Alaska Airlines has announced three negative changes to its Atmos Rewards loyalty program that will affect both award travelers and budget-conscious flyers.
The airline is increasing fees for partner award bookings, doubling the cost of purchasing tickets over the phone and eliminating the ability to earn Atmos Rewards points and Status Points on many Saver fares.
While the changes don't affect award pricing or mileage earning on most fare classes, they could make it more expensive to redeem points and less rewarding to fly on Alaska's lowest-priced tickets. Here's what travelers need to know.
No more mileage and status point earning on Saver fares
Currently, Alaska’s Saver fares, the airline’s version of basic economy, earn 30% of the miles flown toward both Atmos Rewards points and Status Points.
However, that benefit is going away for many travelers later this year. Here’s how the transition will work:
- Flights departing on or before July 31, 2026: Saver fares will earn 30% of miles flown.
- Flights booked before June 11, 2026: Saver fares will continue to earn 30% of miles flown.
- Flights booked on or after June 11, 2026, for travel on or after Aug. 1, 2026: Saver fares will not earn Atmos Rewards points or Status Points.
If it's any consolation, the airline noted that Saver fares on Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines will still count toward Million Miler status even after Aug. 1, with flyers receiving credit equal to 100% of the actual distance flown.
» Learn more: Alaska Airlines fare classes: what you need to know
Booking fees are increasing
Alaska is also raising partner award ticket fees and phone reservation fees.
Partner award ticket fees
If you frequently use Alaska points for flights on partner airlines, you’ll soon pay more out of pocket when redeeming award tickets.
Currently, travelers pay a nonrefundable partner award fee of $12.50 per person, each way when redeeming Atmos Rewards points for flights operated by Alaska’s airline partners. Beginning July 1, 2026, that fee will increase to $20 per person, each way, in addition to any applicable taxes and fees.
One thing to keep in mind is that the fee is nonrefundable. Even if you later cancel your award ticket and receive your points back, the partner award fee will not be refunded.
Those who hold the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card and use it to pay for their tickets will continue to receive waived partner award booking fees even after this change, making that benefit more valuable once the higher fees take effect.
» Learn more: 12 benefits of the Atmos Rewards Summit Card
Phone booking fees
Alaska is also increasing its fee for tickets purchased over the phone. Currently, travelers who make a new reservation through Alaska’s call center pay a $15 fee per person. For tickets purchased on or after July 2, 2026, that fee will double to $30 per person.
The fee applies to both paid and award tickets issued through Alaska’s call center. Atmos Gold and Platinum elite members will continue to receive waived contact center service charges. Many travelers may be able to avoid this fee altogether by booking their tickets online rather than through Alaska’s call center.
Is Alaska Airlines still worth it?
For travelers who frequently purchase Saver fares, these changes are disappointing. However, the move isn’t entirely surprising given that many other major U.S. airlines have already reduced or eliminated rewards earning on their most restrictive basic economy tickets.
Those who regularly redeem Alaska points for partner award flights will also face higher out-of-pocket costs. However, while the fee increase is unwelcome, the new $20 partner award booking fee is still relatively modest, especially considering the value travelers can often receive from Alaska’s partner award redemptions.
While these changes make the program less rewarding in some situations, Alaska Atmos Rewards still offers valuable partner redemption opportunities and remains one of the few airline loyalty programs with published award charts.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
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- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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