Atmos Rewards: Breaking Down Alaska Airlines' New Loyalty Program (2026)

On August 20, 2025, Alaska Airlines officially launched Atmos™ Rewards, a reimagined loyalty program developed in partnership with Hawaiian Airlines. For long-time Mileage Plan loyalists and newcomers alike, Atmos aims to offer more flexibility, more destinations, and more ways to earn and redeem, without sacrificing the integrity of what made Mileage Plan so valuable in the first place.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know: what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and what it means for your wallet, your status, and your travel plans.

What Is Atmos Rewards?

Atmos Rewards is the successor to Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles, combining both programs into a unified loyalty platform. Existing mileage balances converted to Atmos Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio. The program uses Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium status tiers; current qualification thresholds and benefits apply. For Hawaii-based travelers or those flying inter-island routes, this move is especially impactful.

Atmos isn’t just a rebrand. It’s a structural overhaul designed to modernize the program for the next decade, while still rewarding mileage purists.
 

Key highlights:

• Miles → Points (1:1 conversion)
• Points do not expire on active accounts
• Access to 30+ airline partners, including all oneworld alliance carriers
• Alaska and Hawaiian loyalty programs combined on October 1, 2025

Atmos Rewards Elite Status: What’s Changed?

As of October 2026, Atmos Rewards has four status tiers. The table below lists the current 2026 qualification requirements and the corresponding oneworld status.

The current qualification thresholds for 2026 are 20,000 status points for Silver, 40,000 for Gold, 80,000 for Platinum, and 135,000 for Titanium. Status points help you qualify for status and milestones; they are separate from the redeemable points you use to book awards.

Status earning runs through December 31 each year. Check the current Atmos Rewards benefits before planning around a specific upgrade or perk.

Status on Your Terms: 3 Ways to Earn Starting January 1, 2027

Atmos Rewards lets you choose how you earn points and status points on eligible flights: by distance traveled, price paid, or segments flown. Selection opened October 1, 2026, and your choice applies to flights departing on or after January 1, 2027.

The base earning options are:

You can change your earning choice once per calendar year for future travel. Existing members who make no selection stay on distance-based earning; new members joining on or after January 1, 2027 default to price-based earning.

The table shows the base options. Eligible fares, premium-cabin bonuses, award travel, and partner booking channels can affect earning. Review Alaska’s flight earning details before choosing.

Award Flights Can Earn Status Points

Eligible award flights booked through Alaska or Hawaiian can count toward Atmos Rewards status. Partner award flights booked through those channels currently earn one status point per mile flown, with no class-of-service bonus.

Award travel does not earn redeemable points. Earning rules change with the January 1, 2027 earning choices, so check Alaska’s current award-flight earning rules for your itinerary. Paid-flight earning also depends on eligibility; not every fare earns status points.

Milestone Rewards: Recognition Without Waiting

Milestone Rewards are available now, beginning at 10,000 status points. They let you choose benefits as you progress, including before you reach Silver status at 20,000 status points.

At the 10,000-point milestone, options include bonus points, pre-order food benefits, or a one-trip Silver status experience. Choices vary by milestone, so review the current rewards menu before selecting a benefit.

Free Starlink Wi-Fi on Equipped Aircraft

Free Starlink Wi-Fi is already available to Atmos Rewards members on equipped Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Horizon Air aircraft, thanks to T-Mobile. The rollout is still underway, so availability depends on the aircraft operating your flight.

Alaska’s rollout tracker reported 38% of aircraft equipped as of September 25, 2026, including completed installations on the Embraer 175, Airbus A321neo, and Airbus A330 fleets. Check the current connectivity tracker for the latest progress.

Atmos Communities: Choose the Benefits That Fit Your Travel

Atmos Communities are live, with six options available as of October 1, 2026. Choose a Community that matches where you live or how you travel:

• Club 49: For Alaska residents, with free bags on eligible Alaska travel, intra-state deals, and cargo discounts.
• Huakaʻi by Hawaiian: For Hawaiʻi residents, with free bags and Neighbor Island discounts. The 50% points bonus on Neighbor Island travel starts January 1, 2027.
• Global Locals: Earn 10% more status points on flights that begin or end outside the United States.
• Families On the Go: Get 20% points back on eligible award travel for children 12 and under, plus family destination offers.
• Culinary Journeys: Food and wine destination offers and discounts on eligible Atmos Rewards Unlocked experiences.
• Active Escapes: Outdoor destination offers, experience discounts, and partner deals.

Community membership is optional and free. If you elect to join a community, you can change your Community once per calendar year. Review Alaska’s current Community benefits and eligibility before choosing.

Atmos Rewards Credit Cards: What's New?

Alaska has revamped its co-branded credit card portfolio in partnership with Bank of America, including a brand-new premium option:

Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card

• Annual Fee: $395
• Elite Boost: 1 status point per $2 spent
• Bonus: 10,000 status points on each account anniversary, beginning with your first anniversary
• Companion Perk: 25,000-point Global Companion Award each account anniversary (eligible partner awards and premium cabins included; taxes and fees apply)
• Extras: 8 Alaska Lounge passes each calendar year (2 per quarter) and priority services; the card also helps you fast-track to status

The Summit card is the premium option in the Atmos Rewards credit card lineup.

Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card

(Rebranded from Alaska Airlines Visa Signature®)

• Annual fee: $95
• 3 points per $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
• Free checked bag for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation when you pay for your Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines flight with your card
• $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after $6,000 or more in purchases within the prior anniversary year
• Preferred boarding

For a closer look at the card’s benefits and limitations, read our Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card review.

Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card

(Rebranded from Alaska Airlines Visa® Business)

• Annual fee: $70 for business, $25 per card
• $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23)
• 2 points per $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, shipping, and local transit purchases, including rideshare
• 3 points per $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases; 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Integrates with both business spend and elite tracking
   

Existing personal cardholders transitioned to the Ascent branding, with replacement cards issued at expiration. Refer to your current account terms for benefits and eligibility.

Partnerships and Everyday Earnings

• Lyft: With linked accounts, earn 2 points per $1 on eligible everyday rides and 3 points per $1 on eligible airport and elevated rides. Eligible base fares also earn 1 status point per $1; taxes, fees, tolls, and tips are excluded.
• Hotel stays: Qualifying bookings through Alaska and Hawaiian’s travel partners offer ways to earn or redeem points. Check each booking’s terms.
• Hotel transfers: Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card holders have exclusive access to transfer Atmos Rewards points to participating hotel loyalty programs. This is a Summit card benefit, rather than a benefit available to every Atmos member; check current partners and ratios before transferring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Atmos Rewards points expire?

Atmos Rewards points do not expire on active accounts.

Can I earn elite status on award flights?

Eligible award flights booked through Alaska or Hawaiian can earn status points. Award travel does not earn redeemable points; eligibility and earning depend on the applicable program rules.

Is the Summit card worth it?

Its status-point benefits, Global Companion Award, and annual Alaska Lounge passes may be useful if you can use them. Compare their value with the $395 annual fee and your travel plans.

What happened to my Alaska Airlines credit card?

The personal card was rebranded as Ascent, and the business card carries the Atmos Rewards name. Check your account’s current terms for benefits and any applicable spending requirements.

Final Thoughts

Atmos Rewards marks one of the most member-centric loyalty overhauls we've seen in years. It rewards flexibility, unlocks more ways to qualify for elite status, and offers distance-based earning alongside award redemption options. Award prices and availability vary, so compare the points required with the cash fare before booking.

If you're loyal to Alaska, fly Hawaiian regularly, or are considering a card like the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card, the program now offers a level of personalization and value that's competitive.