If you’ve built up a stash of Alaska Airlines miles and have the beach on your mind, you may be in luck.
Alaska unveiled a new promotion for Mileage Plan award redemptions Wednesday, kicking off its new series of “Global Getaways” with a focus on some highly desirable beach destinations.
And right now, you can find highly discounted award redemptions to places like Tahiti, the Maldives and, closer to home, the Bahamas.
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Alaska Airlines Global Getaways An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900ER. CHAD SLATTERY/ALASKA AIRLINES
The Seattle-based carrier’s new Global Getaways promotion offers savings of up to 50% off on redemptions to certain international destinations, both with Alaska and its partner airlines.
This is going to be a recurring promotion, of sorts: Alaska plans to “mix it up” four times annually, refreshing its getaway promotion with a new set of places that Mileage Plan members can visit at a steep mileage discount.
It’s launching its first-ever series of getaways with an alluring theme: “exotic, sunny beach escapes.”
How to book
To book Alaska Airlines’ Global Getaways, you’ll need to log in to your Mileage Plan account on Alaska’s website.
For this first round of deals, the focus is on Alaska partners, which coincides with some new Mileage Plan partner award charts taking effect in recent weeks.
Alaska partners include all carriers in the Oneworld alliance, like American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, Qantas, British Airways and Finnair.
But Alaska has several of its own international partners, too, from Air Tahiti Nui to Starlux Airlines and Condor.
Deal basics
Where to book: Through Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
When to book: Through April 30
Travel dates: Oct. 1 through Nov. 30
Blackout dates: None, but availability is pending award space
The current Global Getaways apply to the following destinations on certain eligible partner airlines (but booked through Alaska) between September and November:
Destination
One-way economy awards
One-way premium economy awards
Tahiti’s Faaa International Airport (PPT) in French Polynesia
20,000 miles (normal: 37,500 miles)
30,000 miles
Fiji’s Nadi International Airport (NAN)
20,000 miles (normal: 37,500 miles)
—
Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in the Bahamas
15,000 miles (normal: 17,500 miles)
—
Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) in Tanzania
30,000 miles (normal: 42,500 miles)
40,000 miles
Male’s Velana International Airport (MLE) in the Maldives
30,000 miles (normal: 42,500 miles)
40,000 miles
Bali’s Ngurah Rai/Denpasar International Airport (DPS) in Indonesia
30,000 miles (normal: 42,500 miles)
40,000 miles
Alaska plans to announce its next round of Global Getaways this summer, a spokesperson said.
Maximize your purchase
Be sure to use a card that earns additional points on airfare purchases to pay taxes and fees on your award ticket.
Some of the best cards include:
The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5 points per dollar spent on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees): 3 points per dollar spent on air travel
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 5 points per dollar spent on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3 points per dollar spent on travel
American Express® Gold Card: 3 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through amextravel.com
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 5 points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 2 points per dollar spent on travel purchases
Earning Mileage Plan miles
One of the best ways to earn Alaska Airlines miles is with the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card. Right now, new cardholders can earn 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Companion Fare ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening an account.
Or, with the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card, you can get 50,000 bonus miles and the Companion Fare ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Notably, Bilt Rewards also just added Alaska as a transfer partner, allowing you to transfer points earned on purchases with the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees), including your monthly rent, to Mileage Plan at a 1:1 ratio.
Related reading:
Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a beginner or expert traveler
Where to go in 2024: The 16 best places to travel
6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel without
For rates and fees on the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits on the Bilt Mastercard, click here.