Atmos Rewards: Alaska & Hawaiian’s Revolutionary New Loyalty Program

Timeline and Transition

Atmos Rewards replaces Alaska Mileage Plan effective immediately, with existing Mileage Plan members automatically transitioned to the new program while retaining their account numbers and accumulated miles (now called “points”). HawaiianMiles members will transition to Atmos Rewards on October 1, 2025, receiving new account numbers unless they previously linked their HawaiianMiles account to a Mileage Plan account.

Elite Status Tiers and Requirements

The familiar MVP tiers have been rebranded with more conventional names while maintaining oneworld alliance status levels:

While qualification requirements remain unchanged for 2025, they will increase for the top two tiers in 2026. Notably, Titanium status will require a significant jump from 100,000 to 135,000 status points, though this comes with enhanced benefits.

Revolutionary Earning Options

Perhaps the most innovative aspect of Atmos Rewards is the unprecedented flexibility in how members earn points and status. Beginning in 2026, members can choose one of three earning tracks, making Alaska the only major U.S. airline to offer such options:

• Distance Traveled: Earn 1 point and 1 status point per mile flown
• Price Paid: Earn 5 points and 5 status points per dollar spent on base airfare and upgrades
• Segments Flown: Earn 500 points and 500 status points per flight segment

Members can select their preferred earning method once per year, allowing them to optimize based on their travel patterns. This flexibility directly addresses the divide between travelers who prefer traditional distance-based earning versus revenue-based systems adopted by most other major carriers.

Enhanced Upgrade Benefits

Atmos Rewards introduces significant upgrades enhancements, particularly for top-tier members:

These upgrade policies make Atmos Rewards the first U.S. airline program to offer unlimited global upgrades to top-tier elites without requiring certificates. However, upgrades outside North America are limited to day-of-departure availability.

Credit Cards and Status Earning

Atmos Rewards introduces a compelling new premium credit card while enhancing the status-earning potential across its card portfolio:

New Premium Card: Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Card

The new flagship card offers exceptional benefits for its $395 annual fee:

The Global Companion Award is particularly valuable as it can be applied to premium cabin partner redemptions, potentially saving significant points on high-value business class awards.

Rebranded Credit Cards

• Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card → Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature Card
• Alaska Airlines Visa Business Card → Atmos Rewards Visa Business Card
• Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard will continue unchanged (until October 2025)

Enhanced Status Earning Through Credit Card Spend

The new program significantly enhances the ability to earn status through credit card spending:

With the Summit card’s annual 10,000 status point boost and the ability to earn 1 status point per $2 spent (uncapped), heavy spenders could potentially earn Gold status (40,000 status points) through card spending alone.

Status Points on Award Travel

Another significant benefit retained from Alaska Mileage Plan is the ability to earn status points when redeeming points for award travel, based on your selected earning track:

This feature remains a key differentiator from competitors like American Airlines, which doesn’t offer status-earning opportunities on award travel.

Atmos Communities

Beginning in 2026, Atmos Rewards will introduce “Atmos Communities,” allowing members to join interest-based groups that offer tailored benefits. These will include:

While full details of these communities are still forthcoming, they represent a novel approach to personalization in loyalty programs.

Additional Program Enhancements

Free Starlink Wi-Fi

Alaska is installing Starlink Wi-Fi across its entire fleet (including regional jets) throughout 2026 and into early 2027. This high-speed connectivity will be free for all Atmos Rewards members, regardless of elite status.

New Partners

Atmos Rewards members can earn 2 points per dollar on regular Lyft rides and 3 points per dollar on airport and premium Lyft rides. Additional earning partners are expected to be announced later in 2025.

Milestone Rewards

The program will continue to offer milestone rewards, with members unlocking choice benefits starting at just 10,000 status points, allowing more frequent recognition throughout the qualification journey.

Points Valuation and Redemption

Alaska has confirmed that “the value of points does not change, and points do not expire.” The airline is committed to maintaining its partner award chart structure, which has long been one of the most valuable aspects of Alaska Mileage Plan. Redemptions will start at just 4,500 points one-way.

Members can redeem points for award travel to more than 1,000 destinations on Alaska, Hawaiian, and 30+ global airline partners, including oneworld member airlines.

Potential Drawbacks

While most changes appear positive, there are a few potential drawbacks:

Alaska’s Growing Global Network

The new loyalty program coincides with Alaska’s continued international expansion, including new flights from Seattle to Rome, London, and Reykjavik beginning in spring 2026, and existing/planned service to Asian destinations like Tokyo and Seoul. By 2030, Alaska plans to serve 12 intercontinental destinations from Seattle, supported by a new Boeing 787-9 hub that will deploy up to 17 787s across its global network.

Bottom Line

Atmos Rewards represents a significant evolution in airline loyalty programs, maintaining the core strengths of Alaska’s highly-regarded Mileage Plan while introducing industry-first innovations like customizable earning methods. For most members, particularly those who valued Alaska’s distance-based earning model, the changes are overwhelmingly positive.

The new program strikes a balance between preserving what frequent flyers loved about Mileage Plan while expanding benefits to accommodate Hawaiian’s network and enhancing global partner opportunities. The introduction of the premium Summit card further elevates the program’s value proposition, especially for those who frequently redeem points for partner awards.

With these changes, Alaska positions Atmos Rewards as potentially the most competitive loyalty program among U.S. carriers, particularly for savvy points maximizers who appreciate the flexibility to choose how they earn and the continued ability to accrue status through award travel.

FAQs: Atmos Rewards Program

When does the new Atmos Rewards program take effect?

Atmos Rewards replaced Alaska Mileage Plan in August 2025. For HawaiianMiles members, the transition will occur on October 1, 2025.

What happens to my existing Alaska Mileage Plan miles?

Your miles have been converted to Atmos Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio. The value of your points remains unchanged, and they do not expire.

What happens to my HawaiianMiles account?

HawaiianMiles accounts will automatically transition to Atmos Rewards on October 1, 2025. Members will receive a new account number unless they previously linked their HawaiianMiles account to an Alaska Mileage Plan account.

How will elite status qualification change?

Elite qualification requirements remain unchanged for 2025. For 2026, requirements for Silver and Gold status remain the same, while Platinum will increase to 80,000 status points (from 75,000) and Titanium will increase to 135,000 status points (from 100,000).

How do the three earning tracks work?

Beginning in 2026, members can choose annually between earning based on distance flown (1 point per mile), price paid (5 points per dollar), or segments flown (500 points per segment). The same rates apply to both redeemable points and status points.

What is the Global Companion Award on the Summit card?

The Global Companion Award is a certificate worth either 25,000 or 100,000 points that can be applied to discount a companion award ticket. The 25,000-point certificate is earned annually, while the 100,000-point certificate requires $60,000 in annual spend on the card. These certificates can be used on Alaska, Hawaiian, or any partner airline redemption.

Can I earn status through credit card spending?

Yes. The Summit card earns 1 status point per $2 spent (uncapped) plus a 10,000 status point annual boost. The Ascent and Business cards earn 1 status point per $3 spent, with caps being removed in 2026.

Do I still earn status points on award travel?

Yes, you earn status points when redeeming your points for flights, based on your selected earning track (distance, price, or segments).

What are Atmos Communities?

Launching in 2026, Atmos Communities are interest-based groups that offer tailored benefits. They include geographic communities like Huakaʻi (Hawaii residents) and Club 49 (Alaska residents), as well as new interest-based communities for international residents, food enthusiasts, adventure travelers, and families.

Are award charts changing with the new program?

Alaska has committed to maintaining the current structure of its award charts. The value of points and the way they’re redeemed for partner awards remains consistent with the previous program.