Question 1

What happened to Alaska Mileage Plan and Hawaiian HawaiianMiles?

Accepted Answer

Alaska Mileage Plan was rebranded as Atmos Rewards on August 20, 2025, following the merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. All Mileage Plan accounts were automatically converted to Atmos Rewards accounts, with members retaining their account numbers, points balances, and elite status.HawaiianMiles will officially be absorbed into Atmos Rewards on October 1, 2025. At that time, HawaiianMiles members will have their miles transferred to Atmos Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. Members who haven't already linked their accounts will receive a new Atmos Rewards account number.The rebranding and merger of these programs brings together the best features of both, while maintaining the distance-based earning structure that made Alaska Mileage Plan popular. Elite status tiers have been renamed (Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium), but the qualification thresholds and core benefits remain largely the same for the 2025 program year.

Question 2

Do Atmos Rewards points expire?

Accepted Answer

No, Atmos Rewards points do not expire. This is a significant improvement over the previous Alaska Mileage Plan policy, which stated that accounts might be deactivated after 24 months of inactivity.While your points will never expire, it's worth noting that if your account goes completely inactive for two years, Alaska may lock the account as a security measure. In this case, you would need to call Alaska Airlines customer service to verify your identity and reactivate the account. Your points balance would remain intact.This "no expiration" policy gives members greater flexibility in saving points for high-value redemptions without the pressure of having to generate account activity to prevent points from expiring.

Question 3

How do stopovers work with Atmos Rewards?

Accepted Answer

One of the most valuable features of the Atmos Rewards program is the ability to add free stopovers to award tickets. Here's how the stopover policy works:Number of stopovers allowed:• One free stopover on one-way award tickets• Two free stopovers on round-trip award ticketsBooking rules:• Stopovers must be in cities where your carrier operates or connects• The stopover city must be a logical routing between your origin and destination• Stopovers can last as long as you want (within the ticket validity period)• You can book stopovers on both Alaska/Hawaiian and partner airline awardsHow to book:• For Alaska/Hawaiian flights: You can book stopovers online using the multi-city search tool• For partner airlines: You may need to call Atmos Rewards customer serviceExample uses:• Fly from Los Angeles to Sydney on Qantas with a stopover in Auckland• Fly from Seattle to Bangkok on Japan Airlines with a stopover in Tokyo• Fly from New York to Cape Town on Qatar Airways with a stopover in DohaThis stopover policy allows you to essentially visit two destinations for the price of one, significantly increasing the value of your Atmos Rewards points.

Question 4

What are the best ways to earn Atmos Rewards elite status?

Accepted Answer

There are several effective strategies to earn Atmos Rewards elite status:1. Fly long-haul premium cabins:• International first class partner flights booked through Alaska earn 350% of miles flown as status points• International business class partner flights earn 250% of miles flown• For example, a 10,000-mile round-trip in international first class would earn 35,000 status points—almost enough for Gold status2. Credit card spending:• The Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Card earns 1 status point for every $2 spent with no cap• The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature Card and Atmos Rewards Visa Business Card earn 1 status point for every $3 spent (up to 30,000 status points in 2025, uncapped in 2026)• The Summit card also provides 10,000 status points annually upon account anniversary3. Partner airline flights:• Book partner flights through Alaska/Hawaiian rather than directly with the partner• Partner flights booked through Alaska earn 100% of miles flown as status points in economy, compared to just 25-50% when booked directly4. Status match:• If you have elite status with another airline, you may be eligible for an Atmos Rewards status match challenge• Complete the required flying activity within 90 days to secure status for the remainder of the qualification period5. Milestone rewards rollover:• At the 85K, 150K, 200K, and 250K milestone levels, one option is to roll over 10,000 status points to the next qualification year• This gives you a head start on requalifying for statusStarting in 2026, you'll also be able to choose your preferred earning method (distance-based, spending-based, or segment-based), allowing you to optimize for your travel patterns.

Question 5

What are the best partner airline redemptions with Atmos Rewards?

Accepted Answer

Atmos Rewards offers several exceptional partner airline redemptions that provide outstanding value:1. Japan Airlines premium cabins:• Business class from the West Coast to Tokyo: 60,000 points one-way• Business class from the East Coast to Tokyo: 75,000 points one-way• First class from the West Coast to Tokyo: 75,000 points one-way• First class from the East Coast to Tokyo: 110,000 points one-way• These rates are significantly lower than what most other programs charge2. Cathay Pacific to Asia:• Business class from the U.S. to Hong Kong: 85,000 points one-way• First class from the U.S. to Hong Kong: 130,000 points one-way• Add a free stopover in Hong Kong when continuing to another Asian destination3. Fiji Airways to South Pacific:• Business class from the U.S. to Fiji: 75,000 points one-way• Business class from the U.S. to New Zealand/Australia with a stopover in Fiji: 85,000 points one-way4. American Airlines domestic flights:• Flights under 700 miles: 4,500 points one-way in economy• Flights 701-1,400 miles: 7,500 points one-way in economy• Often cheaper than booking through American's own AAdvantage program5. Aer Lingus to Europe:• Business class from the U.S. East Coast to Dublin: 45,000 points one-way• Business class from the U.S. West Coast to Dublin: 55,000 points one-wayRemember that all partner redemptions allow a free stopover on one-way awards, effectively allowing you to visit two destinations for the price of one. This significantly increases the value of these already competitive redemption rates.

Question 6

How does the Companion Fare benefit work?

Accepted Answer

The Companion Fare is one of the most valuable benefits of Alaska Airlines credit cards. Here's how it works:Traditional Companion Fare (Ascent and Business cards):• Available on the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature Card and Atmos Rewards Visa Business Card• Costs $99 plus taxes and fees (from $23)• Valid for one round-trip or one-way companion ticket when traveling with the primary cardholder• Only valid on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines operated flights• Valid only within the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Belize• Companion earns miles and can be upgraded based on status• Both travelers must be on the same itinerary and booked at the same time• Must spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year to receive the benefitGlobal Companion Award (Summit card):• Available on the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Card• Provides a discount of up to 25,000 points on a companion's award ticket• Can be used on any flight in Alaska's network, including international partner flights• Cardholders receive one 25,000-point Global Companion Award annually• Can earn an additional 100,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $60,000 in an anniversary year• Both travelers must be on the same itinerary and booked at the same timeHow to redeem:• Log in to your Atmos Rewards account• Look for the Companion Fare or Global Companion Award in your account• Select "Shop" to search for eligible flights• Choose your itinerary and follow the prompts to add your companionThe Companion Fare is particularly valuable for expensive routes, such as flights to Hawaii or during peak travel seasons, where you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Advertiser disclosure

Loyalty Program: Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards

Advantages

Travel Insurance