Even if you’re not a frequent flyer on the West Coast or near an Alaska Airlines hub, the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program can offer incredible value. While flying with Alaska Airlines is a great option, the true gems of the Mileage Plan lie in its diverse network of partners, especially its key transfer partner: Marriott Bonvoy.
Alaska Airlines miles might seem harder to accumulate compared to other programs because Marriott Bonvoy is currently the only major transferable currency that directly converts to Alaska miles. However, this valuable partnership opens doors to a wealth of earning and redemption possibilities.
This guide will delve into everything you need to know about leveraging Alaska Mileage Plan transfer partners, focusing on how to maximize your miles and travel rewards.
Why Focus on Alaska Airlines Transfer Partners?
While Alaska Airlines boasts a strong portfolio of airline partners for earning and redeeming miles, understanding their transfer partners is crucial for several reasons:
- Earning Miles Faster: Transferring points from partners like Marriott Bonvoy can be a significantly faster way to boost your Alaska Mileage Plan balance compared to solely relying on flying or credit card spending.
- Flexibility: Transferable points programs offer flexibility. You can choose to transfer to Alaska Mileage Plan when you have a specific redemption in mind, rather than being locked into a single airline program.
- Unlock Premium Redemptions: Alaska miles are renowned for unlocking premium cabin redemptions on coveted partners like Cathay Pacific and Fiji Airways. Transferring points is often the most strategic way to amass the miles needed for these aspirational flights.
Marriott Bonvoy: Your Gateway to Alaska Miles
Currently, Marriott Bonvoy stands as the primary and most valuable transfer partner for Alaska Mileage Plan. This partnership allows you to convert your Marriott Bonvoy points into Alaska miles, bringing you closer to your dream award flights.
Here’s how the Marriott Bonvoy transfer works:
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Transfer Ratio: Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Alaska Mileage Plan at a 3:1 ratio. This means for every 3 Marriott points you transfer, you receive 1 Alaska mile.
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Bonus for Large Transfers: For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you’ll receive a bonus of 5,000 Alaska miles. Effectively, transferring 60,000 Marriott points will net you 25,000 Alaska miles (20,000 base miles + 5,000 bonus miles).
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Transfer Time: Keep in mind that Marriott Bonvoy transfers to Alaska Mileage Plan are not instantaneous and may take up to four days to reflect in your Alaska account. Plan accordingly, especially when aiming for time-sensitive award bookings.
Strategy for Maximizing Marriott Transfers:
To make the most of this transfer partnership, aim to transfer in increments of 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to capitalize on the 5,000-mile bonus. This improves the transfer ratio to a more favorable 2.4:1 (60,000 Marriott points to 25,000 Alaska miles).
Alaska Mileage Plan Airline Partners: Where Your Transferred Miles Can Take You
Once you’ve transferred Marriott Bonvoy points to your Alaska Mileage Plan account, you can redeem these miles with Alaska Airlines and its extensive network of airline partners. These partners fall into two categories: Oneworld Alliance partners and non-Oneworld partners.
Oneworld Alliance Partners:
Alaska Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance, granting you access to a wide array of redemption options across the globe. Oneworld partners include:
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Fiji Airways (a Oneworld connect airline)
- Finnair
- Iberia
- Japan Airlines
- Malaysia Airlines
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- Royal Air Maroc
- Royal Jordanian
- SriLankan Airlines
Non-Oneworld Airline Partners:
In addition to its Oneworld alliances, Alaska Airlines also maintains partnerships with several non-Oneworld airlines, further expanding your redemption possibilities:
- Aer Lingus
- Air Tahiti Nui
- Condor
- El Al Israel Airlines
- Hainan Airlines
- Icelandair
- Korean Air
- LATAM Airlines
- Mokulele Airlines + Southern Airways Express
- Ravn Alaska
- Singapore Airlines
Related: Your complete guide to earning and redeeming with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Navigating Alaska Mileage Plan Award Charts (or Lack Thereof)
It’s important to note that Alaska Mileage Plan no longer publishes specific award charts for each partner airline, except for a general North American, International, and “Money & Miles” chart for Alaska flights. This means award pricing is now dynamic and can vary.
Understanding the Current Award Chart System:
- Limited Public Award Charts: Alaska’s website features only three award charts: North America, Money & Miles, and International. These charts primarily show starting rates.
- Dynamic Pricing: Award prices are subject to change and are no longer fixed based on zones or specific partner airlines.
- Search to Find Actual Pricing: To determine the exact mileage cost for a partner award flight, you need to search directly on the Alaska Airlines website for your desired origin, destination, and dates.
Related: Alaska Mileage Plan publishes a new partner award chart
Here’s a glimpse of the North American award chart:
ALASKAAIR.COM
Here’s the Money and Miles award chart:
ALASKAAIR.COM
And the international award chart:
ALASKAAIR.COM
These charts provide a general idea of starting prices, but always verify the actual cost by searching for your specific itinerary.
Related: Maximizing redemptions with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Redeeming Transferred Miles for Partner Award Flights
Once you have Alaska miles from Marriott Bonvoy transfers (or other sources), redeeming them for partner flights is straightforward:
- Visit Alaska Airlines Website: Go to alaskaair.com.
- Log In: Log in to your Mileage Plan account.
- Select “Use Miles”: Check the “Use miles” box before initiating your flight search.
ALASKAAIR.COM
- Search and Explore: Enter your origin, destination, dates, and class of service. Explore the search results to find available partner award flights and their corresponding mileage costs.
- Utilize the Award Calendar: For flexible travel dates, use the “Award calendar” option to view award availability across a broader date range and potentially find lower mileage options.
Example: Finding Partner Awards:
Let’s say you’re looking for a one-way business class flight from New York to Hong Kong. By searching on Alaska’s website, you might find options like:
- Korean Air: 120,000 Alaska miles + $26 (mixed-cabin)
- Singapore Airlines: 100,000 Alaska miles + $25 (business class)
- Cathay Pacific: 50,000 Alaska miles + $19 (business class)
ALASKAAIR.COM
This example highlights the potential value of Alaska miles, especially for premium cabin redemptions on partners like Cathay Pacific.
Important Considerations for Partner Award Bookings
Keep these points in mind when booking partner award flights with Alaska miles:
- Partner Award Fee: A $12.50 nonrefundable fee applies per person, per direction for itineraries including partner award segments.
- No Stopovers within International Regions: Stopovers are not permitted on awards within international regions (e.g., intra-Asia or intra-Europe).
- 72-Hour Booking Window (Outside US/Canada): If your journey starts and ends outside the U.S. and Canada, book at least 72 hours before departure.
- Carrier-Imposed Charges: Be aware of potentially high carrier-imposed charges on select partners like British Airways, Hainan Airlines, and Icelandair.
- Ravn Alaska Route Exception: Alaska miles cannot be used for Ravn Alaska awards between Fairbanks and Anchorage.
- Korean Air One-Way Award Cost: One-way Korean Air awards often cost the same as round-trip awards.
- Lap Infant Policies: Lap infants may not be accepted on international partner award bookings. Booking a separate seat at the standard mileage rate is recommended for infants on these flights.
- Mixing Partners: You cannot combine flights from multiple partner airlines on a single award ticket. However, you can add Alaska Airlines flights to a partner itinerary.
ALASKAAIR.COM
Related: How to book free stopovers with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Sweet Spots for Alaska Miles Redemptions
Despite the shift to dynamic award pricing, Alaska Mileage Plan still retains some exceptional “sweet spots” for maximizing your miles, especially on partner airlines.
Cathay Pacific:
Business and first-class awards on Cathay Pacific remain a stellar use of Alaska miles. While first-class availability can be elusive, business class awards from the U.S. to Asia can still be found for competitive mileage rates.
ALASKAAIR.COM
You can even leverage Alaska’s generous stopover policy to add a free stop in Hong Kong before continuing to other destinations in Asia, like Bali, for the same mileage cost.
ALASKAAIR.COM
Fiji Airways:
Alaska miles are also an excellent way to reach Fiji. Business class awards on Fiji Airways between the U.S. West Coast (Los Angeles and San Francisco) and Nadi, Fiji, often remain reasonably priced.
ALASKAAIR.COM
Similar to Cathay Pacific, you can incorporate a stopover in Fiji and then continue onward to Australia for the same mileage amount.
ALASKAAIR.COM
Related: How to plan a trip to Fiji without breaking the bank
Beyond Transfer Partners: Other Ways to Earn Alaska Miles
While Marriott Bonvoy transfers are a key strategy, remember you can also earn Alaska miles through various other avenues:
- Flying with Alaska Airlines and Partners: Earn miles by flying with Alaska Airlines and its partner airlines. Earning rates vary based on the airline and fare class.
- Alaska Airlines Credit Cards: Consider co-branded Alaska Airlines credit cards like the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card or the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card to earn miles on everyday spending and receive sign-up bonuses.
- Hotel Partners: Earn miles by booking hotels through Alaska Airlines Hotels or directly with partner hotel chains like Marriott Bonvoy, Best Western, and IHG.
- Car Rental and Rides Partners: Earn miles on car rentals and rides with partners like Alaska Airlines Car Rental and specific car rental companies.
- Shopping and Dining Partners: Explore Alaska’s online shopping portal and dining program to earn miles on everyday purchases.
D3SIGN/MOMENT COLLECTION/GETTY IMAGES
Related: How to earn miles with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Bottom Line: Unlock Travel Rewards with Alaska Transfer Partners
Alaska Mileage Plan, especially when leveraging its transfer partnership with Marriott Bonvoy, offers a powerful pathway to unlocking incredible travel rewards. By strategically transferring points and understanding the program’s partner network, you can access valuable award flights, particularly in premium cabins, and elevate your travel experiences.
While Marriott Bonvoy is currently the primary transfer partner, staying informed about any potential future additions to Alaska’s transfer program will be key to maximizing your miles even further.
Additional reporting by Benji Stawski and Victoria M. Walker.
Updated as of 1/8/2025.
