Alaska Airlines sent out an email announcing easier elite requalification/status earning requirements, and that it will also introduce a new elite tier.
What was announced
There are three main points:
- The Fast Track to Status promotion has been extended to 12/31/2021. Under this promotion, all tickets earn an extra 50% EQMs, i.e. elite-qualifying miles.
- Members’ 2020 status will be extended through 4/30/2022.
- A new top elite tier, MVP Gold 100K, will be introduced at the end of 2022.
Original text below ↓
“As it relates to future travel, we recognize that normal travel habits have been significantly disrupted by this pandemic and you may have concerns about not being able to enjoy the status you once had when your schedule begins to pick back up. We are committed to helping you get back to your status and are pleased to announce we are offering ‘boosts’ to help you get there.
- Our Fast Track to Status promotion has just been extended to the end of the year. Fly now through December 31, 2021 and earn 50% more elite-qualifying miles*. No registration necessary—so book and get a boost to your EQMs.
- If circumstances are such that you have not been able to requalify for your status by year end, we will maintain your 2020 status through April 30, 2022. This will give you added opportunity at the start of next year to maintain your status by flying a minimum number of miles January through April. More information to come on that.
- In the meantime, there is a lot to look forward to in 2022 with Alaska’s Mileage Plan™ becoming even more rewarding:
NEW REDEMPTION OPTIONS: Now, as part of the oneworld® Alliance, we’ve unlocked a world of travel possibilities to 1,000+ worldwide destinations. Redeem Alaska miles for award travel on
- our newest redemption partner, Qatar Airways, and treat yourself to the best long-haul business class cabin in the sky: the Qsuite.
NEW ELITE TIER: Our newest elite tier is rolling out early next year. Introducing MVP Gold 100K elite status with even more bonus miles, top upgrade priority on Alaska flights, a complimentary inflight snack and more. Members earning more than 100,000 elite-qualifying miles, with a minimum of 24 segments on Alaska in 2021 will be eligible to enjoy MVP Gold 100K benefits after the new tier launches next year.”
About MVP Gold 100K
This tier surpasses MVP Gold 75K to become the highest elite level.
My guess is that after joining oneworld, the number of members relative to the 75K tier has surged, and there will also be many more flyers coming from alliance partners. Adding an even higher tier could help drive spending to some extent. You can also tell from the elite-qualifying segment and mileage requirements that this is mainly aimed at alliance-related flying.
But if you look closely at what 100K offers, it really is not that much better than 75K.
How to qualify: 
What are the benefits? 
Compared with 75,000, the incremental benefits at 100,000 are really quite limited and do not seem proportional to the higher qualification threshold. The extra benefits are as follows:
- An additional 25% mileage earning bonus
- Top upgrade priority
- One additional American Airlines one-way international upgrade certificate
- An extra complimentary snack in economy on Alaska flights
Bottom line
Two words: very generous.
Hopefully other airlines follow suit soon.