After gobbling up Hawaiian Airlines in a major acquisition over a year a year ago, Alaska Airlines warned that major changes were coming this summer to its (rightfully) beloved Mileage Plan miles as the two carriers combine loyalty programs. That day has come.
It's called … Atmos Rewards.
Alright, the name might be somewhat cringe. But honestly, that's just about the only potential negative news in a whole raft of changes that Alaska and Hawaiian finally unveiled on Wednesday morning.
The airlines are retaining the unique ability to earn redeemable miles based upon how far you fly – not just what you pay, as has been the case with virtually every other U.S. carrier for years – while introducing other options. They're reworking their status program, including first-of-their-kind complimentary business class upgrades on Alaska's rapidly growing list of long-haul international flights. The airlines plan to outfit their entire fleet with fast-and-free Starlink Wi-Fi. And as promised, there's a brand-new premium travel credit card in the fold … complete with an eye-popping 100,000-mile bonus after spending $6,000 in the first 90 days.
“With the combination of Alaska and Hawaiian, we seized a rare opportunity to imagine how we could make the most generous loyalty program even better,” Brett Catlin, Alaska's vice president of loyalty, alliances and sales, said in a statement.
Take a closer look at what's in store for the new Alaska and Hawaiian mileage program, Atmos Rewards.
Don't Worry About Your Miles (Yet)
They're not miles any more. They're Atmos Rewards points. And for now, it's a change in name only.
Alaska Mileage Plan members will become Atmos Rewards members (with the same account number) effective immediately, with their miles automatically converted to the new currency on a 1:1 basis.
HawaiianMiles, meanwhile, will transition to the new system – again, on a 1:1 basis – come Oct. 1. Loyal Hawaiian flyers who have already linked their account to Alaska will keep the same number, while those who haven't will get a new account number. If you've got a Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®, don't worry – that card's not going anywhere.
All that said, little is changing with Alaska's rewards program and its many mileage sweet spots travelers know and love. You'll still be able to book domestic flights for as low as 4,500 miles each way and great partner award redemptions like Aer Lingus business class for 45,000 miles, Condor business class for 55,000 miles, LATAM business class to Peru from just 35,000 miles, and far more.
But the writing is on the wall. Between the influx of points as two mileage programs become one, all the travelers who took advantage of a short-lived opportunity to turn Amex points into Alaska miles, and huge new credit card offers (more on those soon), it's only a matter of time before this new Atmos Rewards system takes a hit.
That's true of any airline mileage program – now more than ever, pointsflation is inevitable. But if you ask us, that threat is really looming large over this new, combined program.
Choose How You Earn Points
In addition to all those outstanding deals, one thing has always set Alaska's Mileage Plan apart: Long after other airlines transitioned to a (far less rewarding) system that hinged upon what you spend, Alaska has always awarded miles based upon how far you fly.
That alone made the airline's program a goldmine for loyal customers – especially those based at its Seattle (SEA) hub. And that's not going away for this new Atmos Rewards program.
Even as it transitions to the new system, Alaska and Hawaiian will continue to award points and status points based upon distance flown … until sometime “later in 2026,” when members will be able to choose between:
- Earning points based upon distance flown, which the carriers describe as the best bet for “thrifty travelers (hey that's us!) who take cross-country or international trips.”
- Earning points based upon the price, with a flat five points (or more for travelers with status) per $1 spent on airfare as well as upgrades.
- Earning points based upon segments flown at a flat 500 points per flight, the best bet for travelers who take a ton of connections on otherwise cheap trips
The airlines say you'll be able to change your earning preference once per year – with no apparent restriction on whether that can occur mid-year.
There's another new(ish) way to earn Alaska points, too: Lyft rides. Effective immediately, Alaska and Hawaiian flyers can link their account with Lyft and earn:
- 2x points on all Lyft rides or
- 3x points on rides to the airport or “elevated Lyft rides”
I say new(ish), because travelers can already earn transferrable Bilt points on their trips with Lyft, then kick them over to Alaska. That could be the wiser choice, especially if you have a Bilt Mastercard® (for full disclosure, this is a personal referral link).
New Look for Atmos Status
Alaska's branding for status – with names like MVP and MVP Gold 100K – is out. Earning status with both carriers has a new look.
Here are each of the four tiers of Atmos status, alongside the corresponding Oneworld status you'll earn at each step.
At launch, the carriers are leaving the thresholds to earn each level of status unchanged. That means you'll need:
- 20,000 status points to earn Atmos Silver
- 40,000 status points to earn Atmos Gold
- 75,000 status points to earn Atmos Platinum
- 100,000 status points to earn top-tier Atmos Titanium
But starting next year, the top two tiers of status will require even more points to earn:
- Atmos Platinum will require 80,000 points
- Atmos Titanium will move all the way up to 135,000 status points
Travelers who earn either status this year will get a head start next year, with a bonus of 5,000 status points for Platinum and 20,000-points head start at Titanium. Those points should hit your account in February 2026.
There's a good reason to make the stretch for top-tier Titanium status…
Business Class Upgrades Overseas!
These days, upgrades are few and far between as more and more travelers buy up to a bigger seat … whether it's a good deal or not. And for long-haul flights overseas, even top flyers with American or Delta can never bank on a complimentary upgrade to business class.
Alaska and Hawaiian are putting the prospect of a free upgrade into one of these suites overseas into the mix.
Those long-haul business class upgrades will be an exclusive feature of the airlines' top “Atmos Titanium” status – and not just for the traveler with elite status, but for a companion too! Naturally, these upgrades will only occur when space is available and only on the day-of-departure, so they'll likely be incredibly hit or miss.
But after being a primarily domestic airline, Alaska has already put five long-haul destinations on the map. Service from Seattle to Tokyo-Narita (NRT) has already begun while flights to Seoul-Incheon (ICN) will commence next month. Next year, the airline will add Rome (FCO), London-Heathrow (LHR), and Reykjavik (KEF) to the map. Hawaiian, meanwhile, currently flies to a handful of destinations in Asia, Australia, and beyond from its Honolulu (HNL) hub.
By the end of the decade, Alaska say it'll fly to at least a dozen destinations around the globe.
It's been rumored for months, and it's here.
Alaska is officially introducing a pricier – but not too pricey! – premium travel credit card loaded with extra benefits. It's called the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® (for full disclosure, this is not an affiliate link). While other banks and airlines are loading up their cards and pushing up annual fees, this one clocks in at a reasonable annual price of just $395.
We've covered that card in depth separately, but here are the highlights:
- A massive introductory welcome bonus of 100,000 Atmos Rewards after spending $6,000 within the first 90 days of card membership
- A 25,000-point Global Companion Award, allowing you to knock 25,000 points off the cost of a companion's award ticket when you book your own seat using points … on any flight, whether it's operated by Alaska and Hawaiian or a partner carrier. You'll get this after meeting the minimum spend requirement and each year upon card renewal
- By spending $60,000 in a cardmember (not calendar) year, you can earn a 100,000-point Companion Award
- Eight annual Alaska Lounge passes
- Earn 3x redeemable Atmos points per dollar on eligible Alaska and Hawaiian purchases
- Earn 3x redeemable Atmos points per dollar on dining and “eligible foreign purchases”
- Earn 1x Atmos status points for every $2 spent on the card, so spending $20,000 would earn you 10,000 points toward status
- Waived partner award booking fees when booking award tickets on other carriers using your Atmos points
- Free points sharing with up to 10 friends, family members, or fellow cardholders
Check out our full breakdown of the new premium Atmos Summit Card!
Meanwhile, the longtime go-to Alaska card – the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card – is being rebranded as the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® (for full disclosure, this is not an affiliate link). For now, nothing with that card is changing.
Starlink Wi-Fi is Coming Fleetwide
Hawaiian was among the first airlines in the world to outfit its planes with blazing fast Starlink Wi-Fi. The entire combined fleet is getting that treatment.
Atmos members – which is free to join – can get online for free on any plane with the technology installed. The airlines say that will start on Alaska's fleet sometime next year and be fully installed in 2027.
Bottom Line
The new Alaska (and Hawaiian) loyalty program is here. For now, it sure looks a lot like the old one.
At launch of this new Atmos Rewards program, the airline's aren't messing with virtually any of the aspect of the widely beloved Alaska Mileage Plan program … while adding some genuinely exciting features. Let's hope that lasts.
Lead photo courtesy of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines
