Atmos Rewards Loyalty Program: Your Guide to the New Era
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Ever wished airline loyalty programs fit the way you travel — not the other way around? Meet Atmos Rewards, the freshly launched program from Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines — and it does exactly that. This isn’t just a merger of two frequent-flyer programs; it’s a complete reimagining. Starting in 2026, you’ll be able to choose how you earn points, earn faster on overseas spending, enjoy suite-level upgrades, and even surf the skies with free Starlink Wi-Fi. Let’s dive into what makes this program unique, how to switch over seamlessly, and why it might be the most traveler-friendly loyalty scheme yet.
What Is Atmos Rewards?
Atmos Rewards replaces both Alaska’s Mileage Plan and Hawaiian’s HawaiianMiles, creating a unified loyalty system across Alaska, Hawaiian, and their global airline partners. In practice, your existing accounts are simply converted: as of August 2025, all Mileage Plan members became Atmos Rewards members automatically (HawaiianMiles accounts will transition by Oct. 1, 2025, if they haven’t already been linked to Alaska’s program)
The important part: your points and perks carry over seamlessly. One old mile equals one Atmos point – the value of your rewards does not change, and Atmos points never expire. You’ll even keep the same account number and retain any elite status and benefits you’ve already earned. In short, Atmos Rewards is a single loyalty program spanning two airlines (a setup unique among U.S. carriers) but without asking you to sacrifice anything you’ve accumulated so far.
As Alaska’s Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Harrison explains, “Atmos Rewards is more than a loyalty program – it’s a reflection of how guests travel today… We’re putting our members in the pilot’s seat, giving them control over how they earn and redeem, while honoring the legacy and values of both Alaska and Hawaiian.” (Source)
How Do I Earn Points?
Unlike any other U.S. airline program, Atmos gives you options. In a first-of-its-kind move, members can choose how they earn points (and status) when flying on Alaska or Hawaiian flights. You select one of three earning methods – whichever makes the most sense for your travel style – and you can change your preference once per year.
The choices are:
- Distance flown: Earn 1 point per mile. Great if you often take long-haul trips on cheaper fares, since you’ll get credit for every mile in the air.
- Price paid: Earn 5 points per $1 spent on your ticket (base fare and any class upgrades). High spenders or premium-cabin flyers will rack up rewards fastest this way.
- Segments flown: Earn a flat 500 points per flight segment. Ideal for frequent short-hop travelers (say, island hopping in Hawaii or short flights within California) – this guarantees a solid chunk of points each trip even if mileage is low.
Here’s the thing: It’s the first airline program that truly rewards every travel style. Whether you’re an economy deal-hunter flying long distances or a business traveler buying last-minute tickets, Atmos has an earning track for you. “It is an unprecedented move for U.S. airline loyalty programs to let flyers pick their earning track,” notes travel expert Zach Griff.
Alaska will be the only U.S. airline still offering a distance-based earning option in 2026 – bringing back the old-school charm of earning miles by miles flown, while also providing revenue-based and segment-based options for those who prefer them.
Just remember, whichever method you choose, you’ll need to stick with it for the year (until you’re allowed to change again), so pick the track that fits your upcoming travel plans best.
Keep Your Status: Status Points 101
Elite status qualification is getting a makeover too. In Atmos Rewards, “status points” replace the old elite-qualifying miles – and there are now more ways to earn them. Your flight activity will convert into status points according to the earning option you selected (distance, dollars, or segments) just as it does for regular points. But on top of that, Atmos is making it faster and easier to climb status tiers with some generous boosts.
Here’s how you can elevate your status:
- Base flying = status points: However you choose to earn your regular points (by miles, money, or segments), you’ll earn status points the same way for elite qualification. For example, 1 mile flown equals 1 status point, $1 spent equals 5 status points, etc.
- Annual boost from credit card: Got the new Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite card? Every year on your cardmember anniversary, you’ll automatically get 10,000 bonus status points added to your account – a head start toward elite status each year.
- Credit card spending: Use an Atmos Rewards credit card for everyday purchases and you’ll earn status points for every dollar charged. The premium Summit card earns 1 status point per $2 spent with no cap. (Other Atmos cards earn 1 per $3 spent, with certain caps that will be removed after 2025.) This means your regular spending can significantly fast-track your status progress, on top of your flights.
All these avenues mean reaching elite levels like Atmos Silver, Gold, Platinum, or even Titanium (the new top tier) is easier and more within reach. In fact, with the Summit card’s boosts, spending about $20,000 on the card in a year would already secure Atmos Silver status – and higher tiers are not far beyond.
The tier structure has been updated (Silver ~20k status points, Gold ~40k, Platinum ~80k, Titanium ~135k) to align Alaska’s and Hawaiian’s old levels and to integrate with oneworld alliance tiers.
Atmos Rewards Elite Status Qualifications
| Tier | Status Points Required | Typical Perks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | 20,000 status points | Priority check-in & boarding, free checked bags, preferred seating | Entry-level tier; can be reached via Summit card spend ($40K = 20K pts), other cards $60K = 20K pts |
| Gold | 40,000 status points | Lounge access vouchers, complimentary upgrades, bonus earning on flights | Big step up in upgrade priority |
| Platinum | 75,000 status points | Premium cabin upgrades, waived fees, priority services | Equivalent to Alaska MVP Gold 75K / Hawaiian Pualani Platinum |
| Diamond | 100,000 status points | Oneworld Emerald access, international upgrades, highest upgrade priority | Top published tier, aligned with oneworld elites |
| Million Miler | Lifetime recognition after 1 million flown miles | Lifetime elite status (varies by tier earned at milestone) | Separate lifetime track, unaffected by annual reset |
But the benefits of status are also getting sweeter: Atmos Titanium members (the top elites) will enjoy unlimited, complimentary upgrades into lie-flat business class seats when available – yes, even those fancy suites with closing doors on long-haul flights. No certificates or copays needed; if there’s an empty premium seat on an Alaska or Hawaiian flight, a Titanium member flying in economy can snag it at departure. That’s a perk you won’t find offered by any other U.S. airline loyalty program and is a huge win for the most loyal flyers.
Member-Friendly Details: Point Value & No Expiration
Now for some peace of mind: all those hard-earned miles you had in Mileage Plan or HawaiianMiles are safe in Atmos Rewards. Your balances have carried over at a 1:1 ratio with the same value.
In other words, 1 old mile became 1 Atmos point, and redemption values (award charts, partner bookings, etc.) remain just as they were – no sneaky devaluation in the conversion.
Atmos Rewards Points Expiry Date
Unlike some programs that pressure you to burn points before they lose value, Atmos points come with no expiration date. You can earn and save at your own pace, without the “use it or lose it” deadlines. This is great news for casual travelers and points hoarders alike: feel free to save up for that dream trip on your own timeline.
Redeem Atmos Points for Award flights
And yes, you can still redeem Atmos points for award flights on Alaska, Hawaiian, and all the program’s 30+ global partner airlines (including the oneworld alliance members) – covering 1,000+ destinations worldwide.
Your points are as powerful as ever, now under a new name and with more ways to use them, and they’ll be there waiting for you whenever you’re ready to travel.
Bonus Perks: Global Companion Awards & Free Wi-Fi
Atmos Rewards isn’t just tweaking how you earn and burn points; it’s also throwing in some exciting new perks for members:
Global Companion Awards
With the launch of Atmos comes a brand-new opportunity to share your travel rewards.
Atmos is introducing Global Companion Award certificates – essentially discounted (or even free) companion tickets on award travel. Exclusively available to holders of the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa card, these certificates come in two flavors:
- 25,000 points (you get this every year, just for being a cardholder)
- 100,000 points (earned by hitting $60k in annual card spend).
You can use these to cover a companion’s ticket (up to the stated point value) when you book an award flight for two people.
Even better, they’re valid across the entire network – that means on Alaska or Hawaiian flights, or even on partner airlines (like oneworld carriers, Qatar Airways, British Airways, etc.) in any class – economy, business, first, you name it.
For example, if you find a pair of business class award seats to Europe for 120,000 points each, you could pay 120,000 for your ticket and use the 100k companion certificate so your partner flies for just 20,000 points. These companion awards are a huge value-add – essentially a way to unlock two-for-one award travel on a global scale, something we haven’t really seen before in airline programs.
Free In-Flight Wi-Fi
Say goodbye to paying for internet at 30,000 feet. Alaska is equipping its fleet with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite Wi‑Fi, and it’s making connectivity free for Atmos Rewards members. Starting in 2026, Atmos members on Alaska flights will be able to enjoy fast, streaming-capable Wi‑Fi at no charge, thanks in part to a partnership with T-Mobile. The entire Alaska fleet is slated to have Starlink installed by 2027.
Hawaiian Airlines isn’t left out either – many of Hawaiian’s aircraft are already outfitted with Starlink connectivity, so Atmos members flying Hawaiian will also get to log on for free as that system comes online.
Those are just two of the headline benefits.
Premium Credit Card
The new program is also rolling out an Atmos Rewards Summit premium credit card (as mentioned) packed with travel perks like lounge passes, elevated earning on dining and foreign purchases, and more.
Adding Non-Flight Partners
Plus, Atmos is adding non-flight partners where you can earn points – for instance, you can already earn Atmos points on Lyft rides (2x or 3x points per dollar, depending on ride type) just by linking your accounts. More hotel, car, and retail partners are expected to join in, giving members extra ways to rack up points on the ground. Atmos is clearly positioning itself as a traveler-first program with generous rewards at every turn.
What to Do Now (Migration Checklist)
Whether you’re an existing Alaska or Hawaiian frequent flyer, or someone eyeing to join, getting on board with Atmos Rewards is straightforward. Here’s your checklist to make a smooth transition and start taking advantage of the new program:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sign in to your existing account (Alaska Mileage Plan or HawaiianMiles). Make sure your contact info is up to date. Your account is now essentially an Atmos Rewards account – there’s nothing extra you need to do to register. |
| 2 | Watch for your Atmos Rewards account creation. Alaska members have automatically been converted in the system. HawaiianMiles members will see their accounts transition by Oct. 1, 2025 (if you had separate Alaska and Hawaiian accounts and didn’t link them, you’ll get a new Atmos account number for the Hawaiian side). Don’t worry – all your existing miles/points and status come with you. |
| 3 | Choose your preferred earning method once the option becomes available (in late 2026). Decide whether miles, dollars, or segments will earn you the most points based on your travel plans. You can change this selection annually, so it might be worth revisiting each year if your flying pattern changes. |
| 4 | Explore the Atmos Rewards Summit premium card. If you’re keen on fast-tracking status or unlocking those companion awards and lounge perks, consider applying for the new Summit Visa Infinite card. It comes with a hefty welcome bonus (100k points + a 25k companion certificate) and could pay off for frequent travelers with its ongoing benefits. Existing Alaska credit card holders: your card has been rebranded to Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa, and it still earns rewards (now Atmos points) as before – but you might compare the perks and annual fee to see if an upgrade to Summit makes sense for you. |
If you have the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard, it will continue to earn HawaiianMiles until Oct 1, then those will convert to Atmos points. After that, it will earn Atmos points and even status points at 1 per $3 spent, so you’re covered even if you stick with that card.
FAQs & Final Thoughts
Will my elite status carry over into Atmos?
Yes — any elite status you held with Alaska or Hawaiian is being honored in Atmos Rewards. Your status level, whether it’s MVP/Silver, Gold, etc., remains intact along with all the benefits you had before. The status tier names have been updated (e.g. MVP Gold is now Atmos Gold, etc.), but rest assured you’ve not lost your perks. In fact, you might gain some new ones as the program rolls out enhancements.
Can I change how I earn points mid-year if my travel pattern changes?
You can change your earning preference, but only once per year. This means you’ll choose one of the three earning methods (distance, dollars, or segments) and stick with it for that calendar year. However, you have the flexibility to switch to a different method for the next year if, say, you plan a big international trip (opt for distance) or anticipate mostly short hops (opt for segments). Choose the method that fits your itinerary best for the year, knowing you can adjust annually.
Do Atmos points ever expire?
Absolutely not. Atmos points never expire. You no longer need to worry about your hard-earned points vanishing due to inactivity. Whether you redeem them next month or years from now, they’ll hold their value. This gives you the freedom to save up for a big redemption on your own schedule.
Is Atmos Rewards part of an airline alliance?
Yes, Alaska is a member of oneworld, and Hawaiian Airlines is expected to join the oneworld alliance in 2026 as part of this integration. That means your Atmos elite status will translate to oneworld status (Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald) with perks on partner airlines. You can also redeem Atmos points on oneworld airlines and other global partners (over 30 partner airlines in total) covering 1,000+ destinations. It’s a global program in reach.
What about my existing Alaska or Hawaiian credit cards?
Alaska’s Visa Signature cards are being rebranded as Atmos Rewards “Ascent” Visa cards, but their benefits and your account number remain the same. You’ll continue earning points (now Atmos points) on them without interruption. Hawaiian’s Mastercard stays as is, seamlessly earning HawaiianMiles until the switch date, and then converting to Atmos points. No action needed on your part. Of course, the new Summit Visa Infinite is a separate product with more perks – you might choose to get it in addition to or instead of your current card, depending on your travel needs.
Conclusion
Atmos Rewards is more than an airline merger – it’s shaping up to be a loyalty revolution for travelers. By combining two beloved programs and adding innovative features, Alaska and Hawaiian have set a new standard for flexibility and generosity. You get to earn your way, enjoy points that never expire, snag valuable companion travel certificates, and even get free Wi‑Fi in flight.
Atmos Rewards promises to make your loyalty more rewarding than ever. Ready to see how your trips might change under Atmos? Time will tell, but from what we’ve seen so far, the sky isn’t even the limit. Safe travels and happy earning!
