Alaska is a charming vacation spot with its pure magnificence and distinctive Alaskan experiences. Many vacationers go to Alaska to see the northern lights, cruise alongside awe-inspiring fjords and discover the rugged wilderness.

Whereas accessing Alaska is probably not as simple as different elements of the U.S., a number of home airways supply providers to our northernmost state. This information will discover one of the best methods to make the most of factors and miles with airways and focus on point-friendly lodging choices in Alaska.

High airways for redeeming miles to Alaska

Alaska has three main airports: Anchorage’s Ted Stevens Anchorage Worldwide Airport (ANC), Fairbanks Worldwide Airport (FAI) and Juneau Worldwide Airport (JNU). Anchorage and Fairbanks see many of the flights from the decrease 48 states. However, particularly since Alaska has excessive seasonality, some routes are solely out there throughout summer time.

Alaska Airways

In contrast to the key home carriers, Alaska Airways Mileage Plan nonetheless employs a distance-based award chart with beginning award costs. This lets you get an concept of the variety of miles required on your flight prematurely.

The space from San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) to Anchorage is 2,018 miles. So award tickets on this route ought to begin at 10,000 Alaska miles every approach in financial system and 25,000 miles every approach in first-class, in accordance with Alaska’s award chart. However you will usually should redeem extra miles on this route.

Award tickets over 2,101 miles within the contiguous U.S., Alaska and Canada begin at 12,500 Alaska miles every approach in financial system and 30,000 miles every approach in first-class. We will additionally discover one-stop awards from New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) to Anchorage for simply 12,500 miles one-way in financial system. You may sometimes discover mixed-cabin awards with some legs operated by American Airways for 25,000 miles, however you need to anticipate to spend at the very least 55,000 miles for a first-class one-way award from the East coast to Alaska.

Sadly, Alaska shouldn’t be a switch associate of any main versatile financial institution currencies. Nevertheless, you may switch factors from Marriott at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for each 60,000 factors you switch. Or, if you wish to earn extra Alaska miles for a future redemption, you might open an Alaska Airways bank card.

Alaska Airways is a Oneworld airline, so you may also e book Alaska flights by way of Oneworld companions, together with American Airways and British Airways. British Airways calculates award costs primarily based on distance and segments, making direct flights probably the most cost-effective. For example, you may e book a one-way flight between Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport (PHX) and Anchorage for simply 13,000 Avios every approach.

It’s simple to earn British Airways Avios as a result of this system is a switch associate of a number of main transferable currencies, together with American Specific Membership Rewards, Capital One, Chase Final Rewards, Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

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American Airways

American Airways operates flights to Anchorage from Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport (DFW) and Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD). Though American Airways would not supply many nonstop flights to Alaska, you may usually attain the state with only one cease, due to American’s intensive route community.

American AAdvantage makes use of dynamic award pricing, so it is unattainable to foretell the award charges for a specific flight with out looking. Nevertheless, one-way Alaska-operated award flights usually price 15,000 American miles in financial system and 30,000 miles in first-class. Count on to spend greater than that for those who e book an award solely consisting of American-operated flights.

As with Alaska Airways, you may switch Marriott Bonvoy factors to American Airways. Nevertheless, you will not obtain the 5,000-mile bonus for each 60,000 factors you switch. You may also switch Bilt Rewards factors to American Airways at a 1:1 ratio. You may also earn American Airways miles by spending on American Airways bank cards.

American Airways is a Oneworld member, so you may also e book American-operated award flights by way of Oneworld companions like British Airways and Alaska Airways.

Associated: These are one of the best occasions to go to Alaska

Delta Air Traces

Delta gives nonstop flights to Alaska from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL), Minneapolis-Saint Paul Worldwide Airport (MSP), Salt Lake Metropolis Worldwide Airport (SLC) and Seattle. However like the opposite airways on this roundup, yow will discover connecting flights to Alaska from numerous areas with one cease.

As the primary legacy provider to implement dynamic award pricing, Delta award costs range. However a one-way flight from Seattle to Anchorage usually prices 12,500 miles for primary financial system, 15,000 miles in financial system, 18,500 in Consolation+ and 32,500 miles in first-class for those who e book far sufficient prematurely.

It is simple to earn Delta miles, particularly since you may switch American Specific Membership Rewards factors to Delta at a 1:1 ratio (watch out for Amex’s excise tax on transfers to U.S. airline loyalty packages, although). You may also earn Delta miles by way of Delta bank cards.

Additionally, since Delta is a SkyTeam airline, you may e book Delta-operated flights by way of numerous different airways. Specifically, you would possibly wish to take into account reserving short-haul Delta flights by way of Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership.

Associated: When and how one can e book Delta awards with Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership

United Airways

United MileagePlus additionally makes use of dynamic award pricing. However, one-way flights from San Francisco to Anchorage normally begin round 15,000 United miles in financial system class and 61,800 miles in first-class. Nevertheless, anticipate to spend considerably extra miles if you do not have flexibility in your journey dates and occasions.

Fortunately, it is simple to earn United miles. United is a switch associate of Bilt Rewards and Chase Final Rewards. Plus, you may earn United miles by way of United bank cards, together with the United Membership Infinite Card and the United Explorer Card.

Think about reserving your United-operated flight to Alaska utilizing Air Canada Aeroplan or Avianca LifeMiles if award house is accessible. The award price could also be lower than for those who booked by way of United MileagePlus. Plus, you may switch numerous transferable currencies to Aeroplan and LifeMiles, making them extra accessible to some vacationers.

Associated: One-way Alaska cruises vs. round-trip: Which is finest?

Alaska lodges you may e book with factors

Alaska gives numerous lodging selections, together with some wilderness lodges. You will not discover many chain lodges exterior Alaska’s largest cities, so you might must depend on on-line journey company rewards, cash-back rewards or bank card journey portals to e book some stays with factors.

However for those who’re visiting Alaska’s largest cities, you will discover numerous alternatives to redeem lodge factors on your keep. Here is an outline of the choices throughout among the hottest lodge loyalty packages.

Hilton Honors

Hilton Honors has seven lodges in Alaska. Aside from the Hampton Inn & Suites Fairbanks, all Hilton’s Alaska properties are in Anchorage.

Hilton makes use of dynamic pricing, so redemption charges range. However we discovered the next award charges for Hilton lodges in Alaska for a random date this fall:

• Home2 Suites by Hilton Anchorage/Midtown: 42,000 factors per night time
• Embassy Suites by Hilton Anchorage: 50,000 factors per night time
• Hampton Inn & Suites Fairbanks: 50,000 factors per night time
• Hilton Anchorage: 60,000 factors per night time
• Hampton Inn Anchorage: 60,000 factors per night time
• Hilton Backyard Inn Anchorage: 70,000 factors per night time
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Anchorage: 70,000 factors per night time

If you want to earn extra Hilton factors, take into account signing up for a brand new Hilton Honors bank card or transferring factors from American Specific Membership Rewards.

IHG One Rewards

IHG One Rewards has one lodge in Fairbanks and three in Anchorage. IHG makes use of dynamic award pricing, so you may’t predict how award nights will worth. However for a similar random date in October that we used within the Hilton instance, this is a have a look at IHG award pricing:

• Vacation Inn Specific Anchorage: 26,000 factors per night time
• Crowne Plaza Anchorage-Midtown: 32,000 factors per night time
• Staybridge Suites Anchorage: 35,000 factors per night time
• Candlewood Suites Fairbanks: 35,000 factors per night time

Notice that some IHG One Rewards bank cards, together with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card and IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card, supply a fourth-night reward that allows you to pay zero factors for each fourth night time on award stays of 4 nights or longer. To earn extra IHG factors, take into account signing up for an IHG One Rewards bank card or shopping for IHG factors throughout a 100% bonus sale.

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy is yet one more program that makes use of dynamic award pricing. Here is a have a look at award pricing for Marriott lodges on the identical random date in October that we used within the earlier two examples:

• Marriott Anchorage Downtown: 31,000 factors per night time
• Sheraton Anchorage Resort & Spa: 31,000 factors per night time
• Aloft Anchorage: 32,000 factors per night time
• SpringHill Suites Anchorage Midtown: 32,000 factors per night time
• SpringHill Suites Fairbanks: 35,000 factors per night time
• Residence Inn Anchorage Midtown: 37,000 factors per night time
• Fairfield Inn & Suites Anchorage Midtown: 38,000 factors per night time
• Courtyard Anchorage Airport: 41,000 factors per night time
• 4 Factors by Sheraton Anchorage Downtown: 44,000 factors per night time
• 4 Factors by Sheraton Juneau: 44,000 factors per night time
• TownePlace Suites Anchorage Midtown: 59,000 factors per night time
• SpringHill Suites Anchorage College Lake: Unavailable on this date

If you wish to earn Marriott factors for a keep in Alaska, think about using a Marriott Bonvoy bank card, such because the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit score Card.

World of Hyatt

World of Hyatt has three properties in Alaska: Class 3 Hyatt Place Fairbanks, Class 3 Hyatt Home Anchorage and Class 4 Hyatt Place Anchorage-Midtown.

At Class 3 Hyatt lodges, you could redeem 9,000 to fifteen,000 factors per night time for the standard room. At Class 4 Hyatt lodges, you will must redeem 12,000 to 18,000 factors per night time for the standard room.

If you want to earn extra Hyatt factors, you may switch Chase Final Rewards to Hyatt. You may also earn Hyatt factors with the World of Hyatt Credit score Card or the World of Hyatt Enterprise Credit score Card.

Alternative Privileges

Alternative Privileges has a number of lodges in Alaska. Here is a have a look at award pricing at every of those properties:

• Consolation Suites Anchorage Worldwide Airport: 20,000 to 30,000 factors per night time by way of Nov. 30, 2023
• Clarion Suites Downtown in Anchorage: 20,000 to 30,000 factors per night time by way of Nov. 30, 2023
• High quality Inn in Kenai: 20,000 to 30,000 factors per night time by way of Nov. 30, 2023
• High quality Inn in Kodiak: 30,000 factors per night time by way of Nov. 30, 2023
• Clarion Resort & Suites Fairbanks close to Ft. Wainwright: 20,000 to 30,000 factors per night time by way of Nov. 30, 2023

If you want to earn extra Alternative factors, you may switch factors from American Specific Membership Rewards, Capital One and Citi ThankYou Rewards. You may also earn Alternative factors with the new Alternative Privileges Credit cards.

Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham Rewards has 12 lodges in Alaska, together with some in cities not served by the loyalty packages we have mentioned up to now. Here is a have a look at the lodges in Alaska that you may e book with Wyndham factors:

• Ramada by Wyndham Anchorage Downtown: 15,000 factors per night time
• Bridgewater Resort, Trademark Assortment by Wyndham, in Fairbanks: 15,000 factors per night time
• Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Eagle River/Anchorage Space: 15,000 factors per night time
• Tremendous 8 by Wyndham Ketchikan: 15,000 factors per night time
• Baymont Inn & Suites by Wyndham Anchorage Airport: 30,000 factors per night time
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Anchorage Airport: 30,000 factors per night time
• Wingate by Wyndham Anchorage Downtown/Ship Creek: 30,000 factors per night time
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Fairbanks Airport: 30,000 factors per night time
• Ramada by Wyndham Juneau: 30,000 factors per night time
• Tremendous 8 by Wyndham Juneau: 30,000 factors per night time
• Travelodge by Wyndham Juneau: 30,000 factors per night time
• Gilmore Resort, Trademark Assortment by Wyndham, in Ketchikan: 30,000 factors per night time

If you want to earn extra Wyndham factors, you may switch factors from Capital One and Citi ThankYou Rewards. You may also earn Wyndham factors with Wyndham Rewards bank cards.

Associated: The most effective Alaska cruises for each sort of traveler

A number of airways present service to Alaska’s three major airports. Alaska Airways has probably the most intensive protection and likewise offers many flights inside Alaska. Nevertheless, relying in your departure airport, you may also use your factors and miles to fly with Delta, United or American Airways. When you plan to redeem transferable factors, evaluate money fares with award redemption charges to make sure you get a very good deal.

On the lodge entrance, the key chains have you ever coated in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. However for those who plan to enterprise exterior Alaska’s main cities, you might want to make use of on-line journey company rewards or e book by way of a bank card journey portal if you wish to use factors.

Extra reporting by Jasmin Baron, Carissa Rawson, Katie Genter and Ariana Arghandewal.