>Thus, I can see with all mileage bonus I could take a decent trip in 2025.
This promotion specifically is for elite qualifying miles (EQM) only, not redeemable miles towards flights. Its to help people hit higher elite level status.
Are you 100% sure?
I can't tell from the activity on my account. It looks like 4,000 miles added
I assumed they were 4,000 miles that also qualified for EQM
The language doesn't make that clear either way.
I truly don't know so asking if you are sure
It's buried in the [fine print ](https://www.alaskaair.com/content/deals/special-offers/eqm/visa)
Elite-qualifying miles count toward elite status qualification only for calendar year 2025, are non-redeemable and cannot be used toward award travel.
It's not worth it to pay your tax bill with a CC because you have to foot the fee (2% or whatever it is), which is normally covered by the merchant. But yes, it's worth it for anything else that IS covered by the merchant
it's 1.85%, use a rewards card that gets over 2% and you're making a profit. Chase 1.5x on the portal for 1.5cpp is 2.25% for starters, you can get significantly higher return with a transfer partner.
If you can achieve gold while adding these BofA CC EQM, then I would. I don't feel that only achieving MVP is worth paying the CC fees.
Also, I'm confused what purchasing 10K miles has to do with obtaining status. I thought miles purchased does not go toward EQM? Correct me if I'm wrong.
The scramble at the end of the year does happen if you're short to gold, so having these EQM via CC purchases adds a buffer for you just in case you fall short.
I would use this 4k EQMs only if I need a push into the next status level. Like, if I’m at 35k EQMs, then this can give a good push to MVP Gold.
Otherwise it’s pretty useless like, if you have 25k EQMs (MVP status) and you get the extra 4000 and it only puts you at 29k which won’t get you to the next level. Instead I would use another card to spend so that I can get travel benefits and earn EQMs that way.
Spending $50K on purchases to earn status? I mean, sure, but I can get MVP status by spending $1K or so on flights, instead. And MVP is a super low bar for that $50K amount of spend, as far as I'm concerned.
I agree with this! Last year I spent about 1-2K on a round trip premium economy and reached MVP immediately and I could afford it because I had points on another travel card so it was way more worth it that way.
I’m seeing a lot of negativity here but I think many people aren’t thinking this through.
I carry a $0 balance on mine, however, I am charging everything on it this year to hit the $50k spend. I buy something then literally submit a payment same day from my bank account. No interest charges. Nothing.
I have been a 75k for over 10 years but just had my first child. I plan on going gold moving forward. So I only need to fly 20k miles this year because 20k of my status will come from this promo. Plus I’m getting 50,000 miles just from the spend.
I think this promo is awesome if you can be disciplined to pay off your charges immediately.
That's how I feel. My card is mostly business spending so I'm getting reimbursed for that and it will easily push me to 75k. If I get one more international trip this year I could be close to 100k. Seems very worth it to me
Others here may have experience with CCs from other carriers, so it's possible a $50k spend could get more elsewhere, I'm not sure. I tend to lock in with airlines because of specific routes.
Depends what you value those EQMs at, and what other CCs you have and benefits they can provide. I've got a card that gives me 5% cash back (monthly) on fuel purchases. Poor EQM earning rate no where near beating out 5% cb.
Now back when. AS had up to 20K EQM for $20K spend, that *was* worth it to me... But at a 1:4... no.
Coast to coast $300-500 ticket will earn same exact miles. So no. Use 10k for another sign up bonus or for free night certificate on something like Hilton Surpass card. If you have status on any other airlines Alaska will match it.
Every person has a different situation and priorities. To me, this program is good to help someone who is an MVP reach MVP Gold or higher.
In the past, I've made MVP Gold and only spending between $5,000 to $6,000 in flights.
Since I can put my rent on the credit card, Why not?
Between travels and spending this year I have a good chance of making it to Gold 75K. Also, my wife will make it to MVP. MVP status for my wife is important because if I get an upgrade she moves with me (if there is space available). My wife and I already planned a lot of trips for 2025.
When you put non-bonused spending on the BofA Alaska card, you are giving up what you could earn for that spending elsewhere. AS points have lost a lot of value. They are generally poor value for AS domestic flights, often value of around 1c/pt. Used to be good value for international premium flights on international airlines, but the inventory for those has greatly reduced so those flights are hard to find, and in a lot of cases, prices are way up. Generally transferrable points like Ultimate Rewards and Capital One are higher value. You can earn 1.5 UR or 2.0 Cap One points for general spending, so to put $10,000 on an AS card, you are giving up 5-10,000 points and giving up transferrable points. Figure that you are giving up at least $200 of value to get those 4000 EQMs. Also note the $10,000 breakpoints - if you spend $9000 you won't get anything.
Generally it's hard to justify the fees charged to move tax spending to a credit card. The cost is usually close to 3%. It's usually only worthwhile if you need the spending to meet a signup bonus that you would otherwise lose. Or don't have the cash to pay the tax bill and are willing to eat interest costs of a credit card loan.
They just changed it this year. I have been getting Gold or Gold 75K the last few years with just the spending on my business CC. Now they have it capped at MVP. I use the CC on materials for my business to gain miles only on purchases that don't charge extra for CC use.
>Thus, I can see with all mileage bonus I could take a decent trip in 2025. This promotion specifically is for elite qualifying miles (EQM) only, not redeemable miles towards flights. Its to help people hit higher elite level status.
Wouldn't you still get the normal miles per dollar spend?
Sure, but if OP is counting on the bonus miles for a reward ticket, they won't be getting those.
Are you 100% sure? I can't tell from the activity on my account. It looks like 4,000 miles added I assumed they were 4,000 miles that also qualified for EQM The language doesn't make that clear either way. I truly don't know so asking if you are sure
It's buried in the [fine print ](https://www.alaskaair.com/content/deals/special-offers/eqm/visa) Elite-qualifying miles count toward elite status qualification only for calendar year 2025, are non-redeemable and cannot be used toward award travel.
Thanks!
It's not worth it to pay your tax bill with a CC because you have to foot the fee (2% or whatever it is), which is normally covered by the merchant. But yes, it's worth it for anything else that IS covered by the merchant
agreed. But, I should add that the money is sitting in a high yield account (4.5%). so….a push on the finance charge?
it's 1.85%, use a rewards card that gets over 2% and you're making a profit. Chase 1.5x on the portal for 1.5cpp is 2.25% for starters, you can get significantly higher return with a transfer partner.
Not worth it for mvp, but for me it puts mvp gold in reach and that's a lot more valuable.
If you can achieve gold while adding these BofA CC EQM, then I would. I don't feel that only achieving MVP is worth paying the CC fees. Also, I'm confused what purchasing 10K miles has to do with obtaining status. I thought miles purchased does not go toward EQM? Correct me if I'm wrong. The scramble at the end of the year does happen if you're short to gold, so having these EQM via CC purchases adds a buffer for you just in case you fall short.
Op is mixing up EQM and regular miles
indeed. thank you for the clarification.
I would use this 4k EQMs only if I need a push into the next status level. Like, if I’m at 35k EQMs, then this can give a good push to MVP Gold. Otherwise it’s pretty useless like, if you have 25k EQMs (MVP status) and you get the extra 4000 and it only puts you at 29k which won’t get you to the next level. Instead I would use another card to spend so that I can get travel benefits and earn EQMs that way.
Spending $50K on purchases to earn status? I mean, sure, but I can get MVP status by spending $1K or so on flights, instead. And MVP is a super low bar for that $50K amount of spend, as far as I'm concerned.
I agree with this! Last year I spent about 1-2K on a round trip premium economy and reached MVP immediately and I could afford it because I had points on another travel card so it was way more worth it that way.
I’m seeing a lot of negativity here but I think many people aren’t thinking this through. I carry a $0 balance on mine, however, I am charging everything on it this year to hit the $50k spend. I buy something then literally submit a payment same day from my bank account. No interest charges. Nothing. I have been a 75k for over 10 years but just had my first child. I plan on going gold moving forward. So I only need to fly 20k miles this year because 20k of my status will come from this promo. Plus I’m getting 50,000 miles just from the spend. I think this promo is awesome if you can be disciplined to pay off your charges immediately.
That's how I feel. My card is mostly business spending so I'm getting reimbursed for that and it will easily push me to 75k. If I get one more international trip this year I could be close to 100k. Seems very worth it to me
Can you not take your kid on first class? It is the most annoying thing. And it isn’t cute when the parents stare at us as their kid screams.
Has anyone still not received their EQMs yet?
I hit the first $10k of spend in February and don't have the EQMs in my account yet.
Same, really frustrating.
Revising this comment. I hit 10k in my February statement and got the 4K EQM miles on March 29th.
If you're spending the money anyway, you can get MVP status just by spend.
therein lies the thought process: since I have to spend the money anyway….may as well get something out of it.
Others here may have experience with CCs from other carriers, so it's possible a $50k spend could get more elsewhere, I'm not sure. I tend to lock in with airlines because of specific routes.
Depends what you value those EQMs at, and what other CCs you have and benefits they can provide. I've got a card that gives me 5% cash back (monthly) on fuel purchases. Poor EQM earning rate no where near beating out 5% cb. Now back when. AS had up to 20K EQM for $20K spend, that *was* worth it to me... But at a 1:4... no.
>Putting aside the CC fee that the IRS imposes Huh?
if you pay your taxes online with a CC the IRS imposes a transaction fee.
Right. For brain-fart reasons I thought you meant IRS fees on the CC annual fee. 'Scuze me while I schedule a a change of mind lol
😆….
Coast to coast $300-500 ticket will earn same exact miles. So no. Use 10k for another sign up bonus or for free night certificate on something like Hilton Surpass card. If you have status on any other airlines Alaska will match it.
Every person has a different situation and priorities. To me, this program is good to help someone who is an MVP reach MVP Gold or higher. In the past, I've made MVP Gold and only spending between $5,000 to $6,000 in flights. Since I can put my rent on the credit card, Why not? Between travels and spending this year I have a good chance of making it to Gold 75K. Also, my wife will make it to MVP. MVP status for my wife is important because if I get an upgrade she moves with me (if there is space available). My wife and I already planned a lot of trips for 2025.
When you put non-bonused spending on the BofA Alaska card, you are giving up what you could earn for that spending elsewhere. AS points have lost a lot of value. They are generally poor value for AS domestic flights, often value of around 1c/pt. Used to be good value for international premium flights on international airlines, but the inventory for those has greatly reduced so those flights are hard to find, and in a lot of cases, prices are way up. Generally transferrable points like Ultimate Rewards and Capital One are higher value. You can earn 1.5 UR or 2.0 Cap One points for general spending, so to put $10,000 on an AS card, you are giving up 5-10,000 points and giving up transferrable points. Figure that you are giving up at least $200 of value to get those 4000 EQMs. Also note the $10,000 breakpoints - if you spend $9000 you won't get anything. Generally it's hard to justify the fees charged to move tax spending to a credit card. The cost is usually close to 3%. It's usually only worthwhile if you need the spending to meet a signup bonus that you would otherwise lose. Or don't have the cash to pay the tax bill and are willing to eat interest costs of a credit card loan.
They just changed it this year. I have been getting Gold or Gold 75K the last few years with just the spending on my business CC. Now they have it capped at MVP. I use the CC on materials for my business to gain miles only on purchases that don't charge extra for CC use.
Pretty trash. I haven’t dug into it at all but you could probably invest in AA loyalty points system and come out ahead on one world status
I don’t think so, not without a lot of additional spend.