Why is Alaska removing basic economy miles?

Alaska Airlines changes basic economy: fewer miles, higher fees

Alaska Airlines has announced a shift that affects how travelers earn loyalty benefits when they book basic economy tickets. The key change is that Alaska will remove the ability to earn miles and status from basic economy purchases, while also increasing certain ticketing fees for partner award bookings.

That matters because Alaska’s Mileage Plan is often used not only for upgrades or free flights, but also to build status. If miles are no longer earned on basic economy fares, travelers who choose those lower-cost tickets may find it harder to accumulate qualifying miles.

What’s changing

• Basic economy bookings: no longer earn miles or status.
• Partner award bookings: ticketing fees will increase.

Why travelers should care

Basic economy is typically marketed as a cheaper entry point, and many passengers accept restrictions in exchange for lower prices. This change shifts the tradeoff: the upfront savings may look smaller when you factor in what you can’t earn toward future travel.

It also impacts trip planning for passengers who rely on loyalty math. For example:

• If you’re buying a fare specifically to earn toward a goal, you may need to compare basic economy versus standard economy pricing.
• If you book award travel using Alaska’s program (especially with partners), higher ticketing fees can increase the total cost of redemption.

Practical next step

Before booking, compare:

• The price difference between basic and other fare buckets.
• The miles/status value you would have earned under the old rules (if applicable to your itinerary).
• The expected fees for partner awards, since those will be higher.