Many travel loyalty programs offer the ability to earn lifetime elite status. Ordinarily elite status has to be earned on an annual basis, so it sure is nice to be able to not worry about requalifying for status anymore.
In this post, I want to take a look at how Alaska Atmos Rewards lifetime status works. While Alaska isn’t as global as the “big three” US carriers, the airline is in the oneworld alliance, and has a compelling lifetime recognition program.
Separately, I’ve written about lifetime elite status with American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, and United MileagePlus. On the hotel front, I’ve also written about lifetime elite status with Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt.
In this post:
How to earn Alaska Atmos Rewards lifetime status
Alaska Atmos Rewards’ million miler program is rewarding, though earning lifetime status can be challenging. That’s because only “butt-in-seat” revenue miles on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines count toward lifetime status, so this requires a lot of commitment and loyalty. Atmos Rewards has two lifetime status thresholds, so let’s go over the details of those.
Lifetime Atmos Rewards Gold status (one million miler)
Those who earn one million miler status with Alaska Airlines receive Atmos Rewards Gold status for life, and will also receive status for a companion. Gold is one of Alaska’s mid-tier elite status thresholds, so that’s pretty valuable, especially since it also offers oneworld Sapphire status. Note that million milers receive upgrade priority over those in the same elite tier and fare class who aren’t million milers.
In addition to the status, you’ll be able to select a one-time gift from a custom catalog, which will be emailed to you upon earning the status.
Lifetime Atmos Rewards Platinum status (two million miler)
Those who earn two million miler status with Alaska Airlines receive Atmos Rewards Platinum status for life, and will also receive status for a companion. This is Alaska’s second highest elite tier, after Atmos Rewards Titanium status. Platinum comes with oneworld Emerald status, which is my favorite alliance elite tier. Note that million milers receive upgrade priority over those in the same elite tier and fare class who aren’t million milers.
Alaska’s million miler status points boost
Alaska Airlines also gives million milers a boost of status points every year. Those who earn one million miler status receive 20,000 bonus status points annually, while those who earn two million miler status receive 40,000 bonus status points annually.
This can hugely come in handy if you’re trying to achieve an elite tier that’s higher than that of your lifetime status, or if you want to unlock milestone perks.
Alaska’s million miler companion benefit
Alaska Airlines million milers are able to share status with someone in their household. They can share the higher of their lifetime elite status, or their earned status in a particular year. In other words, if you earned Atmos Rewards Titanium status in a particular year, you could share that with a companion. The companion benefit can be requested at this link, and will automatically renew every January.
Alaska Atmos Rewards lifetime status FAQs
While the above covers the basics of Alaska’s million miler program, let me answer some of the questions people may have about the program.
What counts toward Atmos Rewards million miler status?
Only paid, “butt-in-seat” miles on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines count toward million miler status. Flights on partner airlines, class of service bonuses, award flights, etc., all don’t count toward lifetime status (even though award flights otherwise accrue status points).
Can you earn lifetime Atmos Rewards status with credit card spending?
Nope, you can earn lifetime status exclusively through how many miles you fly on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. While spending on Alaska’s co-branded credit cards can earn you status points, this doesn’t count toward lifetime status.
How can you track your Atmos Rewards million miler status progress?
When you log into your Atmos Rewards account just scroll down, and you’ll see a section that shows your “Million miler milestone” progress. There it will show your lifetime miles toward million miler, plus how long you’ve been a member of the program.
Do Atmos Rewards million miler miles expire?
Miles toward million miler status will continue to accrue over the lifetime of your account. Unlike status points, they don’t reset each calendar year.
Also keep in mind that miles toward million miler status are completely separate from redeemable points, as you can’t use million miler miles toward anything. It’s simply a tally of how many total revenue miles you’ve flown on Alaska Airlines over the years.
Can you earn lifetime Atmos Rewards Titanium status?
While Alaska Airlines lets members earn top-tier Atmos Rewards Titanium status on an annual basis, there’s no way to earn lifetime Titanium status. That could certainly be added in the future, but isn’t available yet.
What are the benefits of Atmos Rewards Gold & Platinum status?
What are the benefits of Atmos Rewards elite status? Some of the most popular benefits of Atmos Rewards Gold status include:
- Complimentary upgrades to first class up to 72 hours before departure, including for companions
- Complimentary upgrades to Premium Class up to 72 hours before departure, including for companions
- Priority check-in, boarding, and security
- Two complimentary checked bags
- A 50% points bonus
- oneworld Sapphire status
Some of the most popular benefits of Atmos Rewards Platinum status include:
- Complimentary upgrades to first class up to 120 hours before departure, including for companions
- Complimentary upgrades to Premium Class at time of booking, including for companions
- Priority check-in, boarding, and security
- Three complimentary checked bags
- A 100% points bonus
- oneworld Emerald status
Bottom line
Alaska Atmos Rewards offers a lifetime status program, whereby you can receive Gold status for flying one million miles on Alaska or Hawaiian, and Platinum status for flying two million miles on Alaska and Hawaiian. You can even nominate a companion in your household to receive the same status, which is awesome. The Atmos Rewards lifetime status program is both rewarding and difficult to earn, given that the only metric for qualifying is miles flown on Alaska and Hawaiian.
Are any OMAAT readers Atmos Rewards million mile flyers?
Ben,
Three million miles earns what is now called lifetime Titanium.
https://news.alaskaair.com/loyalty/record-breaking-loyalty-3-million-miler-sets-record-flying-alaska-airlines/
I noticed that mileage tickets on an Alaska and Hawaiian are also counting toward lifetime status this past year. I think it may have been a subtle adjustment when they started counted mileage tickets toward status points.
Whether it is annually earned tier status or lifetime tier status, it provides what benefits that a premium cabin ticket does not otherwise provide? Tier status should be an after-thought of the flying you would ordinarily do.
It's always about the unpublished benefits when you're in a bad situation.