Atmos Rewards is the loyalty program of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, and there are lots of things that make the scheme unique and compelling. Among other things, it’s possible to earn elite status with credit card spending, in a pretty lucrative way. In this post, I’d like to go over the details of that,…
Continue reading: Atmos Rewards Status Points With Credit Card Spending: Worth It?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
The 10% relationship bonus is for the initial 1%, not the whole 3%, so it is 3.1% on foreign transactions. This is being reflected on my statements.
It is 3.3%. My last statement consists entirely of foreign transactions and the math checks out - if yours is different, follow up with BofA
Ben, the analysis on "opportunity cost" here is fundamentally flawed because it ignores the actual product yield. You are advocating for locking up $60k of liquidity on a co-brand card for a carrier that still thinks "streaming to your own device" is an acceptable hard product in 2026. Delta’s MQD model is superior precisely because it is harder to game. It filters for High-Value Customers (HVCs) who actually contribute to the airline's CASM-adjusted margins, rather than credit card churners looking for outsized value on phantom partner availability. While Atmos members are fighting for upgrade scraps on 737-900ERs with worn-out interiors, Delta is vertically integrating the premium experience with the A321neo domestic F product and bespoke Delta One Suites...
Atmos is essentially diluting their elite pool by selling status for 1 point per $2, creating an inflated liability on their balance sheet that they will inevitably have to devalue. SkyMiles might be "worth less" per point to a hobbyist, but they are a stable currency backed by the highest TRASM (Total Revenue per Available Seat Mile) in the industry. I'd rather earn currency on an airline that can actually afford to invest in dispatch reliability and seatback IFE than chase "sweet spots" on a glorified regional bus service.
The atmos app doesn’t work so I can’t even use my 145,000 miles. Called the help line and the wait was 1:05. Ridiculous.
It is 3.3%. My last statement consists entirely of foreign transactions and the math checks out - if yours is different, follow up with BofA
“you aren't 'locking up liquidity'”
He doesn’t know what “vertically integrating” is, either. Or “phantom availability.”
Word salad with no point.
Is it possible to be embarrassed for somebody we don’t even know?
When I refer to "locking up liquidity," I am talking about the opportunity cost of capital. Funneling $60k of OpEx through a card earning a highly volatile, inflationary currency (Atmos points) rather than a liquid cash-back vehicle yielding a guaranteed 2.65% or putting that working capital into short-term yield instruments is a failure of allocation. You are effectively paying a premium for status on a regional carrier.
As for "vertical integration"—Delta Flight Products. Look it up. Delta is the only US carrier that designs and manufactures its own cabin interiors and IFE systems in-house, rather than buying off-the-shelf Recaro ironing boards like Alaska. That is the literal definition of vertical control over the supply chain and hard product.
I suggest you stick to the "Beginner's Guide" section until you understand the difference between hobbyist points hacking and actual business strategy.
Earning 3.3x with BofA relationship is not accurate. It's 3.1x because the extra 10% is on base spend only.
You guys are underestimating this deal. The sweet spot is an almost 5 point return on dollars. First I get the 3.3% with my Bank of America account bonus. Then on top of that when I spend 60,000 in a year, I get a 100,000 point companion pass for ANOTHER 1.67% return. Do the math, that’s 4.97%! You can’t get that on any other card that I know of.
Hmm. Good catch, if so. Many of us have been saying 3.3x … uh oh. We wish it were so!
It is 3.3x
For example, last month for my acrd:
Base: 2561
Foreign purchase: 4514
Alaska purchase bonus: 239
Total: 7314
Relationship bonus: 734 (~10% of total including bonuses)
There you are 1990/Ben, it is no good trying to make a comeback by hiding in the CC articles. Have you been avoiding me while you were in Manila, did you have a nice trip? …. 🙂
Ben, you and the others are WAY UNDERVALUING this deal. The sweet spot is an almost 5 point return on each dollar spent to the $60,000 sweet spot. First, I get the 3.3% with my Bank of America account bonus. Then on top of that when I spend 60,000 in a year, I get a 100,000 point companion pass for ANOTHER 1.67% return. Do the math, that’s 4.97%! You can’t get that on any other card that I know of.
The 10% relationship bonus is for the initial 1%, not the whole 3%, so it is 3.1% on foreign transactions. This is being reflected on my statements.
It is 3.3%. My last statement consists entirely of foreign transactions and the math checks out - if yours is different, follow up with BofA
You guys are underestimating this deal. The sweet spot is an almost 5 point return on dollars. First I get the 3.3% with my Bank of America account bonus. Then on top of that when I spend 60,000 in a year, I get a 100,000 point companion pass for ANOTHER 1.67% return. Do the math, that’s 4.97%! You can’t get that on any other card that I know of.
Ben, the analysis on "opportunity cost" here is fundamentally flawed because it ignores the actual product yield. You are advocating for locking up $60k of liquidity on a co-brand card for a carrier that still thinks "streaming to your own device" is an acceptable hard product in 2026. Delta’s MQD model is superior precisely because it is harder to game. It filters for High-Value Customers (HVCs) who actually contribute to the airline's CASM-adjusted margins, rather than credit card churners looking for outsized value on phantom partner availability. While Atmos members are fighting for upgrade scraps on 737-900ERs with worn-out interiors, Delta is vertically integrating the premium experience with the A321neo domestic F product and bespoke Delta One Suites...
Atmos is essentially diluting their elite pool by selling status for 1 point per $2, creating an inflated liability on their balance sheet that they will inevitably have to devalue. SkyMiles might be "worth less" per point to a hobbyist, but they are a stable currency backed by the highest TRASM (Total Revenue per Available Seat Mile) in the industry. I'd rather earn currency on an airline that can actually afford to invest in dispatch reliability and seatback IFE than chase "sweet spots" on a glorified regional bus service.
“you aren't 'locking up liquidity'”
He doesn’t know what “vertically integrating” is, either. Or “phantom availability.”
Word salad with no point.
Is it possible to be embarrassed for somebody we don’t even know?
When I refer to "locking up liquidity," I am talking about the opportunity cost of capital. Funneling $60k of OpEx through a card earning a highly volatile, inflationary currency (Atmos points) rather than a liquid cash-back vehicle yielding a guaranteed 2.65% or putting that working capital into short-term yield instruments is a failure of allocation. You are effectively paying a premium for status on a regional carrier.
As for "vertical integration"—Delta Flight Products. Look it up. Delta is the only US carrier that designs and manufactures its own cabin interiors and IFE systems in-house, rather than buying off-the-shelf Recaro ironing boards like Alaska. That is the literal definition of vertical control over the supply chain and hard product.
I suggest you stick to the "Beginner's Guide" section until you understand the difference between hobbyist points hacking and actual business strategy.
It is 3.3%. My last statement consists entirely of foreign transactions and the math checks out - if yours is different, follow up with BofA
The atmos app doesn’t work so I can’t even use my 145,000 miles. Called the help line and the wait was 1:05. Ridiculous.
Earning 3.3x with BofA relationship is not accurate. It's 3.1x because the extra 10% is on base spend only.
There you are 1990/Ben, it is no good trying to make a comeback by hiding in the CC articles. Have you been avoiding me while you were in Manila, did you have a nice trip? …. 🙂
It is 3.3x
For example, last month for my acrd:
Base: 2561
Foreign purchase: 4514
Alaska purchase bonus: 239
Total: 7314
Relationship bonus: 734 (~10% of total including bonuses)
Ben, you and the others are WAY UNDERVALUING this deal. The sweet spot is an almost 5 point return on each dollar spent to the $60,000 sweet spot. First, I get the 3.3% with my Bank of America account bonus. Then on top of that when I spend 60,000 in a year, I get a 100,000 point companion pass for ANOTHER 1.67% return. Do the math, that’s 4.97%! You can’t get that on any other card that I know of.
I would suggest that you are also undervaluing this as it is not a percentage unless you value Alaska mils at 1 cent each. If you value them at 1.5 cents each as this site does, then it is actually 7.45%
But how often are you actually able to use the 100k? I haven't even been able to use my 25k yet.
And when I looked into the BofA bonus there were disclaimers all over that it was being discontinued. What type of account are you using?
Approaching $60K on my Summit soon, so time to find out whether this all worked out, or if BofA/Alaska (and BILT, since using them for $50K/3x) were playin' me the whole time... bah!
I’ll hit Atmos Platinum status in a little over a month (once the spending from my current Asia trip clears). The Summit card got me halfway there, but it was getting status points for award flights that really made a difference (I just got 8000 points from my two STARLUX flights in the past week).
I’m shooting for the 95K milestone now to get the status head-starts that are options for reaching that milestone. Not sure if I can claim it twice, but if I can, then I can start 2027 with 20k status points.
(An early) congrats! And awesome posts so far on your trip so far! Hope Hanoi is going well!
https://onemileatatime.com/community/samar-2-week-asia/
how about 1 atmost point for $1 spent or perhaps 2 points per $1 spent instead? to reach platinum, you would have to spend $160,000. Unless you own a business where that is part of normal business spend or independently wealthy why would anyone consider doing this?
Better advice: Take that $160,000 and wait for the Anthropic IPO and by shares and then sell em ASAP.
Don't United award flights also count toward elite status?
They do, but only on UA metal and spend based (not distance based, as opposed to AS awards).
I have the Summit card, but I haven't been putting any spending on it since I'm trying to get to 240000 AAdvantage Loyalty Points to get another level of benefits. After that, I have to decide whether to put spending on this or the United Club Card to get some status with either. It's a tough choice considering where I fly out of.
Generally speaking, if you're going to earn status based on a combination of flying and CC spend, you're much better off using the AA program.
I have the Summit card. And $501 stashed in a BofA savings account to get the extra 10%. The spend at the end of 2025 let gave me Titanium status. And I'll make it again this year (combination of flying and spend).
Bobo is right - you spend $60k on the Summit, it unlocks another 100k in value. Not to mention helping reach milestones that have real value (Alaska Lounge+ membership, for instance).
This card has paid for itself (25k companion cert, 100k cert, plus over $200 in partner award fee waivers).
I've been pleasantly surprised to see Lyft rides count 1x per dollar spent for Atmos status.
I looked at getting a BofA account for the extra points but there were notices everywhere that it was being discontinued. What am I missing?