Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is instituting new redemption levels which will take effect Sept. 1. The good news is that the 20,000-mile domestic coach award will be left intact. Unfortunately there are increases for peak and first-class travel on Alaska and Horizon Air as well as some international travel. Saver awards for coach travel on Alaska and Horizon will remain unchanged.

To avoid the hiked-up mileage levels, book your award travel before midnight, Aug. 31, for travel through July 31, 2002.

Within the United States and Canada the required miles for a peak ticket will jump 5,000 miles to 40,000 miles and the first-class peak award will increase 10,000 miles to 60,000 miles.

Flying to Mexico, expect to redeem, 60,000 miles more for first class or peak travel, that is 15,000 miles more than what is normally required. The economy award remains unchanged at 40,000 miles.

Awards on partners are also increasing, and this time coach awards are affected. Travel in coach to Mexico on American Airlines and expect to redeem 40,000 miles a 10,000-mile increase. To Hawaii and the Caribbean expect to redeem 40,000 miles, an increase of 5,000 miles.

Flying to Europe on British Airways, expect to redeem 50,000 miles, a 10,000-mile increase. The European Business Saver award increases by 10,000 miles to 90,000 miles and the European Business Peak Award increases 30,000 miles to 120,000 miles. Flights to Africa or the Middle East jump 20,000 miles to 100,000 miles in coach, 40,000 miles to 140,000 miles in business and 35,000 miles to 160,000 miles in first.

Most of the increases are fairly substantial, it might be worth your while to double check your travel itinerary through July 31, 2002 to see if any of these awards might figure.

Check your mileage balance prior to making your award reservation. Effective June 4, Mileage Plan members will be required to have the entire mileage balance available in their account in order to reserve an award ticket.