Alaska Airlines Ends Earning on Saver Fares, Raises Award Ticket Fees

Alaska Airlines is cutting mileage and status-point earning on Saver fares and raising fees for partner award bookings and phone reservations, changes that take effect for flights booked on or after June 11, 2026, for travel beginning Aug. 1, 2026 [1]. The airline will eliminate the current 30% mileage earning on Saver fares, its basic-economy product, for tickets booked after the June cutoff [1]. Saver fares on Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines will still count toward Million Miler status, with flyers receiving credit equal to 100% of the actual distance flown [1]. The partner award booking fee rises from $12.50 to $20 per person each way on July 1, 2026, a nonrefundable charge added to any applicable taxes [1]. The fee for purchasing tickets through the call center doubles to $30 per person for transactions on or after July 2, 2026, though Atmos Gold and Platinum elite members will continue to receive waived contact-center service charges [1]. Elina Geller, a contributing NerdWallet travel writer, said the adjustments "could make it more expensive to redeem points and less rewarding to fly on Alaska's lowest-priced tickets" [1]. The carrier's loyalty program, Atmos Rewards, retains published award charts, a feature that distinguishes it from several competitors [1]. Alaska Airlines, headquartered in the Seattle metropolitan area, has expanded significantly since U.S. airline deregulation in 1978, when it began connecting California cities to Seattle and later added transcontinental and international routes [4]. The airline's network now offers more than 1,200 flights to over 115 destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Belize [4]. Its acquisition of Hawaiian Air in 2024 set the stage for intercontinental service, with flights to Tokyo beginning in May 2025 and Seoul in September 2025, plus planned routes to Rome, London–Heathrow, and Reykjavík in 2026 [4]. Industry observers note that major U.S. carriers have progressively restricted earning on basic-economy tickets, making Alaska's move consistent with broader trends [1]. The airline's primary hubs include Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Portland International Airport, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport [4]. The Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card will continue to waive partner award booking fees, a benefit that gains value as the fee increases [1].