The Ultimate Guide to Earning and Using Alaska Airlines Miles for Families
If you're a busy mom who loves to travel (or wants to travel more without spending a fortune), Alaska Airlines miles can be a game-changer. Whether you're planning a family vacation to Hawaii, visiting relatives across the country, or dreaming of an international adventure, Alaska's Mileage Plan program offers some of the best ways to earn and redeem miles for free flights.
Even though Alaska Airlines isn't the largest carrier, its generous earning structure, valuable partnerships, and free stopovers make it one of the best programs for family travelers. Plus, with the Hawaiian Airlines merger, there's a limited-time (well, we think it’s limited) chance to rack up even more miles.
Let’s dive into the easiest ways to earn Alaska miles, how to use them for nearly free flights, and why they’re perfect for families.
Why Moms Might Care About Alaska Airlines Miles
Easier Family Travel – Alaska miles can help cover flights for your whole family, so you can take that much-needed vacation without worrying about airfare costs.
Great for West Coast & Hawaii Travel – If you live on the West Coast, Alaska Airlines offers tons of flights to Hawaii, Mexico, and other vacation destinations.
Free Stopovers – Get a built-in mini vacation! You can add a free stopover on one-way award tickets. (More on how to do that below)
More Ways to Earn Now – With the Hawaiian Airlines merger, new earning opportunities have opened up—but they probably won’t last forever!
Not Just for Alaska Flights – You can use Alaska miles on partner airlines like American, Japan Airlines, Icelandair, and British Airways to fly almost anywhere.
How to Earn Alaska Airlines Miles (Even If You Don’t Fly Often)
You don’t have to fly regularly to earn enough miles for family trips. Here are the best ways to rack up Alaska miles quickly:
1. Transfer Flexible Credit Card Points
The best way to earn Alaska Airlines miles is by transferring flexible points, which give you the most options. Since Alaska isn’t a direct transfer partner of most flexible point currencies, you can use a workaround through Hawaiian Airlines:
American Express Membership Rewards → HawaiianMiles → Alaska Mileage Plan (1:1 ratio for both transfers)
Bilt Rewards → Alaska Mileage Plan (direct 1:1 transfer)
⚠️ This transfer option might not last forever, so if you have a trip in mind, you may want to transfer soon.
Tip: Always check for award availability before transferring points. Transfers are one-way and irreversible!
2. Use an Alaska Airlines Credit Card
Alaska Airlines has two credit cards through Bank of America that can help you earn miles fast:
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card (Personal)
Earn 70,000 bonus miles + Companion Fare™ after meeting minimum spend.
3x miles on Alaska purchases
2x miles on gas, EV charging, cable, streaming, and transit
Free checked bag and inflight discounts
Alaska Airlines Visa® Business Card
Earn 70,000 bonus miles + Companion Fare™ after meeting minimum spend.
3x miles on Alaska purchases
2x miles on gas, EV charging, shipping, and transit
Tip: The Companion Fare is a huge perk! It lets you book a second ticket for around $121 (including taxes/fees) when you buy a regular-priced ticket. That’s huge savings for moms booking family trips!
3. Earn with BILT Rewards
BILT Rewards is the only major points program that transfers directly to Alaska at a 1:1 ratio. This is perfect if you pay rent and want to earn miles for doing so.
4. Earn Miles by Flying
Unlike most airlines that award miles based on how much you spend, Alaska still gives miles based on distance flown—which is great for families who take long-haul trips.
Saver fares: Earn 30% of miles flown
Main cabin fares: Earn 100% of miles flown
First class: Earn 150% of miles flown
Elite status members: Get additional bonus miles
5. Shop & Dine for More Miles
Mileage Plan Shopping: Earn miles when you shop online through Alaska’s portal.
Mileage Plan Dining: Earn up to 5x miles per dollar when you eat at participating restaurants.
Tip: Use your Alaska credit card for everyday expenses like groceries and gas, and your miles will add up fast!
How to Use Alaska Airlines Miles for Family Travel
Alaska’s distance-based award chart means you can get more value for your miles compared to other airlines. One of the best perks? No fuel surcharges on partner flights, so taxes stay low.
1. Free Stopovers on One-Way Awards
Alaska allows free stopovers, even on one-way tickets. That means you can visit two destinations for the price of one!
How to Book a Free Stopover on a One-Way Award Ticket
Search for an Award Ticket on Alaska’s Website
Visit Alaska Airlines' website and log into your Mileage Plan account.
Select the “Use miles” option when searching for flights.
Use the Multi-City Search Option
Instead of booking a regular one-way flight, select "Multi-City" under the search options.
Enter your departure city and destination city with your desired stopover location in between.
Select a Partner Airline if Needed
Stopovers are allowed on Alaska Airlines flights and partner airlines (e.g., Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, British Airways).
Some partner flights may have limited availability for stopovers.
Find Available Flights and Compare Prices
The award chart pricing is based on distance, so test different stopover cities for the best redemption.
A stopover usually won’t increase the miles required for your flight.
Complete Your Booking
If you see your preferred route with a stopover at the same mileage cost as a direct flight, book it!
If you don’t see the stopover option online, call Alaska Airlines customer service at 1-800-252-7522 to book over the phone.
Tip: Alaska allows one stopover per one-way award, so if you book two one-way awards for a round trip, you could get two stopovers for free!
2. Domestic U.S. Flights
Flights within the U.S. start at 4,000 miles one-way, making Alaska miles great for short-haul flights.
San Francisco to Las Vegas: 8,000 miles round trip + $11.20 in taxes
Cross-country flights (LAX to JFK): 12,500 miles one-way
3. International Flights
Fly to Ireland: Philadelphia to Dublin on American or Aer Lingus for 45,000 miles round trip
Fly to Japan: Seattle to Tokyo on Japan Airlines for 60,000 miles round trip
Final Thoughts
If you’re a mom who wants to travel more while spending less, Alaska Airlines miles can help you make it happen. From free stopovers to easy ways to earn miles with everyday spending, this program is one of the best for family travel.
With the Hawaiian Airlines merger, you have a limited-time window to earn more miles than ever before—so take advantage while you can!
👉 Start earning Alaska miles today and get closer to your next family vacation!
