Alaska Mileage Plan Award Chart Changes: What Got More Expensive
March 17, 2026 · 1 min read
Alaska Airlines updated their partner award chart this week, and several sweet spots took significant hits. The changes were not announced publicly. We spotted them through systematic chart monitoring.
The Damage
| Route | Old Price | New Price | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathay Pacific First (US-HK) | 70,000 | 100,000 | +43% |
| JAL First (US-Japan) | 70,000 | 80,000 | +14% |
| Emirates First (US-Dubai) | 100,000 | 115,000 | +15% |
| Cathay Business (US-HK) | 50,000 | 50,000 | No change |
| JAL Business (US-Japan) | 50,000 | 55,000 | +10% |
The Cathay Pacific first class increase is brutal. This was one of the last great sweet spots in the miles world, a product that retails for $15,000+ available for 70,000 transferable points.
Warning: If you have been saving Alaska miles for Cathay First, book now at the old rate before the system fully updates. Some routes may still show old pricing for 48 to 72 hours.
Bottom Line
Business class awards were mostly spared. The first class hits are painful but predictable. Alaska has been slowly aligning with market rates. The JAL business sweet spot at 55,000 is still excellent value.
ilang:article:v1 | encoding:PUBLIC | ilang.ai