Alaska Airlines vs. American Airlines: Which Is Better for You?

U.S.-based carriers American Airlines and Alaska Airlines have a lot of similarities in terms of partners and destinations.

Both are members of the Oneworld alliance and offer great perks to their loyal travelers. But if you’re going to choose one airline to earn elite status with, you'll need to compare the pros and cons.

Where they’re based and where they fly

Winner: American Airlines

When it comes to which airline has more flights to more destinations, American Airlines comes ahead as the clear winner, although Alaska’s strong West Coast presence is a benefit to West Coast passengers.

American Airlines

American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, flying to over 350 destinations in 60 countries. While American Airlines is based in Fort Worth, Texas, the airline has a significant presence across the United States, with 10 hubs.

As a founding member of the Oneworld alliance, American has partnerships with airlines such as British Airways and Qatar Airways, and the partnership gives American’s passengers access to more than 900 destinations around the world.

Some exciting destinations that you can fly to on American Airlines include Tokyo, Madrid, Buenos Aires and Sydney.

» Learn more: The complete guide to the American Airlines AAdvantage program

Alaska Airlines

Alaska is a smaller airline compared to American Airlines, flying to 125 destinations in 7 countries. Alaska has a significant presence in the West Coast, with the airline headquartered in Seattle and all five airline hubs located on the West Coast (including Alaska):

• Anchorage.

• Los Angeles.

• Portland.

• San Francisco.

• Seattle.

Although Alaska Airlines doesn’t fly to nearly as many destinations or other countries as American Airlines, Alaska is also a member of the Oneworld alliance, giving Alaska access to the same Oneworld partners and destinations as American Airlines.

A sample of exciting destinations you can fly to Alaska includes Maui, Belize, the Bahamas and Costa Rica.

» Learn more: Is an Alaska Airlines credit card worth it?

Reliability

Winner: Alaska Airlines

Alaska beats out American Airlines when it comes to reliability, with a higher percentage of on-time flights and a lower percentage of flight cancellations and mishandled luggage.

American Airlines

NerdWallet has crunched the numbers, and American is the seventh most reliable airline out of the nine U.S. airlines analyzed, receiving a rating of 3.0 out of 5 stars. For flights between July 2023 and June 2024, 77.33% of American’s flights were on time and 1.28% of its flights were canceled.

While on-time flights and cancellations are important, you also want to make sure that your luggage arrives with you — for the same time period, American mishandled 0.77% of luggage.

Alaska Airlines

Using the same reliability metrics, Alaska is the fourth most reliable airline in the United States, receiving a rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars from NerdWallet. For flights between July 2023 and June 2024, 79.45% of Alaska’s flights were on time and 1.38% of its flights were canceled. When it comes to mishandling luggage, Alaska comes out ahead of American, with 0.57% of luggage mishandled in the same time period.

» Learn more: The guide to Alaska MVP Gold

Fees

Extra fees can really put a damper on your travel experience — and Alaska passengers can generally expect to pay less fees than American Airlines flyers.

Winner: Alaska

American Airlines

American Airlines

While the exact fees can vary based on flight, below are typical fees that you might be confronted with when flying American:

• One bag (domestic): $35.

• Carry-on bag (main cabin): $0.

• Main cabin seat (rear of airplane): $0.

• Main cabin seat (front of airplane): $27.33.

• Average seat selection: $13.67.

• Total fees: $49.

» Learn more: Which airlines have the best (and worst) fees?

Alaska Airlines

For Alaska, exact fees can also vary based on flight, but below are typical fees that you might be confronted with when flying Alaska:

• One bag (domestic): $35.

• Carry-on bag (main cabin): $0.

• Main cabin seat (rear of airplane): N/A.

• Main cabin seat (front of airplane): N/A.

• Average seat selection: N/A.

• Total fees: $35.

» Learn more: How to get cheap Alaska Airlines flights

Basic economy

While both American Airlines and Alaska have basic economy cabins, American Airlines’ basic option is slightly cheaper, earns flyers more redeemable rewards than Alaska and includes upgrade privileges that Alaska doesn’t offer, giving American Airlines the edge.

Winner: American Airlines

American Airlines

Basic economy is American Airlines lowest main cabin fare — meaning that while the price is lower than other economy tickets, you also get fewer benefits.

For example, free seat selection and free cancellation are not included with a basic economy ticket. Basic economy on American Airlines earns 40% of the redeemable points that you’d earn on a standard ticket.

While there are downsides to booking basic economy tickets, American Airlines has a few basic economy benefits that Alaska doesn’t, including the ability to make same-day changes for a fee and complimentary upgrades for elite status holders.

» Learn more: Is an American Airlines credit card worth it?

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines’ basic economy, called Saver fares, is more restrictive than American Airlines’ basic economy class, with no same-day changes allowed, no complimentary upgrades for elite status holders, and mileage and status earnings of only 30% of main cabin fares.

Given the additional restrictions for Alaska basic economy, it’s no surprise that NerdWallet ranks American Airlines as having the second-best basic economy product in the U.S., compared to Alaska which comes in fourth.

» Learn more: Basic economy versus main cabin

Loyalty program

On August 20, 2025, Alaska Airlines rebranded its Mileage Plan program as Atmos Rewards. Members now earn points, not miles. Even with these changes, the airline still has the best elite status and reward program in the U.S., making Alaska’s loyalty program the clear winner.

Winner: Alaska Airlines

American Airlines

Earning elite status on American Airlines is largely based on money spent on American Airlines flights or on American Airlines co-branded credit cards. Because of this, it costs significantly more to earn status on American Airlines than it does on Alaska, where you earn status based on miles flown.

Although it costs more to earn status on American Airlines, American Airlines status is quite valuable — based on NerdWallet’s calculations, American Airlines has the most valuable airline status in every tier based on benefits earned.

While American Airlines miles can be harder to earn than Atmos points, as American Airlines miles are earned based on spend rather than flight distance, they are worth more at a value of 1.3 cents per mile.

» Learn more: These are the most valuable airline rewards programs

Alaska Airlines' Atmos Rewards

One of the main benefits of Alaska’s loyalty program is that Atmos elite status is earned based on the number of miles flown instead of cash spent, which makes it significantly less expensive to earn elite status on Alaska compared to American Airlines. (Later in 2026, the airline plans to add more options for earning rewards.)

While Atmos points are worth less than American Airlines miles — being valued at 1.2 cents per point — Atmos points are easier to earn, with point earning being based on distance flown rather instead of money spent.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

Business class

Winner: American Airlines

Starting in 2025, Alaska launched its first transcontinental routes flown by planes with lie-flat business class seating. However, it's only on a limited number of routes compared to what American offers, making American Airlines is the clear winner when it comes to business class options.

American Airlines

American Airlines offers lie-flat business class seats, including in its flagship international and flagship transcontinental products, with lie-flat seats available on many cross-country and international routes.

American Airlines’ flagship business experience also includes a host of other benefits including:

• Flagship lounge access. 

• Priority check-in, security and boarding.

• Chef-inspired dining.

• Amenity kits.

• Casper sleeping sets.

» Learn more: The guide to American Airlines first class

Alaska Airlines

Alaska offers business class seating with lie-flat seats, but only on a handful of transcontinental routes out of its hub in Seattle. That makes it a very limited network.

Its premium class tier — located behind first class — is an elevated experience compared to what passengers get in the main cabin.

Premium passengers on Alaska can receive priority boarding privileges, complimentary alcohol on longer flights and 4 inches of additional legroom. Passengers who are willing to spend more for first class can enjoy spacious seating, check in two complimentary bags, pre-order complimentary meals and have access to free in-flight wine, beer and cocktails.

Who comes out on top?

Alaska Airlines comes out on top of American Airlines in a head-to-head comparison, in large part due to Alaska’s generous elite program, where points and status are earned based on points flown instead of dollars spent.

American Airlines is still a great option though, especially for travelers who value lie-flat business class seats, a larger (and more international) flight network or who plan on taking advantage of American Airlines’ less restrictive basic economy fares.