In August 2025, we saw the Atmos Rewards loyalty program launch, as that’s the new combined loyalty program of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. The program is really well thought out, in my opinion, with some unique features you won’t find with other programs.
At the time the program was announced, there was one major weak point, as I saw it, which came down to the lack of value of crediting partner flights to the program… even though that has historically been one of the best parts of the program!
Within weeks of the program launching, Atmos Rewards announced that this would improve “later in 2026.” Well, the full details of the improved partner points earning rates have just been announced, and there’s a catch that I wasn’t anticipating.
Atmos Rewards’ lackluster partner points earning rates
Atmos Rewards has a lot of airline partners, including oneworld as well as non-oneworld carriers. As it currently stands, points earning rates differ massively for travel on partner airlines, based on whether you’re booking the ticket through Alaska or directly through the partner airline.
Below is the current points earning chart when booking partner airlines through Alaska.
Below is the current points earning chart when booking direct with partner airlines.
As I’ve said before, while the points earning rates are great if booking directly through Alaska, they’re otherwise pretty uncompetitive. It’s one thing if all partner flights could easily be booked directly through Alaska, but that’s simply not the case.
For example, earning a total of just 150% points for international first class or 125% points for international business class just doesn’t cut it nowadays. For that matter, there’s a certain irony to the program offering status points on award flights at the rate of 100% across cabins, which in many ways is more rewarding than revenue flights booked through partners.
It’s just strange to earn 125% status points for a business class ticket if paying cash, or 100% status points for a business class ticket if redeeming points. Perhaps that’s one major hesitation that was standing in the way of some oneworld flyers switching to the program. So that brings us to the positive update…
Atmos Rewards making partner flights more rewarding
For flights as of January 1, 2027, Atmos Rewards is increasing points earning rates for first and business class travel on partner airlines, when booking directly through those partners. Once these changes are implemented, here’s how points earning rates will change (and this includes both status points and redeemable points):
- Domestic first and business class tickets will go from earning 125% to 150% points
- International business class tickets will go from earning 125% to 250% points
- International first class tickets will go from earning 150% points to 250% points
As you can see, those are some major changes, especially for business class. I do find it strange that first and business class tickets internationally will earn the same number of points. Just to be clear, the above amounts are before any elite points bonuses, though those don’t count toward qualifying for elite status.
Here’s the important detail that hadn’t been revealed until now, though. The introduction of this new feature coincides with the launch of the new “choose how you earn” program for earning points. The improved points earning rates only apply if you choose to earn points based on fare paid, and not if you choose to earn based on distance flown or segments flown.
That’s because under the distance flown concept, all flights earn one point per mile flown, with no class of service bonus. Meanwhile under the segment concept, each segment is rewarded equally, regardless of the distance, fare, etc.
Then there’s another catch, even if you select the fare paid option. Keep in mind that the higher distance based points earning wouldn’t apply on American, since under the fare paid concept, American flights credit based on fare paid rather than distance flown.
Bottom line
As of January 1, 2027, Atmos Rewards will be significantly improving points earning rates for first and business class tickets on partner airlines, when booking directly with partners. The changes are considerable, with international business class going from earning 125% points, to earning 250% points.
This is awesome, but the major catch is that the improved points earning rates only apply if you choose to be rewarded based on fare paid rather than based on distance flown. That also means that American flights wouldn’t qualify for this improved earning, since under the fare paid concept, those flights are credited based on amount spent.
So while I’m generally happy to see this change, it definitely feels like there’s quite a catch here. Yes, Atmos Rewards will continue to award points based on distance flown, but for premium travel, including on partner airlines, that’s now rather unrewarding.
What do you make of these Atmos Rewards partner points earning changes?
This entire post is wrong. The class of service bonus still applies to flights booked on partner airlines on distance-based earning as long as you don't book on Alaska's website.
@Simon - The post looks correct to me.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/earn-points/flights/2027
In order to earn 250% for partner business class, you have to opt for "price paid" earning on Alaskan/Hawaiian/American.
I flew first class RT on Alaska from SAN to DEN a few weeks ago. I opted to have the miles awarded to my American AAdvantage account thinking that it would be about the same for either airline. Wrong!! American awarded me a paltry ~400 AAdvantage miles for this flight when Alaska would have awarded me ~2,500 Atmos points! I am now in the process of having the AA miles awarded back to my Alaska...
I flew first class RT on Alaska from SAN to DEN a few weeks ago. I opted to have the miles awarded to my American AAdvantage account thinking that it would be about the same for either airline. Wrong!! American awarded me a paltry ~400 AAdvantage miles for this flight when Alaska would have awarded me ~2,500 Atmos points! I am now in the process of having the AA miles awarded back to my Alaska Atmos account. A big hassle and a lesson learned about miles awarded to partner airlines. No thanks!
I don't understand why there's no class of service bonus with the miles flown option. Clearly they make more money if you buy a higher class service (usually 3+ times as much), so why wouldn't you get rewarded for that?
I think the other part of the equation of all this is the price AS charges for booking partner flights through them. FT has a number of examples over the past few months of AS booked partner flights as way more exorbitantly priced then booking through the partner airline directly.
If you're using other people's money, then sure, book through AS, but for a lot of people the price difference can be multiple times...
I think the other part of the equation of all this is the price AS charges for booking partner flights through them. FT has a number of examples over the past few months of AS booked partner flights as way more exorbitantly priced then booking through the partner airline directly.
If you're using other people's money, then sure, book through AS, but for a lot of people the price difference can be multiple times more to book through AS, so when you book through the partner site, your SP earn is much lower since you're only earning 250% of the distance flown.
If I pay $5000 for an Int'l F ticket on AS, I'd earn 25,000SP. Booked on the partner site, I'd earn 250% of the distance flown. So the break even would be 10,000 miles flown regardless of price. However, lots of examples of those flights booked through the partner costing a lot less, so you forgo a chunk of SP.
Man doesn't each major points blog say at one contradicting thing about this change? I'll see if AI can explain it better?
Does this mean that American flights booked through Alaska, Hawaiian, or American now earn 5x$1 plus status? Because that could drastically improve earnings of AA metal booked via AA.
Upgraded Points created a 2-part table that made it much easier to understand (I do love a good table). Since I'll be choosing distance traveled, it'll be straightforward for me, and makes the most sense with my purchasing patterns (pretty much all economy with the occasional domestic first ticket).
https://upgradedpoints.com/news/atmos-rewards-new-earn-rates-for-partner-flights/
They just copied and pasted it from the Atmos website. But I think this is the bottom line: "If you’re earning by price paid and book an eligible partner flight with a travel agency, you’ll earn 5 points per $1 spent, excluding taxes and fees as long as your ticket number begins with 027, or 001. If your ticket begins with any other three digit number, you’ll earn based on our partner earn chart."
Oh funny, I guess I should have gone to Alaska's website and look it up there.
Also, am I right in thinking that if you use the points calculator on the Atmos Rewards website which uses your spend to date to calculate the best option for you, it uses the current earning rates/bpnuses for partner flights booked elsewhere and not the new enhanced ones? Otherwise something isn’t right. Most of my travel is on partner airlines booked elsewhere and it’s given me more or less the same figure I earned so far. I would expect this to be near double!
But then this is further misleading because when you look at the earnings charts, it states that for partner airlines booked elsewhere (not through Alaska/Hawaiian etc), if you select to earn by fare paid, you still end up earning by distance flown with the added enhanced bonus. So the way I’m reading this is that if you go for earning by fare paid, you get 5 status points/$1 on American and Alaska/Hawaiian, and for all...
But then this is further misleading because when you look at the earnings charts, it states that for partner airlines booked elsewhere (not through Alaska/Hawaiian etc), if you select to earn by fare paid, you still end up earning by distance flown with the added enhanced bonus. So the way I’m reading this is that if you go for earning by fare paid, you get 5 status points/$1 on American and Alaska/Hawaiian, and for all other partners with tickets starting with anything other than 027 and 001 you earn “points and status points based on a percentage of the actual distance traveled, if price paid earn is selected.” And that percentage is the new enhanced percentage. Am I missing something? And then of course you have communities bonuses etc etc. A bit of a “best of both worlds” in some respects?
This would be huge if it turns out to be true. But I guess we won't know for sure until January.
You are correct. This post is poorly reserached and wrong.
So am I right with the following presumptions?
If I choose the "fare/revenue" point track, I will earn 5 points (status points as well) on every $1 spent on Alaska/American fares, regardless of class of service. Then I presume I will additional points based on the class of service.
If I flew on their partner airlines (excluding American), I will still earn status points based on the actual distance flown, as well as class...
So am I right with the following presumptions?
If I choose the "fare/revenue" point track, I will earn 5 points (status points as well) on every $1 spent on Alaska/American fares, regardless of class of service. Then I presume I will additional points based on the class of service.
If I flew on their partner airlines (excluding American), I will still earn status points based on the actual distance flown, as well as class of service, since Alaska has no access to the actual fares paid.
For mileage ticket, I will just earn 1 status points for every 20 points I paid for the actual ticket.
Am I right?
This makes my head hurt. Its complex for a reason. I will spare myself and just avoid Atmos.
This is good to know. Obviously, most airlines want you to spend cash on their metal. That said, for Atmos Rewards, my focus is to keep earning status points based on distance traveled while redeeming Alaska points on F/J partner awards (AA, JX, etc.); Alaska is uniquely generous with that, regardless of these other changes. Even when other airlines allow you to earn status qualifying points on award redemptions, it's usually only for their metal,...
This is good to know. Obviously, most airlines want you to spend cash on their metal. That said, for Atmos Rewards, my focus is to keep earning status points based on distance traveled while redeeming Alaska points on F/J partner awards (AA, JX, etc.); Alaska is uniquely generous with that, regardless of these other changes. Even when other airlines allow you to earn status qualifying points on award redemptions, it's usually only for their metal, not partners. (Like, DL redemptions earn MQDs on DL metal, not AF, KL, VN, etc.)
The real question is whether cash-paid partner flights should be credited to AS or AA under these circumstances. If selecting 'distance,' ideally we're traveling long-distance and not spending much on those tickets. However, if you're like Ben, spending a small fortune to review a partner seat in F/J, spend-based is probably best (and I recall he's transitioned to AS-focus, over AA, even while based at MIA!) Or, if you're a road-warrior going from SEA-PDX in Economy multiple times per week, then 500 a pop is maybe best. Will be interesting to see how this goes for everyone.
Thanks for this. I'm still processing (need more coffee) but to clarify - the Atmos webpage says "Eligible American Airlines-marketed flights booked through American" get 5 points per $. But does that mean that AA flights not booked through AA but credited to AS get the partner earn chart? (Understand that you have to select fare paid to get the partner earn chart.)
Also has interesting implications for earning points through award travel as you'd...
Thanks for this. I'm still processing (need more coffee) but to clarify - the Atmos webpage says "Eligible American Airlines-marketed flights booked through American" get 5 points per $. But does that mean that AA flights not booked through AA but credited to AS get the partner earn chart? (Understand that you have to select fare paid to get the partner earn chart.)
Also has interesting implications for earning points through award travel as you'd then go to 1 status point per 20 points redeemed?
And if you have Atmos status do you get further bonus points on top of the partner reward chart? And are those bonus points = status points as well?
@ Peter_ -- As I said in another post, there are definitely some Bilt Cash comparisons to be made here in terms of complexity. :p
Regarding American flights, you're talking about American flights booked through airlines other than American, Alaska, or Hawaiian? Unless they're codeshare flights through another airline, the ticket would still likely credit based on price, due to the fare data that Atmos Rewards would have access to.
Indeed, the different award flight...
@ Peter_ -- As I said in another post, there are definitely some Bilt Cash comparisons to be made here in terms of complexity. :p
Regarding American flights, you're talking about American flights booked through airlines other than American, Alaska, or Hawaiian? Unless they're codeshare flights through another airline, the ticket would still likely credit based on price, due to the fare data that Atmos Rewards would have access to.
Indeed, the different award flight status points earning thing is interesting as well. The better system depends on the distances you usually fly, and if you consistently redeem at the saver level or not.
Atmos Rewards elite bonuses are on top of the earnings rates shown, though elite bonuses only count toward redeemable points, and not status points (unlike AAdvantage, for example).
LOL - the Bilt program certainly came to mind!
Yeah, thanks. I'm just reading from here - https://www.alaskaair.com/content/earn-points/flights/2027
It says "Eligible American Airlines-marketed flights booked through American; Ticket numbers beginning with 001" get the 5 points per $1. And then "Eligible partner flights booked elsewhere; Ticket numbers beginning with anything other than 027 or 001" get the partner chart.
So right, I guess I'm thinking of a circumstance where you buy a flight on AA...
LOL - the Bilt program certainly came to mind!
Yeah, thanks. I'm just reading from here - https://www.alaskaair.com/content/earn-points/flights/2027
It says "Eligible American Airlines-marketed flights booked through American; Ticket numbers beginning with 001" get the 5 points per $1. And then "Eligible partner flights booked elsewhere; Ticket numbers beginning with anything other than 027 or 001" get the partner chart.
So right, I guess I'm thinking of a circumstance where you buy a flight on AA metal through BA or whomever TATL and you credit it to Alaska. JFK-LHR comes to mind. Right now AA/BA crediting is all fare based (JV shares fare data) but some might do better crediting an AA flight booked through BA to Alaska. Would have to run the math - but 250% on distance would be something like ~17.5k points and status points r/t? (Or slightly more if you get the extra 10% from Global Locals.) That may or may not be better than crediting to AA depending on fare price and any status with AA - basically gets you almost to Atmos Silver (20k) on one trip?
All that may change if Alaska gets into the TATL JV of course, but that's where I'm going with this in my head.
Here's another potential loophole - when the FAQ is talking about bundled vacation packages including from Costco it says: "It depends on how you earn: If you earn by distance traveled or segments flown, that stays the same — actual miles flown, or 500 points per eligible segment. If you earn by price paid, vacation packages that don't disclose the actual fares will earn based on distance traveled instead."
I think the FAQ also...
Here's another potential loophole - when the FAQ is talking about bundled vacation packages including from Costco it says: "It depends on how you earn: If you earn by distance traveled or segments flown, that stays the same — actual miles flown, or 500 points per eligible segment. If you earn by price paid, vacation packages that don't disclose the actual fares will earn based on distance traveled instead."
I think the FAQ also summarized it nicely: "If you’re earning by price paid and book an eligible partner flight with a travel agency, you’ll earn 5 points per $1 spent, excluding taxes and fees as long as your ticket number begins with 027, or 001. If your ticket begins with any other three digit number, you’ll earn based on our partner earn chart."
Bottom line is if Alaska can see the price paid and it's issued under 001/027, you get 5 points per $1, otherwise the chart applies.
So if one hypothetically wanted to earn OWE, you'd just have to buy international business class tickets that meet the above requirements (any fare code would work I presume) and then travel 32,000 miles to get 80k status points and reach Atmos Platinum/OWE. Or, if you enroll with the Global Local community and get an extra 10% status bonus, 30,770 miles.
More coffee (or tea, or both) is always a good idea. I was under the impression that you cannot earn any points for award travel (but you can earn status qualifying, regardless of whether its AS metal or a partner, which is uniquely generous of this program compared to nearly all others.) Also, did someone mention BILT?! (Bah...)
Right, I meant earning status points, not points. Bah!