Alaska Airlines Fare Classes: What You Need to Know

Members of Atmos Rewards — the joint loyalty program of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines — earn points and status points based on the fare class for their flight. Knowing the fare classes for your flights is a great way to maximize rewards earned, as well as secure upgrades if you’re an Alaska elite status member.

Alaska Airlines operates two cabins: economy class (Main Cabin) and first class. Additionally, Alaska offers Premium Class, a subsection of Main Cabin with extra legroom, early boarding, and complimentary drinks.

Even within economy, there are more than a dozen different Alaska fare classes:

• 13 economy fare classes: Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S, N, Q, O, G, and X. 

• 1 Premium Class fare: R.

• Four first class fares: J, C, D and I)

Premium Class fares ("R" class) are booked separately and offer different earning rates compared to regular Main Cabin fares.

» Learn more: The guide to Alaska Airlines first class

Your Alaska fare class — along with the distance that you’re flying — affects the amount of total points you’ll earn for your Alaska flights, as well as the elite-qualifying points you’ll earn toward status, as outlined in the chart below:

Earning on Alaska Airlines flights

As you can see, the fare class that you book can drastically change the number of Alaska points and elite-qualifying points you’ll earn for your flight.

» Learn more: The guide to Alaska Airlines basic economy: Saver fares

If you have status with Alaska, you’ll want to pay special attention to which fare class you’re flying to take full advantage of your elite status benefits.

Additional points earned

Alaska passengers who have elite status with the airline will earn additional Alaska points (though note that status will not affect the amount of elite-qualifying points earned for a flight). The amount of additional points earned depends on the status you have with Alaska.

• Silver: 25% bonus points.

• Gold: 50% bonus points.

• Platinum: 100% bonus points.

• Titanium: 150% bonus points.

Elite status bonuses apply to base points only, not elite-qualifying points (status points).

Flight benefits

Additionally, Alaska elite members can receive first class and Premium Class upgrades based on the fare class purchased, as outlined in the chart below:

Given that certain fare classes entitle you to upgrades at the time of booking depending on your Alaska elite status, it’s important to know which Alaska fare class you’d be purchasing before paying for your flight.

» Learn more: Alaska Airlines upgrades: What to know

There are a few ways to find your Alaska fare class. First, if you go through the booking portal to book a ticket, before booking, you’ll see which fare class you’ll be purchasing. Below is the LAX to HNL flight, which shows the Main Cabin would book into the “V” fare class (outlined in blue):

While Alaska doesn’t currently give you the option to search flights by a specific fare class (for instance, you can’t search to find “H” fare), you do have the ability to search for specific fare classes that would entitle you to an upgrade by following the steps below:

First, go to “Book a flight” and then under “Upgrade type,” select the type of upgrade you’re looking for based on fare class.

Once you select the upgrade type, click “Find Flights” and your options will include fare classes that will include a Premium Class or first class upgrade, if available.

By selecting “First Upgrade” above, you’re prompted to purchase a “K” class ticket, which, as a Silver member, gets you a first class upgrade at booking on select fares when available.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now