska Mileage Plan number at the American Airlines check-in counter or to the gate agent. However, it's always best to do this in advance to avoid any potential issues.
Sub-heading: Verify Your Frequent Flyer Information
Before you finalize your booking and again before your flight, log into your American Airlines reservation. Make sure that your Alaska Mileage Plan number is indeed listed as the frequent flyer program for that specific flight. A quick glance can save you a lot of hassle later.
Step 4: After Your Flight: Monitoring and Claiming Missing Miles
Once you've flown, it's time to ensure your miles post correctly.
Sub-heading: Allow Time for Miles to Post
Miles typically post to your Mileage Plan account within a few days to a couple of weeks after your flight. Be patient!
You can check your Mileage Plan activity online by logging into your account on alaskaair.com.
Sub-heading: What to Do if Miles Don't Appear (Missing Miles Claim)
If your miles haven't appeared within 14 days of your flight, you can file a "missing miles" request.
Gather Your Information: You'll need your American Airlines ticket number, flight number, date of travel, and fare class. It's also helpful to have your boarding pass and e-ticket receipt.
Submit a Claim: Go to the Alaska Airlines website, locate the "Mileage Plan" section, and look for "Request Missing Miles" or "Mileage Activity." There will be an online form to fill out for partner airlines.
Italicized text for emphasis: Keep all your travel documents until your miles are credited. This includes e-ticket confirmations, boarding passes, and any receipts, as they contain vital information for missing mileage claims.
Step 5: Maximizing Your Earning Potential
Beyond simply flying, there are ways to boost your Alaska miles when interacting with American Airlines as a partner.
Sub-heading: Elite Status Benefits
If you hold Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan elite status (MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, MVP Gold 100K), you can enjoy reciprocal benefits when flying on American Airlines, such as priority check-in, priority boarding, complimentary preferred seating (like Main Cabin Extra), and even complimentary upgrades on certain routes. These benefits enhance your travel experience and are a perk of crediting your flights to Alaska.
Note: While these benefits are great, they are separate from mileage earning rates. Your elite status bonus miles for Alaska-operated flights do not generally apply to partner airline flights; earning on partners is strictly based on the published earning chart for that partner and fare class.
Sub-heading: Consider the Alaska Airlines Co-branded Credit Card
While this isn't directly related to flying American Airlines, having the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card can significantly boost your Mileage Plan balance. You earn miles on everyday purchases, and these can be redeemed for flights on American Airlines (or any other Alaska partner). Some cards even offer an annual companion fare.
Important Considerations:
One Loyalty Program Per Flight: You can only credit a single flight to one frequent flyer program. So, if you fly American Airlines, you can choose to earn AAdvantage miles or Alaska Mileage Plan miles, but not both. Choose the program that aligns best with your travel goals.
Codeshare Flights: Pay attention to who is marketing and operating the flight. For example, if you book an American Airlines flight number (e.g., AA123) but it's operated by Alaska Airlines, you would typically still credit it to Alaska Mileage Plan and earn based on Alaska's earning rules (or American's, if you chose to credit to AAdvantage). Conversely, if you book an Alaska Airlines flight number (e.g., AS456) but it's operated by American Airlines, you'd credit it to Alaska Mileage Plan and earn based on the American Airlines partner earning chart on Alaska's website. It's usually the operating carrier's rules that dictate the earning specifics in a codeshare scenario, but ensuring your desired loyalty program is on the booking is paramount.
Saver Fares: Be aware that deeply discounted "Saver" or Basic Economy fares on American Airlines may earn fewer (or no) Alaska miles, or may not be eligible for mileage accrual at all. Always check the earning chart for the specific fare class you intend to book.
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to accumulating a healthy balance of Alaska Mileage Plan miles from your American Airlines flights, bringing you closer to your next award travel adventure!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions about earning Alaska miles on American Airlines flights:
How to check if my American Airlines flight is eligible to earn Alaska miles?
You can check the Alaska Airlines website under their "Partner Airlines" section for American Airlines. This page will detail which fare classes are eligible for earning miles and at what percentage of the distance flown.
How to add my Alaska Mileage Plan number to an existing American Airlines booking?
You can usually do this by logging into your American Airlines reservation on aa.com using your confirmation code and looking for an option to "Edit Traveler Details" or "Add Frequent Flyer Number." Alternatively, you can call American Airlines reservations directly.
How to calculate how many Alaska miles I will earn on an American Airlines flight?
Refer to the Alaska Airlines partner earning chart for American Airlines. Find your fare class on the chart, note the earning percentage, and multiply that by the actual flight distance. For example, if a 1,000-mile flight is in a fare class that earns 50%, you'll get 500 Alaska miles.
How to claim missing Alaska miles from a past American Airlines flight?
Wait at least 14 days after your flight. Then, go to the "Mileage Plan" section on the Alaska Airlines website and look for the "Request Missing Miles" or "Mileage Activity" option. You'll need your ticket number, flight date, and fare class.
How to choose between earning Alaska miles or American AAdvantage miles on an American Airlines flight?
Decide which loyalty program aligns better with your overall travel goals and where you want to accumulate your miles for future redemptions. You can only earn miles in one program per flight.
How to benefit from my Alaska elite status when flying on American Airlines?
Alaska Mileage Plan elite members (MVP, MVP Gold, etc.) receive reciprocal benefits on American Airlines flights, such as priority check-in and boarding, complimentary preferred seating, and sometimes upgrades on eligible routes.
How to know if a Basic Economy fare on American Airlines will earn Alaska miles?
Basic Economy fares (often designated with specific booking codes like "X" or "B") typically earn very few or no Alaska miles. Always consult the Alaska Airlines partner earning chart for American Airlines and cross-reference the specific fare class of your Basic Economy ticket.
How to ensure my Alaska Mileage Plan number is correctly linked to my American Airlines booking before flying?
Log into your American Airlines reservation on aa.com using your confirmation code and verify that your Alaska Mileage Plan number is displayed as the chosen frequent flyer program.
How to find the fare class of my American Airlines ticket?
Your fare class is usually indicated by a single letter on your e-ticket receipt or booking confirmation. It might be listed near the flight details or next to the ticket number.
How to use my Alaska miles to book flights on American Airlines?
While this guide focuses on earning miles, it's worth noting that you can redeem your Alaska miles for American Airlines flights. This is typically done through the Alaska Airlines website's award booking engine or by calling Alaska Airlines reservations.
