Alaska Airlines Unveils Enhanced Mileage Plan Loyalty Plan for 2025
Alaska Airlines is rolling out a major upgrade to its Mileage Plan this month that will make it more rewarding for frequent flyers. The new enhancements will offer members a fast track to elite status, personalized rewards, and new ways to earn and redeem miles, both domestically and internationally. Alaska Airlines VP of Loyalty, Alliances, and Sales, Brett Catlin, announced the multi-year plan to revamp the Mileage Plan.
The enhanced Mileage Plan introduces a milestone-based rewards system that enables members to unlock benefits at different elite-qualifying mile (EQM) thresholds, starting as low as 10,000 EQMs. Additional milestones are set at 30,000, 55,000, 85,000, 150,000, 200,000, and 250,000 EQMs. The new system also allows more members, including those outside of elite status, to enjoy rewards like bonus miles, status upgrades, EQM rollovers, lounge access, and exclusive events. The program also adds new methods for earning EQMs, including miles for award travel and through the Alaska Airlines Visa® card, which now offers one EQM for every $3 spent on qualifying purchases. Non-airline partners like Lyft will also help members accumulate EQMs, providing more avenues for reaching elite status.
Alaska Airlines’ merger with Hawaiian Airlines further enhances the Mileage Plan, allowing members to transfer miles between both programs and earn EQMs for flights with either airline. The program expansion also includes more global partners, simplifying the earning structure and offering premium cabin travelers more bonus miles. New features like multi-carrier redemptions and the ability to use miles for unique experiences through “Extras” will make the Mileage Plan an even more rewarding loyalty program for members.
Learn more about the Mileage Plan here: https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan?lid=nav:mileage-benefits&int=AS_NAV_MP_MemberBenefits_-prodID:MileagePlan
Grubhub Report Highlights Top Convenience Store Purchases of 2024
Grubhub’s 2024 Delivered Report showcases a variety of trends that shaped the year, emphasizing the diverse ordering trends and behaviors of customers. Among the most popular convenience store orders were made-to-order hotdogs, bananas, and sodas, with Dr Pepper, emerging as the leading soda choice purchased by consumers at convenience stores. The report also highlights the surge in protein-rich meals, particularly chicken, which dominated nearly 40% of restaurant orders. Grubhub saw a notable increase in orders featuring extra protein, especially from places like Chipotle, where 15% of orders included double protein. Meanwhile, cottage cheese, fueled by social media trends, experienced a revival, with Grubhub delivering over 2,000 pounds of it throughout the year.
The popularity of certain ingredients and beverages was evident in Grubhub’s data. Espresso orders saw a significant spike in June, coinciding with the rise of Sabrina Carpenter’s hit song “Espresso.” This surge was accompanied by an increase in customizations, with customers adding more espresso shots to their lattes. Mexican cuisine, particularly birria, emerged as the top international food choice, with approximately 1.3 million orders. Additionally, pickles continued to gain favor, with a 14% increase in orders as customers experimented with creative uses, from sandwich substitutes to pickle-juice sodas. Energy drinks also became a popular alternative to coffee, especially among college students, who placed the highest number of energy drink orders in February during midterms.
Meanwhile, corporate orders surged as workers returned to offices, with a 53% increase in coffee orders delivered to the office. Chipotle also became a popular workplace staple, with Grubhub orders increasing by 27%. Grubhub also observed a trend of people embracing decaffeinated beverages, with decaf orders rising by 5% nationwide. Meanwhile, hot honey emerged as a standout ingredient, with grocery store orders of this sweet and spicy condiment growing by 30%. Insofar as travel, hotel room deliveries became more popular, particularly at dinner time, while adult beverages like wine and champagne were frequently ordered to complement the stay. At-home entertainment also gained momentum, with more than 1.6 million family meals ordered for gatherings.
Unlock more findings from the report here: https://about.grubhub.com/news/grubhubs-2024-delivered-trend-report-reveals-americans-were-doing-the-most-this-year/
BIBIBOP Asian Grill Introduces New, Health-Driven Menu Items for 2025
BIBIBOP Asian Grill, a fast-casual restaurant renowned for its customizable bowls, kicked off 2025 with an exciting lineup of new menu items. Now available at all locations, the offerings feature nine proteins, bases, and toppings, each crafted to enhance the bowl-building experience with vibrant flavors and health-conscious ingredients. The new options include Korean Crispy Chicken, Miso Glazed Salmon, Lemon Turmeric Rice, Honey Citrus Kale, and a Crispy Romaine, and a variety of toppings such as Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Curry Chickpeas, Sunny Side Up Eggs, and Pickled Red Onion.
BIBIBOP Asian Grill Founder and CEO Charley Shin said, “Innovation is key at BIBIBOP and we look forward to providing our guests a new way to explore flavor and well-being with these exciting new additions. Just like our existing menu items, each addition has been thoughtfully crafted to inspire meals that are not only delicious but also intentionally healthy and fresh. For example, our Gluten-Free Korean Crispy Chicken is packed with nutrients that support muscle and bone health, while our Pickled Red Onions are rich in probiotics that promote gut health. These new offerings underscore our commitment to creating customizable bowls that cater to diverse dietary needs and preferences.”
BIBIBOP was founded on the Korean belief that healthy, flavorful food is the key to well-being, and it remains dedicated to offering meals made from unprocessed, high-quality ingredients. With more than 70 locations across nine states, the restaurant continues to make healthful eating accessible by offering certified gluten-free options.
Watch this TikTok video showcasing the new menu items: https://www.tiktok.com/@bibibopgrill/video/7455311849005862174
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Original Article Links:
Alaska Airlines Upgrades Mileage Plan for 2025 with New Benefits
Grubhub Reveals Top C-store Purchases of 2024
BIBIBOP Unveils Lineup of Bold, New Menu Items for 2025