You’re not crazy, this confuses a lot of people since the move to the new system.
A few things that can cause big swings in “bonus” miles even on similar trips:
Base miles are distance based, but the elite bonus is a % of base, not of the fare. If the flight distances are different, even a little, the bonus will scale differently.
Some fare classes in First can earn different EQM/EQM-style credit depending on booking bucket.
If one segment was marketed by Alaska and the other was a partner (even subtly), the earning formula can change.
Occasionally, upgrades vs paid First can credit differently depending on how it was ticketed.
The key question is: were both segments actually purchased First, or was one upgraded?
If you compare:
Flight distance
Fare class letter
Whether it was AS marketed and operated
It usually explains the gap.
If the math still looks off after that, it’s worth submitting a mileage review request. The new system has definitely had some quirks.
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