Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Airline partnership headlines can mislead even frequent flyers. Alaska Airlines and American Airlines still maintain an active partnership that includes selected codeshare flights, reciprocal loyalty benefits, and shared oneworld privileges. Here is what that means for your bookings, points and miles, and travel day.
Updated on 2026-07-24
Quick Answer
No. Alaska Airlines and American Airlines still maintain an active partnership that includes selected codeshare flights, reciprocal award access, and status benefits. However, eligibility depends on the marketing carrier, operating carrier, fare class, route, and loyalty number attached to the booking. Alaska’s loyalty program is now called Atmos Rewards, not Mileage Plan.
Key Takeaways
- The Alaska-American codeshare and broader airline partnership remain active.
- A codeshare lets one airline sell selected flights operated by the other airline under its own flight number.
- AAdvantage and Atmos Rewards members can earn or redeem rewards on eligible partner flights, but fare and ticketing restrictions apply.
- Alaska joined the oneworld alliance on March 31, 2021, adding shared status benefits and international connection options.
- The end of American’s separate JetBlue Northeast Alliance did not end the Alaska-American partnership.
Did Alaska Airlines and American Airlines End Their Codeshare?
No. Current partner information published by both airlines continues to describe American-marketed flights operated by Alaska, Alaska-marketed flights operated by American, reciprocal reward earning, award booking, and status benefits.
American’s official Alaska Airlines partner page states that eligible travelers can earn and redeem AAdvantage miles on Alaska. It also explains how American-marketed flights operated by Alaska earn under American’s accrual rules.
Alaska’s current American Airlines partner page lets Atmos Rewards members earn points, redeem points, and receive eligible status benefits on American flights. It also refers directly to American-operated flights marketed by Alaska, confirming that codeshare activity continues.
A codeshare can place one airline’s flight number on a flight operated by another airline. The partnership affects how the flight is sold, but it does not change which airline supplies the aircraft and crew.
What the active partnership includes
- Selected codeshare flights: One airline can market certain flights operated by the other.
- Reward earning: AAdvantage miles or Atmos Rewards points may be earned on eligible partner flights.
- Award travel: Members can use eligible AAdvantage miles or Atmos Rewards points to book partner flights.
- Status benefits: Eligible travelers may receive benefits such as priority services, preferred seating, baggage allowances, lounge access, or space-available upgrades.
- oneworld benefits: Qualifying status members receive corresponding oneworld Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald privileges.
The airlines also expanded codeshare coverage in late 2023 on several West Coast and transcontinental markets. That expansion is useful historical context, but current airline partner pages are the best sources for checking whether a specific flight remains eligible today.
Note: American’s current partner page says that, beginning April 22, 2026, its Alaska partnership treatment also includes Hawaiian Airlines flights operated by Alaska as Hawaiian Airlines. Always check the flight’s operating disclosure and current earning table before booking.
How AAdvantage Miles and Atmos Rewards Points Work
Earning AAdvantage miles on Alaska flights
AAdvantage members can earn miles on eligible Alaska-marketed and operated flights and certain Alaska codeshare flights. The amount earned can depend on the fare class and flight distance.
If the ticket has an American flight number but Alaska operates the flight, it generally earns according to American’s mileage-accrual rules. If it has an Alaska flight number, American’s Alaska partner chart and eligible booking codes apply.
American currently states that Alaska Basic Economy tickets in booking class X purchased on or after December 17, 2025 do not earn AAdvantage miles or Loyalty Points. Other unlisted booking classes may also earn nothing.
Earning Atmos Rewards points on American flights
Alaska’s former Mileage Plan program became Atmos Rewards on August 20, 2025. Existing Mileage Plan accounts and balances moved into the new program, and miles became Atmos Rewards points.
Atmos Rewards members can earn points on eligible American flights. The rate can change based on where the flight was booked, the marketing flight number, cabin, and fare class. Check Alaska’s American partner page instead of assuming every American fare earns the same amount.
Redeeming rewards
AAdvantage members can use miles for eligible Alaska-operated award travel. Atmos Rewards members can use points for eligible American-operated award travel. Award availability can differ from cash-seat availability, and the number of points or miles required can change.
Choose one loyalty program per flight
A flight segment can normally be credited to only one frequent-flyer program. Add either your AAdvantage number or your Atmos Rewards number based on which program you want to use. Do not expect the same flight to earn rewards in both programs.
Warning: Do not rely only on the airline logos shown in search results. Check the flight number, operating carrier, fare class, and partner earning table before buying a nonrefundable ticket.
What Elite Benefits Can You Receive?
AAdvantage status members can receive eligible benefits when flying Alaska, while Atmos Rewards status members can receive benefits when flying American. The exact benefit depends on status level, route, fare, and availability.
Possible AAdvantage benefits on Alaska
- Priority check-in and boarding
- Preferred seating or Premium Class access on eligible fares
- Free checked baggage based on status
- Space-available upgrades on qualifying flights
- Eligible lounge access on qualifying international itineraries
Possible Atmos Rewards benefits on American
- Preferred or Main Cabin Extra seating based on status and availability
- Priority airport services
- Qualifying checked-bag benefits
- Space-available upgrades on eligible routes
- oneworld status privileges
According to Alaska’s current American Airlines status-benefit page, American Basic Economy tickets purchased on or after May 18, 2026 are not eligible for complimentary Atmos Rewards status upgrades. Saver and Basic Economy fares can also have seating or upgrade restrictions.
Note: Lounge access is not an automatic benefit on every domestic trip. It depends on your status, cabin, itinerary, lounge membership, and the airlines’ current access rules.
What to Check When Booking and Traveling
Before you book
- Confirm which airline markets and operates each segment.
- Check whether the fare class earns rewards in your chosen program.
- Review seat-selection, upgrade, cancellation, and baggage restrictions.
- Enter the loyalty number for the program where you want the flight credited.
- Save the ticket number and all airline confirmation codes.
After booking
Open the reservation on both airlines’ websites when possible. The operating airline may control the seat map, special-service requests, or day-of-travel check-in even when the other airline sold the ticket.
You can use your ticket details to check your class of travel, but the displayed cabin name alone may not reveal the fare class used for partner earning. Review the receipt or contact the airline if the booking code is unclear.
On the travel day
Follow the check-in instructions in your confirmation email or airline app. At the airport, use the operating carrier shown for the first flight unless your itinerary gives different instructions.
For a schedule change before departure, start with the airline that issued the ticket. For a gate change, boarding issue, seat problem, or same-day delay, the operating airline usually has the most current operational information.
After the trip
Keep your boarding passes and receipt until the rewards post correctly. If points or miles are missing, request credit from the loyalty program whose number was attached to the reservation.
Why Some Headlines Suggested the Partnership Ended
The JetBlue Northeast Alliance was a different partnership
American’s Northeast Alliance with JetBlue focused on coordinated operations in Boston and New York. A federal district court ruled against that arrangement in May 2023, and the appeals court affirmed the judgment in November 2024.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s account of the case concerns American and JetBlue. It does not say that American ended its codeshare or loyalty partnership with Alaska.
Pilot scope disputes are separate labor issues
A scope clause is labor-contract language that limits the amount or type of flying an airline can assign to partners or affiliated operators. Reports about scope clauses, future international flying, or partner-operated flights may affect how a proposed service is structured.
A pilot-contract disagreement does not automatically terminate every existing codeshare flight. Travelers should verify the status of the specific route and flight number rather than treating a labor headline as proof that the entire Alaska-American partnership ended.
Key Terms Explained
- Codeshare
- An arrangement in which one airline markets a selected flight operated by another airline under its own flight number.
- Marketing carrier
- The airline whose code and flight number appear on the ticket for that segment.
- Operating carrier
- The airline that supplies the aircraft, crew, and actual flight service.
- Fare class
- The booking-code letter used to identify the ticket category. It can affect reward earning, upgrades, and other benefits.
- Scope clause
- Labor-contract language that limits how much or what type of flying an airline can assign to partners or affiliated operators.
- Reciprocal benefits
- Benefits that members of one airline’s loyalty program may receive when flying an eligible partner airline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Alaska and American Airlines end their codeshare?
No. Current partner pages from both airlines continue to describe selected codeshare flights, reciprocal reward earning and redemption, and status benefits. Specific routes, fares, and booking classes can change.
Can I earn or redeem rewards across both airlines?
Yes, on eligible flights. AAdvantage members can earn or redeem miles on qualifying Alaska flights, and Atmos Rewards members can earn or redeem points on qualifying American flights. Fare class, flight number, booking source, and route restrictions apply.
Is Alaska’s loyalty program still called Mileage Plan?
No. Alaska launched Atmos Rewards in August 2025. Mileage Plan members automatically became Atmos Rewards members, existing miles became points, and account numbers continued without interruption.
Can I earn AAdvantage miles and Atmos Rewards points on the same flight?
Normally, no. A flight segment is credited to the loyalty program attached to the reservation. Choose the program that provides the earning rate or status progress you value most.
How do I book a codeshare flight on Alaska or American?
Search directly on either airline’s website and inspect each flight’s details. Look for the marketing flight number and an “operated by” statement naming the airline that will supply the aircraft and crew.
Which airline should I use for check-in?
Follow the instructions in your confirmation email or app. The operating carrier commonly handles airport check-in and day-of-travel operations, but your itinerary may provide different instructions for a multi-airline trip.
Why did some articles say the partnership ended?
Many reports referred to American’s separate Northeast Alliance with JetBlue or to pilot-contract scope disputes. Neither event, by itself, ended the Alaska-American codeshare.
Do elite benefits apply to Basic Economy fares?
Not always. Basic Economy and Saver fares can be excluded from reward earning, upgrades, preferred seating, or other benefits. Check the current partner and status-benefit pages before purchasing.
The Alaska-American codeshare remains a useful partnership, particularly for travelers combining Alaska’s West Coast network with American’s broader domestic and international routes. The most important step is to check the operating carrier, flight number, fare class, and loyalty rules for your exact itinerary before paying.
Related Articles
Sources
- American Airlines: Alaska Airlines Partner Information — current AAdvantage earning, redemption, fare-class, and status-benefit rules.
- Alaska Airlines: American Airlines Partner Information — current Atmos Rewards earning, redemption, and codeshare information.
- Alaska Airlines: Atmos Rewards Benefits on American — current seating, upgrade, route, and Basic Economy restrictions.
- Alaska Airlines: Introducing Atmos Rewards — confirms the August 2025 replacement of Mileage Plan terminology.
- oneworld: Alaska Airlines Officially Joins oneworld — confirms Alaska’s March 31, 2021 membership date.
- U.S. Department of Justice: Northeast Alliance Court Decision — explains the separate American-JetBlue antitrust case.