Crediting Chinese Airline Flights to Alaska Airlines (Mileage Plan)
Yes, but this only applies to select flights operated by specific partner airlines, and not all Chinese carriers are eligible.
Alaska Airlines (whose loyalty program is known as Mileage Plan) has partnership agreements with a handful of Chinese and regional airlines. Whether miles can be credited depends on the operating carrier, flight number, and booking fare class.
Eligible Chinese & Regional Carriers for Mileage Credit
Per Alaska Airlines’ official partner roster, the airlines based in China/Greater China currently confirmed for mileage accrual are Hainan Airlines and Cathay Pacific:
| Airline | Eligible to Earn Miles | Key Restrictions & Notes |
| Hainan Airlines | Yes (Earn and Redeem Partner) | Alaska lists Hainan Airlines as an earn-and-redeem partner. In theory, miles may be credited to your Alaska account for flights operated by Hainan Airlines. |
| Cathay Pacific | Yes (oneworld Alliance Partner) | Cathay Pacific is a oneworld member, and Alaska Airlines also belongs to the alliance. Miles can be credited on Cathay Pacific flights under alliance rules. |
| Grand China Air | Uncertain / Generally Ineligible | Though Grand China Air (CN) is part of the Hainan Airlines Group, real-world reports from frequent-flyer communities show Alaska’s official accrual scope generally covers only Hainan Airlines itself. Flights operated by Grand China Air usually cannot earn Alaska miles. |
| Other Mainland Chinese Airlines | No | Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Xiamen Airlines, and others are not on Alaska’s official partner list. Flights operated by these carriers cannot accrue Alaska miles. |
Critical Restrictions & Operational Details
Even when flying Hainan Airlines or Cathay Pacific, mileage credit is not guaranteed. You need to observe the following rules:
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Fare Class Determines Accrual Rate: Alaska applies fare-class-based accrual rules for partner flights. Take Hainan Airlines as an example: while the partnership is confirmed on the official site, the exact mileage earning percentage is tied to your fare code. Deep-discount economy fares often come with low accrual rates or zero mileage credit; business class or full-fare economy earns more miles. Cathay Pacific follows oneworld fare-class accrual rules similarly, and some heavily discounted economy fares may earn minimal or no miles.
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Select the Correct Loyalty Program for Credit: Miles from a single flight can only be credited to one frequent-flyer account. If you want to earn Alaska miles, provide your Mileage Plan number at booking or check-in, and make sure the system does not default to another program, such as Hainan Airlines’ Fortune Wings Club.
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Impact of Booking Channels: Per Alaska’s terms, tickets booked directly via its official website (ticket numbers starting with
027) offer the most reliable mileage credit. Tickets purchased via third-party platforms (e.g., Ctrip, Fliggy) or Hainan Airlines’ own website may still qualify in some cases, but promotional fares or tickets issued through certain channels can be excluded from mileage accrual. Always check Alaska’s official partner accrual terms before booking. -
Retroactive Mileage Credit: Miles from partner flights take time to post to your account. If the miles have not arrived 14 days after travel, you may submit a Points Credit Request through Alaska’s official website, attaching your boarding pass and e-ticket itinerary receipt.
Summary
You may credit miles to Alaska Airlines when flying Hainan Airlines or Cathay Pacific, provided your fare class is eligible. Flights on other mainland Chinese carriers (Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, etc.) or other HNA subsidiaries such as Grand China Air generally do not qualify. Before travel, verify the latest partner list and fare accrual chart on Alaska’s official Partner Hub page to avoid disappointment.
