EQMs Explained: How to Earn Alaska Elite-Qualifying Miles 2025
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What Are Elite Qualifying Miles Alaska
Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) are miles you earn that count toward elite status in the Alaska Mileage Plan, such as MVP, MVP Gold, and MVP Gold 75K/100K.
EQM are different from award or redeemable miles. Award miles (RDM) can be used for free flights and other rewards, while EQM determine your elite status only and are reset each year (although rolled-over EQM may apply).
They’re the currency that earns you elite status:
- MVP: 20,000 EQMs
- MVP Gold: 40,000 EQMs
- MVP Gold 75K: 75,000 EQMs
- MVP Gold 100K: 100,000 EQMs
Following the merger of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, a major reorganization of the Mileage Plan program is planned. Currently, the elite statuses of the programs are the same, and if you have flown on both programs, your elite qualifying miles will also be combined. The table below shows the similarities.
How to Earn Alaska Elite-Qualifying Miles
1. Flying
The structure and earning rates for EQM depend on the booking location and cabin class:
When booking flights (Alaska, Hawaiian or partner flights) through Alaska.com, you earn EQM based on the distance and cabin class:
- Economy: 1 EQM per mile
- Premium Economy: 1.5 × distance traveled
- Business: 2.5 × distance flown
- First/International First: up to 3.5 × distance flown
Partner Flights Booked Elsewhere
If you book the same partner flights but outside of Alaska’s platform, EQM earnings are lower:
- Discount Economy fares: as low as 0.25 EQM per mile
- Up to 1.5 EQMs per mile for First-Class fares
2. Award flights
Earn 1 EQM per mile flown, even when traveling on points.
All award flights flown on or after Jan 1, 2025 qualify for EQMs based on distance. Great for status seekers using redemption flights.
3. Credit Card Spend
Alaska co-branded cardholders (both personal and business)get 1 EQM per $3 spent, up to 30,000 EQMs per year (made in 2025).
The old structure gave 4,000 EQMs per $10,000 spent, but that ended in 2024.
This means that to reach the maximum limit, you must make qualifying purchases totaling $90,000 using one or more Alaska Visa cards.
EQMs from card spend post monthly. For example, charges billed through January will appear by late March—typically within 4–6 weeks after statement close.
Can EQMs earned on multiple Alaska Airlines Visa cards be combined?
Yes, the offer also applies to holders of multiple Alaska Airlines Visa consumer and business cards with the ability to combine purchases to reach the required spending level.
To qualify for this new earning mechanism, members must meet certain conditions. They include a combination of transactions totaling at least $10,000, excluding fees, returns and adjustments.
Cardholders should note that these miles are non-redeemable and only count towards elite status qualification for the calendar year 2026.
4. Non‑airline Partners
For every 3,000 redeemable miles earned with eligible non-airline partners—like dining, shopping, hotels, car rental, or ride-share—you receive 1,000 EQMs. This earning structure is cumulative across all categories.
| Partner Category | How It Works | Redeemable Miles → EQM |
|---|---|---|
| Ride-share (Lyft) | Earn 1 mile per $1 spent | 3,000 miles = 1,000 EQMs |
| Dining Program | Earn via Mileage Plan Dining | 3,000 miles = 1,000 EQMs |
| Shopping Portal | Earn via Mileage Plan Shopping | 3,000 miles = 1,000 EQMs |
| Hotel partners | Best Western, Choice, Coast, IHG, Marriott, Rocketmiles, Westmark | Earn via hotel booking (varies per brand) → redeemed into miles, count toward EQMs when cumulative 3,000 miles reached |
| Car rentals | Book with partners like Avis/Budget | Earn redeemable miles per rental (e.g. up to 1,250 miles) → EQM credit applies similarly |
Example in Action
- Lyft: Spend $3,000 on Lyft rides → earn 3,000 redeemable miles → you receive 1,000 EQMs.
- Hotels: Accumulate 3,000 miles across Marriott, Choice, and Best Western stays → another 1,000 EQMs.
- Dining & Shopping combined: If dwon’t exceed 3,000 miles individually, your miles may roll into the total to reach the threshold.
See the full list of partners on the official website here.
What is the validity period of EQM?
EQM are published shortly after travel or accrual. EQM are valid for one calendar year; unless you choose to roll over your EQM in accordance with the milestone rewards program, they will be forfeited.
So now that we know all the ways to earn Elite-Qualifying Miles (EQMs), let’s take a look at each of the elite statuses and the benefits they offer in article Alaska Mileage Plan 2025: Easier MPV Status, Benefits, and Global Reach.
