Innovative: Alaska & Hawaiian Atmos Rewards Loyalty Program Unveiled

In September 2024, Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian Airlines. We’ve known that the company plans to launch a new loyalty program, while maintaining two separate airline brands. So there’s now an exciting update, as we’ve just learned the details of the company’s new loyalty program, Atmos Rewards (separately, I’ve covered how Alaska will introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi for Atmos Rewards members).

Big picture, think of it as being very similar to the previous Alaska Mileage Plan program, with some really cool updates — you can choose whether you want to earn points based on distance flown or dollars spent, top tier elite members receive unlimited complimentary upgrades globally, and there are increasing opportunities to earn elite status with credit card spending.

More from OMAAT Alaska Atmos Rewards Business Card Review: 70K Points & $99 Companion Fare Read more

Atmos Rewards is the new Alaska & Hawaiian program

As mentioned above, Atmos Rewards is the name of the new loyalty program of Alaska and Hawaiian. Given that the company is maintaining its two separate airline brands, it makes sense to transition to more neutral branding for a combined loyalty program, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing here. Think of this as being Alaska’s version of Avios, or something.

I suspect we’re going to see the Atmos branding used for some more aspects of the Alaska and Hawaiian passenger experience over time, though we’ll mark that as “developing” for now.

In terms of the timeline for all of this, Atmos Rewards replaces Alaska Mileage Plan effective immediately. When you log into your Alaska account, you should already see the new Atmos Rewards branding. Meanwhile Atmos Rewards will replace HawaiianMiles as of October 1, 2025. So the rollout of this is all pretty quick.

What makes the Atmos Rewards program unique

What should we expect from the new Atmos Rewards loyalty program? Broadly speaking, think of it as being a slightly updated version of the Alaska Mileage Plan program. Let me emphasize that even though the rebranding is happening immediately, nothing is changing with elite status requirements for 2025.

There will be some updates as of 2026, and that’s also to reflect some positive changes, which aren’t being rolled out until next year. Let me cover what I’d consider to be the most significant developments with the new Atmos Rewards program. Again, these are just the changes, while most existing benefits of the Alaska Mileage Plan program, from milestone perks, to earning elite points on award flights, remain.

Atmos Rewards Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium status

With Atmos Rewards, we’re seeing a rebranding of elite tiers. Alaska Mileage Plan has been known for its “MVP” tiers — MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K. The new program, meanwhile, uses more traditional tier names. With the new Atmos Rewards program:

• Atmos Silver (oneworld Ruby) replaces MVP status
• Atmos Gold (oneworld Sapphire) replaces MVP Gold status
• Atmos Platinum (oneworld Emerald) replaces MVP Gold 75K status
• Atmos Titanium (oneworld Emerald) replaces MVP Gold 100K status

For that matter, we’re seeing points replace miles. So redeemable rewards will be known as Atmos Rewards points, while elite qualifying miles will be known as Atmos Rewards status points.

How are the elite tier requirements being updated with the new program? The qualification requirements aren’t changing for this year, since the year is already more than half done. However, we will see some updates for the top two tiers in 2026 (for 2027 status qualification). In 2026:

• Atmos Silver will require 20,000 status points (no change)
• Atmos Gold will require 40,000 status points (no change)
• Atmos Platinum will require 80,000 status points, up from 75,000 status points
• Atmos Titanium will require 135,000 status points, up from 100,000 status points

As you can see, the only significant change is with qualification requirements for top tier Titanium status, though there are also some exciting new perks there.

Just to provide a basic breakdown of elite perks by tier, below is a chart with those details.

Earn based on distance flown, price paid, or segments

We’ve seen so many airline loyalty programs go from awarding points based on distance flown to awarding points based on price paid. Alaska has been a holdout, and has been the only major US carrier to continue to award miles based on distance, which many people love.

With the new Atmos Rewards program, we’re seeing a choice we’ve never seen before — members can choose if they want to earn points and status points based on distance flown, based on price paid, or based on segments flown. You’ll be able to change your earning preferences each year:

• If you earn based on distance traveled, you’ll earn at least one point per mile flown
• If you earn based on price paid, you’ll earn at least five points per dollar spent
• If you earn based on segments flown, you’ll earn a flat 500 miles per segment

Atmos Rewards Titanium complimentary global upgrades

As mentioned above, Atmos Rewards Titanium elite requirements are increasing significantly as of 2026, though there’s also a really exciting new perk, coming in spring 2026 — Titanium members will receive complimentary day-of-departure upgrades into business class throughout the global Alaska and Hawaiian network, without having to use points or an upgrade certificate.

To be clear, upgrades within North America can continue to clear earlier than that, but this will come in handy for flights outside of North America.

This is an incredible perk, as Alaska will become the first US airline to offer unlimited global upgrades for an elite tier. I’ve gotta say, though, talk about a high stakes battlefield upgrade! There’s a difference between waiting for an upgrade on a Seattle to San Francisco flight vs. on a Seattle to Rome flight.

I also have to say, I think this perk is brilliant, especially as Alaska competes with Delta’s network in Seattle, and also given Amazon’s strict travel policy. This is a way to really differentiate the two oneworld Emerald tiers at the airline.

Atmos Rewards elite members receive Hawaiian upgrades

As of the spring of 2026, Atmos Rewards elite members will receive upgrades on Hawaiian in the same way that Alaska Mileage Plan members receive upgrades on Alaska. That means that all elite members will be eligible for complimentary upgrades on Hawaiian flights within North America.

This includes all routes within North America, including those operated by A330s with lie flat beds. Let me emphasize that Hawaiian upgrades outside of North America will be limited to Atmos Rewards Titanium members, and will only clear on the day of departure.

Given how Alaska and Hawaiian are increasingly using planes interchangeably, it’s great that there will also be more “metal neutrality” in terms of upgrades. Those who are used to flying Hawaiian have a lot to gain here, given that the airline historically had a pretty weak loyalty program.

Atmos Rewards offers status with credit card spending

With the introduction of the Atmos Rewards program, we’re also seeing status become easier to earn with credit card spending. Alaska has rebranded its two existing cards and introduced a new premium card, and they earn status points at the following rates:

• The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature Card earns one status point per $3 spent; this is capped at 30,000 status points in 2025, and uncapped in 2026 and beyond
• The Atmos Rewards Visa Business Card earns one status point per $3 spent; this is capped at 30,000 status points in 2025, and uncapped in 2026 and beyond
• The Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Card earns one status point per $2 spent, and this is uncapped; furthermore, the card offers an annual boost of 10,000 status points, making it easier to earn status

If you’re going to earn a material number of status points through credit card spending, you’ll of course want to pick up the most premium card (that’s exactly what I’ve done).

Amazing new Atmos Rewards premium credit card

To coincide with the launch of the new Atmos Rewards program, we’re seeing the introduction of a new premium credit card. I’ll cover this in more detail in a separate post, but in many ways, I actually think this makes up a core part of the overall value proposition of engagement in the program.

As it relates to the core value proposition of the program, let me just mention a couple of things. First of all, the $395 annual fee card offers a 25,000-point Global Companion Award annually, which can be used for 25,000 points off a companion award ticket on Alaska or any of its partners. The card then offers a 100,000-point Global Companion Award annually when you spend $60,000 on the card in an anniversary year.

This is simply an incredible perk, if you ask me. The card also offers 3x points on all purchases in foreign currencies, so it has a compelling value proposition beyond that. The reason I mention this is because if you’re able to generate that kind of spending, it’ll be worth putting $60,000 on the card per year to earn that Global Companion Award, and obviously that $60,000 in spending would also earn you 30,000 status points.

This is only one of several benefits offered by the card, but again, I’ll cover more of that in a separate post.

My take on the new Atmos Rewards loyalty program

I’m a huge fan of Alaska Airlines in general, and I also think Brett Catlin, Alaska’s VP of Loyalty, Alliances, and Sales, is one of the brightest guys in loyalty.

Alaska has long used its loyalty program as a point of differentiation, and when we learned of plans to launch a new program, I was genuinely excited, because I knew Alaska wouldn’t simply follow the competition, and would instead offer some innovative perks. A few things come to mind:

• If you like Alaska Mileage Plan, then you’ll like the new program, since there aren’t really many negative changes; I’d say the most negative change is that the requirement for top tier status is increasing quite a bit
• I love how Atmos Rewards lets members choose how they want to be rewarded, whether it’s based on distance flown or price paid; that’s the kind of innovation we don’t see enough of in this industry!
• Offering top tier Atmos Rewards Titanium members global upgrades on a space available basis is an incredible perk, and something we haven’t seen from a US airline before
• It’s fantastic that there’s going to be more consistency between Alaska and Hawaiian, including with upgrades, so all Hawaiian flights within North America will finally offer elite upgrades
• The new premium Atmos Rewards credit card is without a doubt the most innovative and compelling airline credit card we’ve seen in a very long time, and that alone is a major reason to consider being engaged in the program

I hate that I’m even considering changing my loyalty strategy again, but am I the only one who is considering now going for status with Atmos Rewards, rather than American AAdvantage, even though I rarely fly with Alaska (simply due to living in Miami)?

• Atmos Rewards offers status points when you redeem your points, and to me, that’s a really compelling aspect of the program, especially given how many points I redeem with the program
• If you get the premium credit card and spend $60,000 on it per year (to earn the 100,000-point Global Companion Award), you earn 30,000 status points, in addition to the annual boost of 10,000 status points, so that’s a total of 40,000 status points right there
• Then you can earn status points not only on oneworld airlines, but on Alaska’s unique array of partner airlines

Bottom line

The new Atmos Rewards loyalty program has just launched. This will replace Alaska Mileage Plan effective immediately, while it’ll replace HawaiianMiles as of October 1, 2025.

The new program is very similar to Mileage Plan, with some cool changes — you can choose whether you want to earn points based on distance flown or dollars spent, top tier elite members will receive unlimited global upgrades, upgrades for Hawaiian flights are coming for all elite members, and more. Most exciting of all, there’s a new premium credit card that’s pretty compelling, and which many people will want to spend a lot of money on.

What do you make of the new Atmos Rewards program?