Achieve Automatic Elite Status with Alaska Airlines’ Flight Pass Program

Attention all frequent flyers on the West Coast: Alaska Airlines has introduced its new Flight Pass program, an annual subscription that allows members to enjoy up to 24 round-trip flights each year for a fixed monthly rate, now featuring a new destination: Salt Lake City, Utah.

Flight Pass members can travel between Salt Lake City and both San Francisco and San Diego, along with 18 additional routes across California, as well as connections to Phoenix and Las Vegas.

This week, the airline announced a special offer: anyone who enrolls in the Flight Pass between now and November 30 will receive a complimentary 12-month upgrade to Mileage Plan MVP status. Subscribers to Flight Pass Pro will automatically achieve MVP Gold status. Current subscribers will also receive complimentary upgrades to either MVP or MVP Gold status, valid through the end of 2023.

Overview of the Alaska Airlines Flight Pass program

Explore the Destinations of the Alaska Airlines Flight Pass

Image courtesy of Alaska Airlines

Here’s an overview of how the Alaska Airlines Flight Pass functions

For just $49 a month, members can enjoy one round-trip flight every two months, totaling six flights annually, with only taxes and fees (typically around $14 per flight) applied.
For $99 a month, members gain access to one round-trip flight each month, equating to 12 flights a year, again only paying taxes and fees.
For $189 a month, members can book two round-trip flights every month, reaching a total of 24 flights annually, with only additional taxes and fees to pay.

Flights booked through Flight Pass must be arranged at least 14 days before departure, with the option to book as far out as 90 days in advance.

For those seeking more flexibility with last-minute bookings, the Flight Pass Pro option is available, which offers the same 6-, 12-, and 24-flight choices but starts at $199 per month and increases from there. Flight Pass Pro allows for same-day bookings up to two hours before departure.

Overview of the Flight Pass pricing structure:

Visual representation of Flight Pass costs by category

Keep in mind the cost per journey.

Image courtesy of Alaska Airlines

Travelers using Flight Pass are required to subscribe for a full year, but they have the choice to renew or cancel their subscription after that period.

“What we have observed is that consumer behavior has evolved during COVID, leading to a rise in subscription models,” said Alaska Airlines representative Alex Corey in an interview with Dinogo. “Our internal data shows a growing trend for work-from-anywhere, remote jobs, and safe outdoor explorations. As business travel decreased during the pandemic, this particular segment has expanded.”

Alaska Airlines notes that a significant number of Americans are still making plans for domestic travel, especially to sunny and beach locations—hence the focus on the West Coast, where the airline aims to attract California residents traveling to destinations within the state and nearby areas.