Alaska Airlines Fare Classes: What Every Booking Code Means

Since Oct. 1, 2026, Atmos Rewards members can choose how they earn points and status points on flights departing on or after Jan. 1, 2027. The choice applies to Alaska, Hawaiian and partner flights.

• If you do nothing: members who joined on or before Dec. 31, 2026 keep earning by distance traveled. Members who join on or after Jan. 1, 2027 start on price paid.
• Changing: once per calendar year, for future trips only.
• Saver and Basic Economy fares earn no points or status points under any option. Alaska says status point bonuses apply across all earn choices.
• Award flights earn status points only: by miles flown (distance), 500 per segment (segments), or 1 for every 20 points redeemed (price paid).
• On price paid, flights booked directly with partners other than American Airlines earn by Alaska's partner chart instead of 5 points per $1.

Atmos Rewards launched on Aug. 20, 2025, combining Alaska's former program with Hawaiian Airlines' HawaiianMiles.

Alaska and Hawaiian have shared one upgrade policy since April 22, 2026. With a qualifying fare and upgrade space available, you are upgraded at booking; otherwise you join the waitlist.

• Waitlist: any status holder can join, whatever the fare, with one companion on the same flight and reservation. Groups of 3 or more cannot be upgraded together.
• Waitlist order: status level, then Million Miler level, Atmos Rewards Summit cardholders, business travelers with an eligible corporate ticket designator, status points earned this year and last, and finally when you booked. The fare class does not set the order.
• Earliest clearing: 120 hours before departure for Titanium and Platinum, 72 for Gold, 48 for Silver. Most upgrades happen on the day of departure.
• Saver fares join the waitlist 2 hours before departure.
• Upgrade certificates work on Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S and N fares, not Q, O, G or X, and not on award tickets.
• From February 2027 Silver members no longer get Premium Class upgrades at booking; they stay eligible within 48 hours of departure.

• Seats are assigned at check-in, and Saver passengers board last, in group F. You can buy a Premium Class seat at any time.
• Same-day confirmed changes are allowed for a fee. No other changes, and no standby, even with status.
• Cancelling at least 14 days before the first flight gives a 50% credit. Otherwise there are no refunds outside Alaska's 24-hour cancellation policy.
• A no-show on any flight cancels the rest of the trip, with no refund.
• Status holders on Saver can get a complimentary Premium Class or First Class upgrade only within 2 hours of departure.

Does my Alaska fare class decide how many points I earn?

Through Dec. 31, 2026, yes. On Alaska and Hawaiian flights the fare class sets the share of miles flown you earn as points and status points, from 100% on most Economy fares to 200% on J. From Jan. 1, 2027 it depends on how you choose to earn, and earning by distance no longer includes the fare class bonus.

Do Alaska Saver fares earn points?

Saver (X) earns 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 or after Aug. 1, 2026 earn no points or status points, but 100% of the miles flown count toward Million Miler.

How do I know I have a Saver ticket?

Alaska says Saver tickets show as fare class X on your flight confirmation.

Which fare classes get a complimentary upgrade at booking?

It depends on your status. For Premium Class: Silver on Y, B or H; Gold on Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S or N; Platinum and Titanium on every fare except Saver (X). For First Class within North America: Silver on Y or B; Gold on Y, B, H or K; Platinum and Titanium on Y, B, H, K or M. From February 2027 Silver members no longer get Premium Class upgrades at booking, only within 48 hours of departure.

Does my fare class set my place on the upgrade waitlist?

No. Alaska processes the waitlist by status level, then Million Miler level, Atmos Rewards Summit cardholders, business travelers with an eligible corporate ticket designator, status points earned this year and last, and finally when you booked. Saver fares join the waitlist 2 hours before departure.

How will I earn Atmos Rewards points in 2027?

From Oct. 1, 2026 you can choose how you earn on flights departing on or after Jan. 1, 2027: 1 point per mile flown, 5 points per $1 spent, or 500 points per segment. Members who joined on or before Dec. 31, 2026 and do not choose keep earning by distance; members who join on or after Jan. 1, 2027 start on price paid. You can change once per calendar year.

Sources: Earn points on flights | Choose how you earn | 2027 program updates | Benefits, perks and milestones | Complimentary upgrades | Saver fares | Premium Class | Introducing Atmos Rewards | Atmos Rewards expands