Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines have announced their long-anticipated rewards program. But is it any good?
Since the merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines was announced in 2023, one of the biggest outstanding questions has been how the two carriers would marry their frequent flyer programs. The world now has the answer–and it’s not all bad news.
On August 20, both airlines announced the launch of Atmos Rewards. By October 1, 2025, Atmos will replace both Alaska’s Mileage Plan and Hawaiian’s HawaiianMiles as the united loyalty program, promising new ways to earn points and elite status, along with new credit card perks.
Although both airlines have regional names, will the new program have benefits for travelers across the country or around the world? It all depends on your traveling habits, and if you plan on staying loyal to the two Atmos airlines.
Atmos and Air Travel: Collecting Points for Travel Activities
Once the program is fully integrated in 2026, travelers will be able to choose how they want to earn status and award points for their flying activities. The different earning options are designed to reward every type of traveler, regardless of how much–or how long–they travel. The three choices are:
Distance traveled: This option enables travelers to earn points based on the distance they travel, with each physical mile equivalent to one point. To gain the lowest status tier, Atmos Silver, one would need to fly roughly the equivalent of Alaska’s route between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Seoul Incheon Airport twice per year, or the distance between Anchorage and New York City four times annually.
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Spending: This is how most frequent flyers earn their points today. Atmos Rewards members will earn five points for every $1 spent, including airfare and upgrades to premium cabins (excluding taxes and fees). This option rewards those who aren’t afraid to pay for the first class cabin. Under this plan, Atmos Silver would roughly cost travelers $4,000 in airfare.
Flat earnings per segment: The final option rewards travelers who fly frequently but on shorter routes, like those hopping between Hawaiian islands. With the segments-flown option, flyers earn a flat 500 points for each individual flight, no matter the distance. To get to Atmos Silver status with this choice, you would need to fly 40 segments in a calendar year.
What about traveling aboard partner airlines, including those in the Oneworld alliance? If you use your Atmos Rewards points and book the eligible flight through Alaska Airlines’ website, those points will count towards loyalty and awards. Total rewards are based on the distance of the flight. While loyalty points will only count towards Atmos Rewards status, the award points can be used to book discounted flights aboard partners through Alaska’s website.
Atmos on the Ground: Earning Points for Non-Flying Activities
Atmos Rewards is an intriguing program due to its ability to earn status points outside of air travel. One example is their new partnership with Lyft.
Travelers can now earn one status point and up to three rewards points per $1 spent when taking a Lyft ride. To qualify, Atmos members will need to link their accounts with Lyft at alaskalyft.com.
Another way to earn status and award points is by booking all travel through Alaska’s website, including hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacations. All eligible bookings earn one status point and one loyalty point per $1 spent.
Shopping with Atmos Rewards’ “Everyday Partners” also qualifies for rewards and status points. Partners include 1-800-Flowers.com, Teleflora, and Carrs-Safeway stores in the state of Alaska. Every 3,000 base award points earns 1,000 in status points.
Atmos in Your Wallet: New Credit Card Options
Of course, the launch of a new loyalty program must come with a new credit card offering. The launch of Atmos Rewards comes with the new Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Infinite card.
For a $395 annual fee, cardholders will earn one status point for every $2 spent on net purchases (minus fees) with no limit starting in 2026, along with 10,000 bonus status points annually on the cardholder’s anniversary. Through spending on the credit card alone, it’s possible to earn Atmos Rewards Silver status with $20,000 in spending.
Award points are also plentiful with this card: Eligible Alaska and Hawaiian purchases and dining purchases earn three award points per $1 spent. The card also comes with benefits commensurate with a premium-level fee, including lounge passes, free checked bags, preferred boarding, and companion passes after meeting spending requirements.
Those who have the lower-level Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature card can still earn status and rewards points as well. With a palatable $95 fee, $3 of qualifying spending earns one status point with no limit on points earned starting in 2026.
Is Atmos Rewards the New Top Rewards Program for All Travelers?
With a larger international footprint, over 30 airline partners, including those in the Oneworld alliance, and plenty of ways to earn and stack status points on the ground, Atmos Rewards has learned many lessons from other rewards programs and rolled it into a neat bundle. For those who are already living in Alaska or Hawaiian’s footprint and want to earn reciprocal recognition on the airlines and the Oneworld network, Atmos offers plenty of upside for the activities you are already doing. Travelers can earn status and benefits without ever stepping foot on an Alaska or Hawaiian flight. Plus, the award points can be used to book some of the best passenger experiences in the world, including those aboard Singapore Airlines.
But points and status are only as good as they are used. Living outside the airlines’ footprint means you won’t benefit from VIP check-in, lounge access, and first-class upgrades. Moreover, earning top travel benefits from this program demands your full attention to the Atmos Rewards atmosphere. This includes prioritizing all your travel aboard Alaska and Hawaiian, booking everything through Alaska’s website, and spending using the Atmos credit cards, regardless of price or convenience.
If your primary goal is discounting travel across Alaska and Hawaiian’s extended global network while being recognized for your activity, Atmos Rewards offers many ways to recover the value of your spending. But if you value the lowest price for airfare above all and the flexibility to travel at your convenience, there are better ways to achieve those goals without putting all your attention in one frequent flyer program.
As it is often said: Your mileage–and the amount of value therein–may vary.
