Alaska Airlines Launches Atmos Rewards (and a New Premium Card)

Alaska Airlines is making moves, y’all. Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles are merging into one big program called Atmos™ Rewards. And with this refresh comes a brand-new premium card, the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite®, packed with perks you don’t see on many other airline credit cards.

There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s break it down together.

Mileage Plan Is Now Atmos Rewards

As of today, Mileage Plan members are Atmos Rewards members. HawaiianMiles members join Oct. 1, 2025.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Your points carry over at the same value.

• Your account number stays the same (unless you were Hawaiian-only).

• Your current benefits remain.

A few terms are changing:

• “Miles” are now points.

• “Elite-qualifying miles” are now status points.

• 1 mile = 1 Atmos point (no devaluation).

The program is still free to join, and points never expire.

Atmos Rewards vs. Mileage Plan

Here’s a quick look at how Atmos Rewards compares to the old Mileage Plan:

So honestly? You’re looking at more flexibility, more redemption options, and a stronger credit card lineup. All things we like to see here at Daily Drop.

Earning and Redeeming Points

One of the most exciting changes is how you’ll earn points. Starting in late 2026, members can choose how they earn points and status points:

• Distance-based (1 point per mile flown)

• Revenue-based (5 points per $1 spent)

• Segment-based (500 points per flight)

You’ll be able to pick whichever option works best for you and change it once a year. That’s a level of flexibility unlike anything we’ve ever seen from an airline program.

On the redemption side, things are mostly staying the same, including Alaska’s sweet, sweet award chart (yay!). Points now stretch a little further:

• Award flights start at just 4,500 points one-way

• Access to more than 1,000 destinations via Alaska, Hawaiian, Oneworld, and global partners

• Points can be used for hotels, car rentals, Lyft rides, and even exclusive Atmos Rewards experiences

For example, if you’re based in Seattle and planning a trip to Hawaii, with Atmos Rewards, you could:

• Use 20,000 to 25,000 points for a round-trip to Honolulu on Alaska or Hawaiian

• Combine that with the $99 Companion Fare from the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Card to bring a friend for cheap

• Earn extra points by linking your Lyft account and rides to the airport

And if you’re flying long-haul? A Japan Airlines (Oneworld partner) business class award could cost fewer points than many U.S. programs charge. Add the Summit card’s Global Companion Award (more on that shortly), and you’ve got yourself (and your friend) a serious deal.

Don’t Forget Bilt Rewards

Since you were probably wondering… Bilt Rewards transfers aren’t going away.

You can still move Bilt Points to Atmos Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, making it easy to boost your Alaska/Atmos balance with the Bilt Mastercard or by engaging with the Bilt Rewards program’s partners.

You’ll also keep earning Atmos points when you link your Atmos and Lyft accounts — 2x on standard rides and 3x on airport/elevated rides.

From what was once one of the hardest airline currencies to earn, Atmos is now becoming one of the easiest to grow — even if you don’t fly often.

Elite Status in Atmos Rewards

Here’s some good news: the requirements for earning elite status are mostly staying the same. The main difference is that the tiers are being rebranded, and the top levels will be a bit tougher to reach starting in 2026 (for 2027 status). The flip side? Points are now more flexible to earn, so climbing the ladder won’t necessarily mean flying more.

Here’s how it breaks down:

To ease the transition, Atmos is giving current elites a one-time head start toward 2027:

• Platinum members get 5,000 status points.

• Titanium members get 20,000 status points.

Overall, these changes feel pretty mild when you consider that Atmos Rewards is also adding more ways to earn toward status:

• You’ll earn status points not just on flights but also when booking award travel.

• Purchases on co-branded cards earn status points.

• With the new Summit Visa Infinite®, you earn 1 status point for every $2 spent on top of an annual 10,000-point boost.

And if you make it all the way to the top? Atmos Titanium elites will be the only U.S. airline flyers with complimentary day-of-departure upgrades into international business class for themselves and a companion. Starting next spring, elites and one guest also get free upgrades on Hawaiian flights within North America.

The New Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite®

As part of the launch, Alaska is rolling out its first premium card. The Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® has a $395 annual fee and is clearly built to compete with the big boys, offering:

• 3x points on dining, all foreign purchases, Alaska and Hawaiian flights

• 8 Alaska Lounge passes annually (premium bar perks through 2026)

• 10,000 bonus status points every year (plus 1 status point per $2 spent)

• Instant $50 flight delay credit (if flight is delayed more than two hours or canceled within 24 hours)

• Free bag and preferred boarding for you and six companions

• Free points sharing with up to 10 other Atmos members

• Waived partner award booking fees (worth up to $25 per person per roundtrip)

• Waived same-day confirmed flight change fee (worth up to $50 on each one-way flight)

• Free points sharing

• Access to hotel transfer partners

The big headline feature is the new Global Companion Award:

• 25,000-point Global Companion Award: Earned after qualifying spend on a new account and annually after each card anniversary, and redeem it for up to

  25,000 points off a companion award ticket.

• 100,000-point Global Companion Award: Earned by spending $60,000 or more on purchases in a card anniversary year, and ideal for global redemptions and premium cabins.

To celebrate the launch, the card is offering a limited-time welcome offer: Earn 100,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first 90 days of account opening.

Other Alaska Cards Are Rebranding

• Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card → Now the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® (still includes the $99 Companion Fare and free bag)

• Alaska Airlines Visa® Business → Now the Atmos Rewards Visa® Business (same benefits, new branding)

• Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® → Continues unchanged until HawaiianMiles fully transitions on Oct. 1, 2025

No action is required for existing cardholders, and you’ll receive a new card design when your current one expires.

Why This Matters

Atmos Rewards is easily the biggest shake-up in U.S. airline loyalty as of late.By merging Alaska and Hawaiian, adding flexibility in how you earn, and rolling out a premium card with some pretty valuable perks, the airlines are making a strong play for frequent flyers.

Atmos is clearly designed with growth in mind. Here’s what to expect:

• Transfer Partners: The Summit card already allows 1:1 transfers into select hotel programs, with more to come.

• Global Expansion: New long-haul flights from Seattle (SEA) to Rome (FCO), London (LHR), and Reykjavik (KEF) start in 2026, with plans for 12 intercontinental destinations by 2030 (ummmm, yay!).

• Status Upgrades: Complimentary business class upgrades for top-tier elites, which is something no other U.S. carrier currently offers.

• Communities: Atmos plans to roll out “Communities” tailored to different lifestyles (families, wellness, regional perks).

Bottom Line

Atmos Rewards is a big win for Alaska and Hawaiian flyers, and for U.S. loyalty programs in general. You’ll have more control over how you earn, better ways to redeem, and access to one of the most generous premium airline cards out there.

For frequent West Coast and Hawaii travelers, this is a huge win. And for international flyers, it positions Alaska as a truly amazing Oneworld option.

If you’ve been waiting to commit to a loyalty program that offers both flexibility and serious value, this might be the best time to jump on board.