Here’s a negative change, though I can’t say I’m surprised, given the general industry trend that we’ve seen.
In this post:
Alaska Saver fares won’t earn any points as of July 31, 2026
Alaska’s Atmos Rewards program has just quietly updated its points earning chart, to reflect a major new restriction. I’ll just quote the program’s announcement:
Important earning update: Saver fares (X class) earn 30% of miles flown for travel through July 31, 2026, or for trips booked before June 11, 2026. Saver fares booked on or after June 11, 2026 and flown on/after August 1, 2026 do not earn Atmos Rewards points. For eligible travel on/after August 1, please allow 4–6 weeks for points to post.
As you can see, for bookings as of June 11 that are for travel as of August 1, Saver fares (Alaska’s version of basic economy) will no longer earn any Atmos Rewards points or status points.
Alaska used to love to promote how a mile flown is a mile earned, though back in 2023, we saw points earning on Saver fares reduced from 100% to 30%. So this is just the next step in that progression.
This is disappointing, but follows the industry trend
To state the obvious, it’s disappointing to see Alaska eliminate points earning and status qualification on its cheapest fares. There’s a certain irony to Atmos Rewards awarding status points on award flights, but not on cheap revenue flights.
I can’t say I’m surprised to see this, though. We recently saw American make a similar change, as you also don’t earn miles or get status qualification for basic economy. That was just intended to follow Delta’s lead, as the airline has the same policy.
Meanwhile United doesn’t award miles for basic economy fares to non-elite members without a co-branded card, while elite members and those with a co-branded card earn miles at a reduced rate. However, United has the most punitive basic economy fares, and doesn’t allow a free carry-on, which is very restrictive.
What’s the logic for this change on Alaska’s part? Basic economy has become an incredibly valuable tool for airlines to both expand their customer base, and extract as much revenue out of passengers as possible. The goal with basic economy is twofold:
- To go after a different customer base that might have historically booked ultra low cost carriers, in order to fill seats
- To make the fare type punitive, in order to get people to buy up to a more expensive non-basic economy fare
I’d say this change fits squarely in the second category. The goal is for Alaska to be able to show low entry level pricing that’s competitive, while giving people a big incentive to book a more expensive fare.
Of course I’m disappointed to see this change. Alaska has long tried to differentiate itself from the competition and stand out, and there’s no denying that the gap is narrowing.
Bottom line
Alaska Airlines will no longer award points or status qualification on Saver fares, which is the carrier’s version of basic economy. This is a trend that Delta started and American followed, so I guess it’s not too surprising to see Alaska hop on the bandwagon as well, disappointing as it is.
While I’m sure a secondary motivation here is to minimize costs and improve margins on basic economy, I think the bigger reason for this is to be punitive, and encourage people to book more expensive fares.
What do you make of this change to Atmos Rewards Saver fares?
Across the board it's getting harder to earn miles and those miles are also worth less. I never flew Alaska much, but given the same thing is happening with United, for the first time in probably a decade I realized I really don't care what airline I fly with anymore and am just going for price/convenience.
Sites like these (and the commentators) mock spirit and the like, but these so called “premium” airlines give u less for more. But never any real criticism about their extraction and race to bottom policies.
You are clearly getting a fare that is below the cost to deliver that fare. Do you expect airlines to reward you? Airlines know that there's a large group of flyers totally uninterested in miles and status, or the credit cards to get them (or they can't qualify) and just want a cheap seat on a plane. That is what this is designed for.
This is clearly an industry trend and it's not going to stop. At what point does loyalty no longer have a value?
Same old story, the rich benefit while those who cannot afford higher price tickets are left in the cold.
I have no interest in basic economy. Normally I book premium as long as the airfare difference compared to Y is within reason.
Ben, you wrote: "While I’m sure a secondary motivation here is to minimize costs and improve margins on basic economy, I think the bigger reason for this is to be punitive, and encourage people to book more expensive fares." While there can be no doubt -- one way or another -- that Economics is the basic (no pun intended) motivator, I always have a hard time believing that corporate boards say, "How can we screw...
Ben, you wrote: "While I’m sure a secondary motivation here is to minimize costs and improve margins on basic economy, I think the bigger reason for this is to be punitive, and encourage people to book more expensive fares." While there can be no doubt -- one way or another -- that Economics is the basic (no pun intended) motivator, I always have a hard time believing that corporate boards say, "How can we screw the little guy today?" Will Alaska save money by eliminating points earning on Saver fares? Of course. But the idea is to save money, and to [hopefully] urge customers to "buy up" (and make more money). AND, as you point out, other carriers already have done this.
For me, this is the WORST part of it. Alaska has always taken pride in being different than the legacy characters, to set themselves apart from the rest. It saddens me that they are becoming just like the others...
I never book saver/basic from any airline anyway. I don't know what's gonna happen to me tomorrow, so no-flexibility is a no-go.
This is the final end to loyalty and now all airlines are transactional, like Trump. I get it that basic economy passengers should be punished with low earnings but now its just transactional.
“Just doing business” as an excuse for treating others poorly is a horrible way to live. I sure hope karma exists.
Surely this is gonna be tied to the rollout of the new revenue-based earning? I know you can keep distance based earning, but it's a huge deval since you lose cabin bonuses if you pick it.
But the long-promised decent cabin bonuses haven't shown up yet, so I'll take the miles ...
Hey Ben, you say this is disappointing, like you would ever book a saver or basic economy fare
Alaska is the Hyatt of Airlines. It's thinks it's big enough that it's clientele is captive to it's offering, so it can screw around with its clients like Delta does.
Would’ve gone with Marriott, because, you know, Hyatt basically just copied them, and, these days, it’s not just aviation or hospitality, all industries, at least in the US, are pretending to act like monopolies who don’t care how they mistreat consumers and workers alike. I hope there is a reckoning soon…
The Hyatt wounds are still fresh.
Only in the US it is a race to the bottom; being the worst-valued carrier. The trend is opposite in the rest of the world to be the very best.
"only in the US"
United's mileage earning on basic is actually pretty weird. It's basically just -3 miles/dollar, so it's an 100% reduction in earnings for people without a card or status, but just 25% less for people at 1k with a card.
Things good that have come from the Alaska/Hawaiian merger: 0
@ Tim Dunn -- We're waiting to learn which EWR-LAX frequencies UA operates with 737-900ERs, please!! These are the important details!
I found it… UA 0000.
(He made it up.)
I've been saying for months and every news release out of Seattle proves that AS is going to ruin the HA merger just like it did Virgin America.
Sucks that fuel spiked just as AS was getting serious about longhaul international from SEA but, when you pay the highest cost per gallon for jet fuel and costs skyrocket, you gotta figure out how to cut costs somehow.
@ Tim Dunn -- "you gotta figure out how to cut costs somehow." Indeed! And eliminating mileage earning on basic economy fares is a concept that Delta "innovated," so what does that say about Delta?
AS' "value proposition" was that it did more than the big 3 and they can't afford to do that anymore.
With a smaller network and soaring costs, they will be in a much more difficult position than ever.
This won't be the last of these types of cuts.
Don't put your pen back in the drawer just yet.