Alaska Airlines members now have an exciting new option for redeeming their miles: Aer Lingus, Ireland’s national airline. This expanded partnership between Alaska Airlines and Aer Lingus opens up a world of possibilities for frequent flyers, providing more opportunities to earn and redeem miles for flights to Europe and beyond. Let’s dive into the details of this exciting collaboration and discover how Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members can make the most of their miles.
Redeeming Miles for Flights to Europe
Whether you’re dreaming of exploring the historic streets of Dublin or embarking on an adventure across Europe, redeeming your Alaska miles for flights on Aer Lingus is now a viable option. This partnership allows Mileage Plan members to redeem their miles for both economy and business class seats on nonstop transatlantic and intra-Europe flights.
Economy Award Flights to Europe
Alaska Airlines provides an award chart to help you plan your trip to Europe. One-way economy class flights from the contiguous U.S. and Alaska to Europe start at 30,000 miles and can go up to 80,000 miles per way, depending on demand. For comparison, American Airlines, one of the few legacy carriers still utilizing an award chart, offers award flights to Europe for 22,500 to 65,000 miles each way.
Business Award Flights to Europe
If you prefer a more luxurious travel experience, business class award flights on Aer Lingus offer an elevated level of comfort. The range of miles required for a business class award flight is even wider. Depending on availability and demand, a business class ticket between the U.S. and Europe can cost as few as 60,000 Alaska miles or as many as 280,000 miles.
Economy Award Flights within Europe
Ireland, with Dublin as its gateway, opens up numerous possibilities for exploring the rest of Europe. Aer Lingus operates flights to 141 different cities across Germany, Spain, Portugal, the U.K., Italy, France, Hungary, and other European destinations. When connecting through Dublin, you can redeem between 8,000 and 30,000 Alaska miles for intra-Europe economy class award flights.
To give you a better idea of the value, NerdWallet estimates the worth of Alaska miles at 1.2 cents each.
Nonstop Flights to Dublin from North America
Aer Lingus conveniently offers nonstop service to Dublin from 13 cities in North America, including Alaska Airlines hub cities such as Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. This means you can enjoy seamless connectivity when planning your European adventure.
How to Earn Alaska Miles
Flying with Alaska Airlines or any of its global partners, including Aer Lingus, is one way to earn Alaska miles. To accelerate your miles accumulation, you may want to consider applying for the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card. The current sign-up bonus allows you to buy one ticket and get another for just the taxes and fees ($0 fare plus taxes and fees starting from $23), along with 40,000 bonus miles. To qualify, simply make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Additionally, the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card offers attractive perks, such as the Companion Fare. Existing cardholders prior to Jan. 18, 2023, continue to earn a Companion Fare regardless of their spend. However, new cardholders must meet a $6,000 minimum spend annually to be eligible for this valuable perk. Recently, the card issuer introduced additional benefits, including discounts on Alaska Airlines lounge access and in-flight purchases.
The Bottom Line
The addition of Aer Lingus as a partner airline for award travel significantly enhances the value of the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program for travelers. Alaska’s loyal members now have more opportunities to redeem their miles for flights to Europe and explore the continent with ease. With the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card’s sign-up bonus, you can swiftly accumulate the 30,000 miles required for the cheapest one-way award flight to any European city served by Aer Lingus. Embark on your European adventure and let your Alaska miles take you there.
Comments