It has been quite the day when it comes to announcements from Alaska Airlines, including related to the Atmos Rewards program. We’ve learned about when Atmos Rewards will introduce its new points earning structure, and we’ve also learned about the new Atmos Rewards Communities concept.
Here’s my last Atmos Rewards update of the day — it sounds like the program will be partnering with more transferable points currencies, and on top of that, we’ll see Bank of America launch a transferable points currency! Let’s cover what we know so far…
Atmos Rewards expanding points transfer options
Atmos Rewards has revealed that in 2027, it’ll partner with more transferable points currencies:
In 2027, Alaska also plans to deepen its Bank of America relationship by enabling customers with eligible Bank of America card products to transfer points into Atmos Rewards. The new capability will give Bank of America cardholders another path into Atmos Rewards while creating an additional revenue opportunity for Alaska through the sale of points. Over time, Atmos Rewards also plans to add points-transfer opportunities with other select global financial institutions, creating incremental revenue while building the program’s global relevance.
The first big key detail here is that Bank of America will introduce points transfers to Atmos Rewards. While Atmos Rewards co-branded credit cards are already issued by Bank of America, this is an interesting development, as Atmos Rewards doesn’t currently have a transferable points currency.
So we can only speculate as to what this arrangement will look like, but it’s always exciting to see more options in the market. Will points transfers be added to some existing cards, as an alternative to earning cash back? Or will we see a new dedicated points card introduced?
Also interesting is that Atmos Rewards will partner with more points currencies. Currently, Atmos Rewards only partners with Bilt Rewards (well, and Marriott Bonvoy), and has clearly intentionally stayed away from partnering with other programs. It sounds like that will be changing, so let’s see just how widespread transfers get.
Will Atmos Rewards go as extreme as Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, in terms of partnering with virtually everyone? Or what will that selection process look like?
Are more Atmos Rewards points transfers good or bad?
I suspect people will be of two minds when it comes to Atmos Rewards partnering with more transferable points currencies.
Some people will likely view this as a positive, and be excited to have more opportunities to earn valuable Atmos Rewards points. Others will likely view this as a negative, in terms of “opening the floodgates,” and may wonder to what extent Atmos Rewards is committed to preserving the value of points.
What’s my take? Well, there’s no denying that increased “funnels” into efficiently earning American AAdvantage miles and Alaska Atmos Rewards points does increase competition for the oneworld awards that are available (keep in mind that Citi ThankYou added American AAdvantage as a transfer partner last year).
At the same time, I do believe Alaska management is committed to keeping the program attractive. I think it’s important to remember that the biggest challenge Atmos Rewards members face isn’t necessarily what partner award pricing is like (though it’s mostly very attractive), but instead, how much award space partner airlines actually make available to their non-native program.
One of the biggest trends impacting points collectors has been how airlines increasingly restrict award space to partner programs, and that’s something that I anticipate will only continue to get worse. That’s the real factor limiting the value of Atmos Rewards points, as I see it.
Bottom line
Atmos Rewards has announced that in 2027, it’ll start to partner with more transferable points currencies. That reportedly includes Bank of America, which doesn’t currently have a transferable points currency, so that’s pretty cool, at least. As of now there are more questions than answers, but Atmos Rewards is definitely trying to go more mainstream.
What do you make of Atmos Rewards planning more points transfer options?
If you get Zach Griff's (fromthetraytable.com) e-mails, he had a tidbit in there about Bilt transfers to Atmos (and it may not be good news). Still rumor for now but something to be aware of:
I suspect the use of “global financial institutions” is a pretty critical distinction here. I am going to take a wild swing that AS will add non-US financial partners but that BoA will be the exclusive transfer partner in the US. So you might see, e.g., Singapore TYP go to AS or Canada MR go to AS but not their American counterparts.
if that was the intention they would have used the word "international" instead of global
Wrong. Catlin confirmed exactly what I said in a TPG interview today. The article title is: “Alaska plots credit card with no annual fee, drops hints about next Atmos transfer partner”
“Alaska's loyalty chief tells TPG any additional transfer partners will probably be banks based outside the U.S. Think about Australia, the U.K., or otherwise," Brett Catlin, Alaska senior vice president of network, partnerships and loyalty, said in an interview. ‘It is more of a...
Wrong. Catlin confirmed exactly what I said in a TPG interview today. The article title is: “Alaska plots credit card with no annual fee, drops hints about next Atmos transfer partner”
“Alaska's loyalty chief tells TPG any additional transfer partners will probably be banks based outside the U.S. Think about Australia, the U.K., or otherwise," Brett Catlin, Alaska senior vice president of network, partnerships and loyalty, said in an interview. ‘It is more of a global play than additional U.S.-centric financial institutions.’"
You can transfer points. But how will you use them ? Unless you have some sick inclination to pay $750 plus in taxes and fees for a BA redemption one way, not sure what you can use Atmos points for.
They need to work on that.
You think BA is the only use for AS points? Oof. Bless your heart...
Why is this good news ? Someone like Lucky should know the industry and know that point transfers kill all program value
I just got premium elite card on BoA and premier tier allows almost 3% points on all purchases and 4.5% on travel. If these points can be then transferred to Alaska, those point value essentially is unmatched in the current cc landscape.
They likely will be in 2:1 ratio and 3:1 for the ordinary BoA cards.
Citi... please?
I suspect the points accrued on my BofA Premium Rewards Elite card will now be transferable to Atmos. This is a big win!
I'm curious whether they'll include or exclude the no-fee (personal and/or business) Bank of America Travel Rewards card (along with Premium and Elite, it's the only other BofA points, as opposed to cash, earning cards.) If anything, maybe it'll be like how Chase allows UR points transfers between Freedom/Sapphire/Ink. Time will tell. Definitely seems like a B.F.D.
Ruh roh! My concern is that Alaska miles are currently worth a bit more than other points currencies. If they partner with transferable currencies at a standard conversion ratio, I fear that a devaluation of Alaska miles is sure to follow.
"The first big key detail here is that Bank of America will introduce points transfers to Atmos Rewards. While Atmos Rewards co-branded credit cards are already issued by Bank of America, this is an interesting development, as Atmos Rewards doesn’t currently have a transferable points currency."
Should that be "Bank of America doesn't currently have..."? (Sorry, apparently I woke up and decided to pick nits today)
I recall, once upon a time, a long time ago, a young OMAAT affectionately would refer to Alaska Airlines as "the slut of the skies" as they would partner with anyone.
Wow in a perfect world I could move my over 400,000 Spirit points earned from BofA to AS. One could only dream.
How and why would anyone ever accrue 400K Free Spirit points? (Wait... was that an '/s'?)
Now, will BofA leave it at having only one transfer partner? Or . . . ?
Greta, more ways to accure the world's fatest devaluing miles.
Part of the premise with opening the floodgates of more points coming in is it increases the price of awards. Some airline programs are so large that they can absorb this a bit better than others. For instance, if UA flies to 50 different European destinations (just making that up), there is a lot more opportunity to find a somewhat reasonable award redemption.
However, an airline like AS that only flies to a few...
Part of the premise with opening the floodgates of more points coming in is it increases the price of awards. Some airline programs are so large that they can absorb this a bit better than others. For instance, if UA flies to 50 different European destinations (just making that up), there is a lot more opportunity to find a somewhat reasonable award redemption.
However, an airline like AS that only flies to a few European destinations, having the floodgates open on all the points rolling into Atmos will have a much more dramatic impact on redemption opportunities and pricing. Not that it's the end all/be all of redeeming for international awards, but it seems to be some of the more sought after awards.
I hope AS factors some of this in as you already see some ridiculous pricing on the international awards (and others). The Summit card has I'm sure drastically increased the number of Atmos points chasing awards and I'd guess is a driver in the redemption inflation.
And if you select World community you can transfer in with earning 1SP per 25 miles...so its better than nothing....
i consolidate the small currencies to Atmos....so its a nice few hundred SP for the process.
Plans more transfer partners... which is great!
(But, if BofA were to pull a Citi, securing 'exclusivity' like they did with AA... *looking at BILT*)
The press release expressly stated, "Over time, Atmos Rewards also plans to add points-transfer opportunities with other select global financial institutions . . . " Where's the BofA comment coming from?
I saw it, Lee. Explicitly, "add," and I do sincerely hope that's the case. It mostly 'comes from' that specific example (with Citi), and all the other times we've been devalued and rug-pulled (mostly elsewhere). Or, maybe I just like to speculate and share spicy hot-takes on here. Yowzers!
Really takes some luster off of BILT’s thick glaze. Pretty soon, only BofA will transfer to Alaska (already been discussed by execs of the two companies).
I think BILT transferring to Alaska ends 12/31/2027. But at lest you’ll have (watered down values for) Amtrak then.
Til next time, take care of yourselves and each other.
@ Jerry Springer -- Am I missing something, or where is this being discussed? I don't have any inside info, but it seems like it would be odd to announce that more transfer partners are being added, only to then instead cut them.
"Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!" ...I donno about Mr. Springer, but I see the writing on the wall. Citi did this with AA, Bilt losing them as a transfer partner as a result. It's foreseeable that a behemoth like BofA could do the same with AS. Final thought: Chase could do so with Hyatt and United. *gulp*