By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated June 2026
The short answer: Alaska Mileage Plan was famous for generous partner award charts and unique sweet spots, but in March 2024 it scrapped those individual charts for a single distance-based one. The change cut some short-haul prices but devalued the premium long-haul sweet spots that made the program special, with Cathay first class to Hong Kong nearly doubling.
The 2024 unified chart
Alaska Mileage Plan long used separate award charts for each partner airline, which created famous sweet spots and routing tricks. In November 2023, Alaska announced it would replace all of them with a single, unified distance-based award chart, which went live in March 2024. Consolidating dozens of partner charts into one inevitably created winners and losers. See Alaska guide.
Premium sweet spots gutted
Alaska said most partner nonstop routes would start cheaper in economy and business, which is true for short hauls, but the cuts landed on the premium long-haul redemptions that drew points collectors. A one-way Los Angeles to Hong Kong first class award on Cathay Pacific rose from 70,000 to 130,000 miles, an 86 percent increase, and other marquee sweet spots were similarly devalued. See Cathay First guide.
What survived, and the rebrand
Alaska still uses a chart with stopovers, and short-haul and some economy awards can be good value, but the program lost much of what made it elite for premium travel. Alaska has since been rebranding its loyalty program as Atmos Rewards amid its merger with Hawaiian, so more changes may come. Book the remaining sweet spots when you find them. See the devaluation overview.
Frequently asked questions
Did Alaska Mileage Plan devalue?
Yes, in March 2024, when it replaced individual partner award charts with a unified distance-based chart. Short-haul and some economy awards got cheaper, but premium long-haul sweet spots were devalued, with Cathay first class to Hong Kong rising from 70,000 to 130,000 miles.
Why did Alaska change its award charts?
It consolidated dozens of separate partner award charts into a single distance-based chart in 2024. The stated goal was simplicity, but the practical effect was gutting many of the premium sweet spots the program was known for.
Are Alaska miles still worth it?
For short-haul and some economy awards, yes, and the program still offers stopovers. But the premium long-haul sweet spots that made it elite were largely devalued in 2024, so it is less of a standout than before.
What is Atmos Rewards?
Atmos Rewards is the rebranding of Alaska loyalty as it merges with Hawaiian Airlines. Alaska Mileage Plan miles feed into it, and further program changes may follow the merger.
Bryce Casson, Founder of Cardocrat. Every card is ranked by what it actually returns, with all points valued at a flat 1 cent and offers verified against issuer sources. About the author.
