Alaska Airlines has long punched about its weight when it comes to its loyalty program. I’d argue that a large part of this comes down to the carrier’s huge array of airline partners, even beyond its participation in the oneworld alliance (which only started in 2021).
Unfortunately there’s some bad news on that front, as one partnership is hugely being scaled back (and as I’ve covered separately, one is being discontinued altogether). Thanks to Bjarne for flagging this.
In this post:
Major Alaska & Singapore partnership changes
While Alaska belongs to the oneworld alliance, the airline also partners with all kinds of other airlines, including independent carriers, and those belonging to other alliances. In 2017, the carrier launched a partnership with Singapore Airlines, offering reciprocal points earning and redemption opportunities. Unfortunately this won’t be around for much longer.
As of October 1, 2025, the two airlines are ending reciprocal frequent flyer redemptions, so it’ll no longer be possible to redeem Alaska Atmos Rewards points for travel on Singapore Airlines, and vice versa.
However, reciprocal points earning opportunities will still be available in some capacity. For Atmos Rewards members, here’s what you can expect:
- For tickets booked through August 31, 2025, it’s possible to earn points at the current rates, regardless of when travel takes place
- For tickets booked on or after September 1, 2025, it’s possible to earn points for travel through December 31, 2025
- For tickets booked after September 1, 2025, and for travel on or after January 1, 2026, it’s only possible to earn points if the ticket is booked on alaskaair.com
As a reminder, below are the Atmos Rewards points earning rates when booking travel through partner airlines (so this would be the points earning rates for travel through December 31, 2025, when booking directly with Singapore Airlines).
My take on this major partnership update
Obviously it’s a bummer to see Alaska and Singapore Airlines scale back their partnership. For all practical purposes, I’d consider this partnership to be dead. The idea is basically that if Alaska literally brings Singapore Airlines a customer through its own website, members can continue to be rewarded. But aside from that, it’s a no-go.
We don’t know why this change is being made, though I have to assume that Singapore Airlines wanted out, rather than Alaska. After all, Alaska really thrives from its partnerships, and it’s a core part of the value proposition of its loyalty program.
I can only speculate here, but my guess is that Singapore Airlines no longer felt there was much upside, and that the partnership wasn’t providing much incremental value to the airline. Maybe there were a disproportionate number of redemptions, and Singapore Airlines believes those crediting to Atmos Rewards would otherwise credit to another program.
Some might be surprised that the two airlines have partnered for so long. While Singapore Airlines is in Star Alliance, it doesn’t actually have a very close partnership with its Star Alliance partner United. The two airlines belong to the same alliance, but don’t otherwise cooperate in many ways, don’t have a joint venture, etc. So it’s not surprising that Singapore Airlines was open to partnering with other US carriers as well.
Singapore Airlines does continue to fly to Seattle (SEA), so passengers can still connect to Alaska via an interline an agreement.
Bottom line
Alaska Airlines and Singapore Airlines are greatly scaling back their partnership. As of October 1, 2025, reciprocal points redemption opportunities will be cut. We’re also seeing reciprocal points earning opportunities be reduced with a phased approach. Starting in early 2026, it’ll only be possible to earn Atmos Rewards points on Singapore Airlines if booking through Alaska.
What do you make of these Alaska & Singapore Airlines partnership changes?
I’m making my third trip on Singapore Airlines early 2026. It was nice to get two free tickets via the miles. I got going to Singapore. I guess I’ll lose out on this third trip.
Singapore Airlines is pivoting away from the US and towards India
That's unfortunate. They had wide-open 25k J awards for TPE-SIN-CGK/DPS (in both directions). Was planning to book one for next September.
"an interline an agreement"?
There was a Reddit post that speculated AS would launch SEA-SIN, but that would likely be beyond the range of their fleet, except maybe for the 787-9s.
I think instead AS will join the AA-JAL Transpacific JV.
@Lucky I booked a flight earlier this user using Singapore miles to fly business from SFO to SIN on November 3rd. Do you think I could add my alaska atmos number to this reservation now and earn status miles with Alaska for this reservation? I'm guessing you only earn status points if you booked using Alaska miles (which I didn't) but it would be awesome if I can double dip a little on this long flight and nudge myself closer to the next status tier.
In trying to figure out why SQ is likely forcing an end to its AS reciprocal agreement, I doubt it's because AS is considering SEA-SIN service. I doubt AS or DL would do well on that route if going head to head against SQ. SQ operates the route 5 days weekly. It is currently the longest route from SEA and neither AS or DL could offer the same level of in-flight service as SQ--and it...
In trying to figure out why SQ is likely forcing an end to its AS reciprocal agreement, I doubt it's because AS is considering SEA-SIN service. I doubt AS or DL would do well on that route if going head to head against SQ. SQ operates the route 5 days weekly. It is currently the longest route from SEA and neither AS or DL could offer the same level of in-flight service as SQ--and it would be disastrous to compete on price on such a long route. And who else can offer the range of onward connectivity from SIN that SQ does?
Both airlines have a long-standing interline with Singapore, and there's no evidence of that changing for Alaska, so connectivity isn't much of a factor there.
That’s a shame. There used to be quite a bit of akl-sin award space. I used that route a couple of times.
That’s a shame. There used to be quite a bit of akl-sin award space. I used that route a couple of times.
you explained why the economics are not favorable for AS.
They spent a lot of money buying loyalty via other airline programs. They cannot afford to do that while trying to buy loyalty via Atmos which is designed to build AS' own longhaul international network.
I wonder if I can credit an existing Singapore award booking via Aeroplan to Atmos…hmm. Would be nice for status with Atmos. Probably not?
I also don't know if this is a total loss as I have never been able to find saver level availability on the old AS program, and for that matter nothing on the Aeroplan either.
As of late SQ has been cozying up with its *A Partners, and this is the career that is least loyal to the alliance. Today, if im not mistaken is the first day of the SQ/NH JV. They have...
I also don't know if this is a total loss as I have never been able to find saver level availability on the old AS program, and for that matter nothing on the Aeroplan either.
As of late SQ has been cozying up with its *A Partners, and this is the career that is least loyal to the alliance. Today, if im not mistaken is the first day of the SQ/NH JV. They have one with the LH group, they had one with SK (I believe before SK left star.) I wonder if this foreshadows that SQ now may be more interested in forming more meaningful relationships with fellow alliance members. Joining forces with UA would be a win for both, but both carriers cater to different market segments. However, I can see this being very beneficial for UA and deepening of the South Asia Connections. For SQ there could be meaningful connectivity to the South/Southeast of USA (IAD, Florida, Texas, ATL metros, and one-stop options to Latin America.)
Non-zero chance this foreshadows Alaska launching Singapore service
I’d just be happy if the thought of Alaska doing this prompts DL to restore their own service to SIN rather than the KE connections and their mediocre intra-Asia product
If DL wanted to launch SIN service from SEA, they would have done it by now.
They are undoubtedly waiting for the A350-1000 and will launch LAX-SIN which could very likely also do JFK-SIN based on rumors of a configuration of about 315 passengers.
SQ doesn't have the 35K on order and the 777-9 cannot do LAX-SIN; UA might try to fly LAX-SIN with a 225 seat 789 but their costs will be much...
If DL wanted to launch SIN service from SEA, they would have done it by now.
They are undoubtedly waiting for the A350-1000 and will launch LAX-SIN which could very likely also do JFK-SIN based on rumors of a configuration of about 315 passengers.
SQ doesn't have the 35K on order and the 777-9 cannot do LAX-SIN; UA might try to fly LAX-SIN with a 225 seat 789 but their costs will be much higher than DL's.
DL can start LAX-SIN on its schedule.
Given China is zero growth, AS' options to start service to big cities in Asia comes down to HKG and SIN plus whatever they want to try to do in the smaller SE Asia markets.
I'm not sure that AS will have more than 4 or 5 daily flights to E. Asia, probably SYD, and several cities in Europe.
It's important to note that the AS-SQ partnership started way before AS joined oneworld
So today when searching SFO-SIN on SQ website, routing SFO-LAX-SIN often comes up cheaper and SFO-LAX is booked on AS. Will this be changibg to UA now?
SQ will still interline with Alaska
The expression is "above its weight," not "about"
Nothing like shilling the Atmos credit cards for weeks, and then have Alaska immediately reduce value of the entire program with cutting partners.
Exaggerating much?
I don't think AS cut partners. I think they were themselves cut by SQ and LATAM. DL owns a large stake in LATAM so that one is not surprising. SQ's reasons may be a bit murkier.
To your point, though, when did AS know about these upcoming changes vs. their announcement and the launch of the ATMOS Summit credit card?
Krisflyer rivals Skymiles as one of the absolute worst programs out there, particularly for those not on Singapore metal.
This isn't going to do it any favors for North American customers, who already can't redeem for business class over the Pacific worth a damn, and are more subject to the ridiculously-constructed wait-list procedures than arguably anyone else.
Sad to see. But I hope they at least increase their cooperation with United, to help with this.
For its own metal, Krisflyer is a pretty good program. I got 4 tickets in J on SEA-SIN-BKK for next summer.
Not many other programs where I can find 4 business class seats to Southeast Asia these days!
Maybe AS is laying the groundwork to launch SEA-SIN and SQ is not happy.
I would be very surprised to see AS fly SEA-SIN. Ditto for DL. In terms of onboard service for a very long flight (SEA's longest currently), I would much rather fly SQ, which offers 5 weekly flights on the route.
Who knows where else AS will eventually fly from SEA but SQ's decision may be more about nonstops yo other destinations SQ serves with 1-stop service.
So Singapore and LATAM are saying bye bye. Alaska miles are becoming more useless everyday unless you fly American domestic routes. I can book Qatar for 70K with Avios or American. Alaska on the other hand wants to charge me 215K. LOL.
Hopefully we can see a partnership with CX and increased cooperation with PR.
CX yes, PR no. PR is arguably the worst airline in the world, and MNL the world's worst airport.
SQ has seen really great success on its SEA-SIN route, increasing frequencies to 5x weekly and seeing extremely high loads and fares.
Perhaps it was just no longer necessary for them to keep Alaska around.
I expect Alaska to lose more partners as it comes to terms with its longhaul ambitions. I'm the past, it was ok for Alaska to partner with any airline since all it did was feed, now they are becoming a...
SQ has seen really great success on its SEA-SIN route, increasing frequencies to 5x weekly and seeing extremely high loads and fares.
Perhaps it was just no longer necessary for them to keep Alaska around.
I expect Alaska to lose more partners as it comes to terms with its longhaul ambitions. I'm the past, it was ok for Alaska to partner with any airline since all it did was feed, now they are becoming a full fledged competitor.
I expect to see Korean Air dropped soon as well.
Don't forget about my followup email. The LATAM partnership is also coming to an end with the same timeframe.
While SQ is still on the Atmos airlines partners page, LATAM is now no where to be found. Something I expect to happen sooner or later given Delta's JV with LATAM, but still, such a sweet spot to South America now completely gone.
Not sure this is much of a loss, honestly. Singapore never gave Alaska much inventory, and it was nearly impossible to book Alaska Airlines flights using the KrisFlyer program (you could only do it over the phone, and you had to tell agents exactly how to do it in their own system because the process differed from award bookings on every other carrier). I have to assume that Alaska was also frustrated by the arrangement,...
Not sure this is much of a loss, honestly. Singapore never gave Alaska much inventory, and it was nearly impossible to book Alaska Airlines flights using the KrisFlyer program (you could only do it over the phone, and you had to tell agents exactly how to do it in their own system because the process differed from award bookings on every other carrier). I have to assume that Alaska was also frustrated by the arrangement, because reciprocal bookings lower the cost of partnerships.
Note also that Singapore Airlines is currently using Delta as a domestic connection partner in the USA.
That's just an interline, and it's nothing new, they've been doing that since the early 1990s
Sure, but it isn't United, their alliance partner...
Because -again- it's just an interline. One that'd been in place for more than a decade before Star Alliance ever existed.
Ah, yes, the old Global Excellence Alliance of Delta, Singapore, Swiss, Austrian and Sabena. I once got routed through Cincinnati and Brussels, the most second rate cities on 2 continents.