THE ALASKA STORY
Oct. 9, 2026 – Alaskans who regularly fly Alaska Airlines have a decision to make before the new year: Which rewards formula best fits their travel?
Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Atmos Rewards, the combined loyalty program for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, will let members earn flight rewards based on distance, eligible dollars spent, or the number of flight segments.
But there is a significant catch for travelers who stick with distance: The 500-point minimum on short flights disappears. So do class-of-service earning bonuses under that method.
For Southeast Alaska passengers who frequently fly between nearby communities, staying with the familiar distance formula could mean earning substantially fewer points.
Doing nothing keeps distance — with different rules
Members have been able to select their earning method since Oct. 1. Existing members who make no selection will remain on distance earning. People joining on or after Jan. 1, 2027, will default to price-based earning unless they choose otherwise.
Members can change their selection once per calendar year, for future travel only. The choice applies across their eligible Alaska, Hawaiian and partner flights.
That means travelers must consider their overall flying pattern, and cannot simply pick the most favorable formula separately for every trip.
Three choices, very different results
For eligible paid flights, the basic formulas are:
| Earning method | Base rewards |
| Distance | 1 redeemable point and 1 status point per mile flown |
| Price paid | 5 redeemable points and 5 status points per eligible dollar |
| Segments | 500 redeemable points and 500 status points per eligible flight segment |
Redeemable points can be used for award travel. Status points determine progress toward elite status.
Under distance earning, a hypothetical 100-mile flight will earn 100 base points instead of the previous 500-point minimum — an 80% reduction.
Choosing segments would bring that eligible short flight back to 500 base points. However, the same choice would also award just 500 base points for a roughly 2,700-mile Seattle-Hawaii flight.
For travelers who combine frequent short hops with occasional long trips, improving rewards on one part of their travel could sharply reduce them on another.
Award flights earn status points only, rather than new redeemable points.
The ticket total is not the eligible price
Price-based earning may appeal to passengers buying expensive tickets, but the calculation does not use the entire checkout total.
Eligible spending includes the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges, excluding government taxes and fees. Eligible paid seats and cabin upgrades on Alaska and Hawaiian also count.
A $342 eligible base fare earns 1,710 base points. A $330 eligible fare earns 1,650. An international ticket costing $3,000 overall, with $2,000 in eligible airfare, earns 10,000.
As a simple comparison, $100 in eligible spending produces the same 500 base points as one segment. Whether price or distance earns more depends on the fare and the miles flown.
Elite status still depends on status points
Atmos status thresholds are:
| Tier | Required status points | oneworld level |
| Silver | 20,000 | Ruby |
| Gold | 40,000 | Sapphire |
| Platinum | 80,000 | Emerald |
| Titanium | 135,000 | Emerald |
At the basic segment rate, 40 eligible flight segments generate 20,000 status points, enough for Silver. There is no separate segment qualification counter.
Applicable status bonuses can increase earnings. The flight-earning selection does not change how members earn status points through credit-card spending.
Saver fares have already lost their rewards
Another important change has already taken effect.
Saver fares in booking class X purchased on or after June 11, 2026, for travel on or after Aug. 1, 2026, earn no redeemable Atmos points and no status points.
Choosing distance, price or segments in 2027 does not restore those rewards.
Saver tickets booked before June 11, or flown through July 31, retain the applicable 30%-of-distance earning rule. Under the newer rules, Saver travel still counts at actual flown distance toward Million Miler achievement.
Partner bookings require extra attention
The price method also has a booking-channel catch. Eligible partner flights ticketed by Alaska can earn five points per eligible dollar, as can eligible American Airlines flights ticketed by American.
But flights bought directly from other partner airlines generally use percentage-of-distance charts for members choosing price. STARLUX and Philippine Airlines flights booked through those partners’ sites do not earn status points.
Alaska presents the overhaul as greater choice. For Alaskans relying on short flights, it also removes a familiar earning protection.
Before selecting a method, travelers should compare a typical year of short hops, connecting flights and longer trips. Remaining on distance will be automatic for existing members. Preserving the rewards they have been accustomed to will not.
