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Of all the airline mileage currencies you can earn — and there's a lot — Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points are some of the most valuable. From aspirational business-class redemptions on international airlines to short-hop partner awards, Alaska points can take you far for a reasonable rate.
Here's everything you'll ever need to know about the value of Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points — as well as why this is one of the most valuable airline loyalty programs.
Page Contents
- Understanding Alaska Airlines Points Value
- What Is the Value of Alaska Airlines Points?
- Maximizing the Value of Alaska Points
- Best Ways to Earn Alaska Airlines Points
- Partner Award Flights Worth Considering
- The Impact of Alaska Airlines Joining the Oneworld Alliance: What Does It Mean for Point Value?
- Best Times to Use Alaska Airlines
- Other Factors to Consider
- How to Buy Alaska Airlines
- Final Thoughts
- FAQ
Understanding Alaska Airlines Points Value
It's easy to brand Atmos Rewards points as one of the most valuable based on how we've personally used Alaska points. But the numbers back up the claim. At AwardWallet, our editorial team and writers don't assign values to points and miles. Instead, the numbers are based on actual redemptions from our readers.
What Is the Value of Alaska Airlines Points?
In recent redemptions, AwardWallet users have obtained an average value of 2.12¢ per point when redeeming Atmos Rewards points. However, Alaska points are only really valuable for certain redemptions, as you'll see when looking at the average value by flight type below:
- Short-haul economy/premium economy: 1.32¢
- Short-haul business/first class: 3.52¢
- Long-haul economy/premium economy: 1.73¢
- Long-haul business/first class: 4.17¢
How is this value calculated?
If you weren't aware, AwardWallet is more than just a blog. AwardWallet itself is a tool to keep all of your travel reservations in one place and give you a bird's eye view of your points and miles balances. And each time you redeem, AwardWallet tracks the value you're getting from your miles by calculating the average cents per mile.
So, the value AwardWallet publishes for the Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards program (and dozens of other currencies) is real, not arbitrary. It's a function of recent user redemptions — based on thousands of award bookings and the data found in your Atmos Rewards account.
Related: How Much Do AwardWallet Members Actually Save When Redeeming Points?
How do Alaska points compare to other airlines?
To showcase the value of Alaska points, here's a side-by-side comparison of the average values AwardWallet users have gotten when redeeming other popular airline currencies.
| Airline and Loyalty Program | Average Mile Value | Regional Economy Mile Value | Global Economy Mile Value | Regional Business Mile Value | Global Business Mile Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada (Aeroplan) | 1.86¢ | 1.21¢ | 1.28¢ | 2.56¢ | 2.63¢ |
| Alaska Airlines (Atmos Rewards) | 2.12¢ | 1.32¢ | 1.73¢ | 3.52¢ | 4.17¢ |
| Avianca (LifeMiles) | 2.85¢ | 1.72¢ | 1.8¢ | 2.99¢ | 3.91¢ |
| British Airways (Club) | 2.55¢ | 1.56¢ | 1.66¢ | 2.71¢ | 3.26¢ |
| Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles) | 2.85¢ | 1.75¢ | 1.78¢ | 3.46¢ | 3.22¢ |
| Delta Air Lines (SkyMiles) | 1.34¢ | 1.21¢ | 1.21¢ | 1.94¢ | 2.39¢ |
| KLM / Air France (Flying Blue) | 2.16¢ | 1.38¢ | 1.46¢ | 2.57¢ | 2.59¢ |
| United Airlines (Mileage Plus) | 1.97¢ | 1.31¢ | 1.77¢ | 1.87¢ | 3.19¢ |
| Virgin Atlantic (Flying Club) | 3.63¢ | 1.82¢ | 2.03¢ | 5.52¢ | 5.84¢ |
On average, Alaska ranks among the best in average point value and offers compelling value for domestic and international business class redemptions. Economy flights, on the other hand, leave a bit to be desired.
Maximizing the Value of Alaska Points
The numbers don't lie. To maximize the value of your Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points, you'll want to redeem your points for flights on partner airlines — especially in premium cabins. Partner award availability can be hard to come by at times, as some airlines are stingy about what award space they release and when — if they release much at all.
As a rule of thumb, you'll generally find the most partner space when you book as early as possible. Even better, there's a greater chance you can find coveted partner awards like Qatar Airways Qsuites and Cathay Pacific first and business class.
One of our favorite ways to search for Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards awards comes via a neat tool called Seats.aero. This tool lets you get a bird's eye view of many different kinds of awards you can book — including harder-to-find awards, such as those in business or even international first class.
Best Ways to Earn Alaska Airlines Points
Alaska points are viewed as difficult to earn, but we beg to differ. Here's a snapshot of numerous ways you can earn Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points. You'll earn at least one point per actual mile flown on almost every fare. Plus, you can also earn cabin bonuses depending on the type of fare you book, or even more if you hold elite status.
Fly Alaska or a partner airline
The most straightforward to earn Alaska Atmos Rewards points is by flying. The number of points you can earn on Alaska- and partner-operated flights is primarily a function of three things: how far you fly, what cabin you fly in, and what channel you booked your flight through.
In program updates for 2025, Alaska overhauled its earning tables. Before you credit a flight to Atmos Rewards, you'll want to refer to this webpage to confirm how many points you'll earn. And it's worth mentioning that you'll earn more points on Alaska- and partner-operated flights if you book through Alaska's website. You'll earn fewer points if you book through a separate channel.
Alaska Airlines credit cards
Bank of America offers two versions of the Alaska Airlines card: the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® card and the Atmos™ Rewards Visa Business Card. Both award bonus points on similar spending categories and offer similar perks in the Atmos Rewards program.
The consumer Atmos Ascent Visa Card awards a welcome bonus of 50,000 miles + buy one ticket, get one for just the taxes and fees ($0 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. The card carries a $95 annual fee and earns Alaska points at the following rates:
- 3X per $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases.
- 2X per $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services, and local transit purchases (including rideshare).
- 1X per $1 spent on everything else.
- Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
- Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases
- Earn unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Related: Atmos Ascent Visa Card Full Review
Alaska Airlines also offers a product for those who run a small business: the Atmos Visa Business Card. If you're a new applicant, you can bank 60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $4,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
With its annual fee of $70 for the company and $25 per card, this is an affordable card to carry, and it earns Alaska points at the following rates:
- 3X points per dollar spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases.
- 2X points per dollar spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, shipping, and local transit (including rideshare).
- 1X point per $1 spent on everything else.
- Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
- Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, shipping and local transit (including rideshare) purchases
- Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Related: Atmos Visa Business Card Full Review
Bilt Rewards
Bilt Rewards debuted as Alaska's first credit card rewards transfer partner in March 2024. Now, when you earn Bilt Points by paying rent, playing Rent Day games, or swiping The Bilt Mastercard® (Rates & Fees), you'll earn points that transfer instantly to Atmos Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.
- 3x points on dining
- 2x points on travel
- 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
- 1x points on other purchases
- *You must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points—see Rewards & Benefits.
You must use The Bilt Mastercard® 5 times each statement period to earn points. On Rent Day, you'll earn double points on categories excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus Bilt Points. Bilt Rewards members are limited to 100,000 points on rent payments in a calendar year
Hotels
You can earn bonus points on hotel stays in one of two ways: booking through Stays by Alaska Vacations or opting to earn Alaska points instead of hotel points on stays with select partners.
Rocket Travel powers Stays by Alaska Vacations and offers Atmos Rewards program members a chance to earn Alaska points on hotel and vacation rental stays booked through the dedicated portal. While you won't be able to take advantage of any benefits your hotel elite status carries when booking through the portal, the Atmos Rewards earnings may be worth the tradeoff.
Additionally, Atmos Rewards members can also book stays through a handful of partners to earn Alaska points on every stay. Here's how you'll earn with Alaska's hotel partners:
- Best Western: Earn 250 points per stay on qualifying rates.
- Choice Hotels: Earn 250 total points per eligible stay at any participating Choice hotel when you provide your Atmos Rewards number at check-in or set it as your earning method in your Choice account.
- Coast Hotels: Earn 500 points per stay on qualifying rates.
- IHG Hotels & Resorts: Earn up to two points per dollar spent (or equivalent in local currency) on eligible charges or earn 500 points per qualifying stay.
- Marriott Bonvoy: Earn two points per dollar spent on all qualifying charges or one point per U.S. dollar spent on room rate, depending on the hotel.
- Rocketmiles: Earn 500 to 10,000 points per night on every reservation.
You can also transfer hotel points earned from select hotel partners to Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards, but note this is generally a poor use of hotel points.
Shopping and dining
Alaska Airlines' shopping and dining portals are ways to earn Atmos Rewards points on items you already buy and at restaurants you frequent. By signing up for one (or both) of these programs, you can watch your Atmos Rewards balance grow without going out of your way to earn points.
Car rentals
There are lots of ways to get from point A to B in rental cars and earn Atmos Rewards points in the process. You can earn points through the following Alaska car partners:
- Alaska Car Rentals: Save 35% off Avis and Budget base rates and earn up to 1,250 points on qualifying rentals.
- Alamo: Earn 50 points per day on qualifying rentals in the U.S. and Canada.
- Avis: Earn up to 1,250 points on qualifying rentals.
- Budget: Earn up to 1,250 points on qualifying rentals.
- Dollar: Earn 3X points per day when you use promotion code 100352.
- Hertz: Earn 4X points per day when you use promotion code 180143.
- National: Earn 50 points per day on qualifying rentals in the U.S. and Canada.
- Thrifty: Earn 3X points per day when you use promotion code 100352.
You can also earn Alaska points on Lyft rides at a rate of 1 point per $1 spent. To earn, you'll first need to link your Atmos Rewards account to Lyft.
Cruises
You can earn one Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards point per $1 spent on the purchase price of a cruise booking made through CruisesOnly. If you hold the Atmos Ascent Visa Card and use it to pay for your cruise, you'll earn an additional point per dollar spent.
Other ways to earn points
Eleven other ways to earn Alaska points exist, courtesy of Alaska's everyday partners. At present, you can earn points when spending with the following partners:
- 1-800-Flowers.com
- Bilt Rewards
- Carrs-Safeway
- Diners Club International
- e-Rewards
- GCI
- GetYourGuide
- Greenlight
- Harry & David
- Laithwaites
- The Opinion Terminal
- Rover
- Teleflora
Partner Award Flights Worth Considering
One of the best ways to use Atmos Rewards points is for award flights on partner airlines. At present, you can redeem Alaska points for flights on the following partners:
| Airline | Redeem Miles | Earn Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | Yes | Yes |
| Air Tahiti Nui | Yes | Yes |
| Aleutian Airways | No | Yes |
| American Airlines | Yes | Yes |
| Bahamasair | No | Yes |
| British Airways | Yes | Yes |
| Cape Air | No | Yes, when booked with Alaska Airlines |
| Cathay Pacific | Yes | Yes |
| Condor | Yes | Yes |
| Contour Airlines | No | Yes |
| Finnair | Yes | Yes |
| Fiji Airways | Yes | Yes |
| Hainan Airlines | Yes | Yes |
| Iberia | Yes | Yes |
| Icelandair | Yes | Yes |
| Japan Airlines | Yes | Yes |
| Kenmore Air | No | Yes, when booked with Alaska Airlines |
| Korean Air | Yes | Yes |
| Malaysia Airlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mokulele Airlines | No | Yes, when booked with Alaska Airlines |
| Oman Air | Yes | Yes |
| Philippine Airlines | Yes (Coming soon) | Yes (Coming soon) |
| Porter Airlines | No | Yes |
| Qantas | Yes | Yes |
| Qatar Airways | Yes | Yes |
| Royal Air Maroc | Yes | Yes |
| Royal Jordanian | Yes | Yes |
| Sri Lankan Airlines | Yes | Yes |
| Southern Airways Express | No | Yes, when booked with Alaska Airlines |
| Starlux | Yes | Yes |
Partner award charts
Alaska Airlines publishes three partner award charts with each one focused on travel across a different region. The charts look like this:
For travel across the Americas:
| Distance (miles) | Economy (starting at) | Premium Economy (starting at) | Business Class (starting at) | First Class (starting at) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 700 | 4,500 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 13,500 |
| 701–1,400 | 7,500 | 10,000 | 15,000 | 25,000 |
| 1,401–2,100 | 12,500 | 17,500 | 25,000 | 40,000 |
| 2,101–4,000 | 17,500 | 22,500 | 35,000 | 52,500 |
| 4,001–6,000 | 25,000 | 32,500 | 50,000 | 75,000 |
| 6,001 and above | 30,000 | 40,000 | 60,000 | 90,000 |
Asia:
| Distance (miles) | Economy (starting at) | Premium Economy (starting at) | Business (starting at) | First (starting at) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1,500 | 7,500 | 10,000 | 15,000 | 22,500 |
| 1,501–3,000 | 25,000 | 32,500 | 50,000 | 75,000 |
| 3,001–5,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 | 60,000 | 90,000 |
| 5,001–7,000 | 37,500 | 50,000 | 75,000 | 110,000 |
| 7,001–10,000 | 42,500 | 55,000 | 85,000 | 130,000 |
| 10,000 and above | 65,000 | 85,000 | 130,000 | 195,000 |
And, lastly, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa:
| Distance (miles) | Economy (starting at) | Premium Economy (starting at) | Business Class (starting at) | First Class (starting at) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1,500 | 7,500 | 10,000 | 15,000 | 22,500 |
| 1,501–3,500 | 22,500 | 30,000 | 45,000 | 67,500 |
| 3,501–5,000 | 27,500 | 35,000 | 55,000 | 82,500 |
| 5,001–7,000 | 35,000 | 45,000 | 70,000 | 105,000 |
| 7,001–10,000 | 42,500 | 55,000 | 85,000 | 130,000 |
| 10,000 and above | 55,000 | 72,500 | 110,000 | 165,000 |
While that's a lot of numbers to keep track of, the distance-based charts create numerous Alaska Airlines sweet spots for high redemption value.
Best-value partner redemptions
Here's a handful of awards you'll want to book with your Atmos Rewards points when considering the distance-based award charts.
- U.S. East Coast to London in American Airlines, British Airways, or Aer Lingus business class: 45,000 points
- U.S. Midwest/East Coast to Germany in Condor business: 55,000 points
- U.S. to East Coast to Europe (with a stopover) in Finnair business: 55,000 points
- U.S. Pacific Northwest to Tokyo in Japan Airlines business: 60,000 points
- U.S. East Coast to the Maldives (MLE) in Qatar Airways Qsuites: 85,000 points
Even better, you can also tack on a complimentary stopover to your award ticket. There are rules to the game, but becoming familiar with how Alaska Airlines stopovers work is the key to getting more out of your points. For example, instead of booking just Seattle (SEA) to Tokyo (HND/NRT) in Japan Airlines' business cabin, you could add a stop in Tokyo and then head on to Beijing (PEK) at no extra cost!
The Impact of Alaska Airlines Joining the Oneworld Alliance: What Does It Mean for Point Value?
One of the most significant pluses of Alaska Airlines joining the Oneworld alliance in 2021 is that it made your Atmos Rewards points go further — literally and figuratively. Joining the alliance grew the Seattle-based carrier's global footprint and introduced a streamlined approach to redeeming points for travel on numerous alliance partners.
As the numbers show, you'll obtain maximum value from your Alaska points (when doing the math for cents per mile) on long-haul international business cabin redemptions. Oneworld opened the doors to a more extensive partner network, and more options to redeem your points — especially on those extra valuable business class tickets.
For example, before Alaska joined Oneworld, using Atmos Rewards points to book travel on SriLankan Airlines was impossible. Now, award space permitting, you can book award flights from a handful of global destinations to Colombo and beyond. Even better, it's easy to book online when you can find the space. It's like that for each Oneworld partner.
And, courtesy of Oneworld's global reach, you can get almost anywhere on frequent flyer miles — or cash if you go that route. Additionally, any elite status you hold with Alaska Airlines has a reciprocal Oneworld elite tier, meaning you can enjoy elite benefits across each Oneworld carrier. Fancy international business class lounge access? Alaska Airlines elite status can get you there — all made possible through joining the Oneworld alliance.
Related: Oneworld Awards To Book Through Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards
Best Times to Use Alaska Airlines
If you're looking for the best cents-per-point value from your Alaska points, you'll want to use as few of them as possible to book the flight you want. That typically means booking as early as possible. As seats sell out, the number of points you need can skyrocket, even if the cash price of the ticket hasn't gone up much. Booking early also can provide access to more award availability.
Other Factors to Consider
There are also a few other aspects to Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards that make it a standout loyalty program compared to other popular frequent flyer programs. Let's look at these.
Elite status benefits
When it comes to earning points on flights operated by the rewards program's own airline, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more generous mileage-earning structure than that of Alaska Airlines. On each Alaska flight credited to Atmos Rewards, you'll earn a sum of points that correlates with the actual number of miles flown and the cabin you're flying in. And if you have elite status, you'll earn 25% to 150% more points on top of that.
Alaska elite bonuses for 2025:
- Silver: 25%
- Gold: 50%
- Platinum: 100%
- Titanium: 150%
What separates Alaska Airlines from the other major carriers like American, Delta, United, and even Southwest is that every other carrier awards points based on the dollar amount you spent on your ticket. You'll earn more points per dollar spent if you have elite status on any of those carriers above.
Partner airlines and credit cards
It's no secret that major U.S. airlines have dizzying arrays of co-branded credit cards. And with a lot of credit card options means a handful of ways to earn large welcome bonuses good for many frequent flyer points awards.
Alaska Airlines isn't like this. Instead, Alaska Airlines offers two personal credit cards and one small-business version to earn Alaska points: the Atmos Ascent Visa Card, the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card, and the Atmos Visa Business Card.
One of the main perks of sizable credit card lineups is that it's easier to find a credit card that fits your wallet no matter how often you fly the carrier on the front of the card. And while the Alaska cards have notable perks, such as the Companion Fare, we'll score a point for the competition here since Alaska's cards aren't one-size-fits-all, and the lack of options suggests they should be.
It's also worth pointing out what many see as a negative: the lack of options for transferring points into your Alaska points account. While many airlines offer the ability to earn points with a card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and then move those into your frequent flyer account to redeem for flights, Alaska only offers the option to transfer Bilt Rewards Points at a 1:1 ratio or Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio.
Related: When Do Alaska Airlines Points Expire?
How to Buy Alaska Airlines
You can buy Alaska points at $27.50 per 1,000 points purchased, plus a variable tax recovery fee. While buying Alaska points at this rate (2.75 cents per mile) is not always a good idea, it can make sense in the right circumstances.
For example, it's easy to justify buying Alaska points if you need to top off your account to make a specific redemption, or the cost of buying points is considerably cheaper than paying for a flight you want outright. Make sure you check the redemption value to see if the cost is worth it.
You'll always get a better deal on point purchases when Alaska Airlines runs a promotion. And depending on the sale, you can earn upwards of 50% bonus points on your purchase, providing further redemption value when it's time to use your points. To keep an eye on active Alaska Airlines promotions, bookmark this AwardWallet post.
Final Thoughts
Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points are incredibly valuable, and the numbers prove it. No matter where you want to go, Alaska points can get you there, and often for great value. Sure, Alaska points may be more difficult to earn than other carriers' mileage currencies (due to not having transfer partners like Amex Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards), but few other airline miles provide the redemption value or partner offerings you'll find with Alaska Airlines Airlines points.
FAQ
How much is 50,000 Alaska points worth?
On average, AwardWallet users typically redeem Atmos Rewards points for 2.12¢ per mile, meaning 50,000 Alaska miles are worth nearly $1,055 in flights.
How many points do you need to fly on Alaska Airlines?
Award flights on Alaska Airlines start at 4,500 points in economy and 15,000 in domestic first class.
Can you cash out Alaska points?
No, you cannot cash out Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points. There are only four ways to redeem Alaska points — air travel on Alaska and its partner airlines, hotel stays booked through Alaska Airlines hotels, subscriptions through Magazines for Miles, and experiences and events purchased through Alaska Extras.
Can I give my Alaska miles to someone else?
You can share your Alaska Airlines miles with friends and family by transferring them to another Atmos Rewards member's account. Transfers cost $10 per 1,000 miles that you gift to someone else.
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