Introducing Atmos Rewards

The unified Alaska Airlines + Hawaiian Airlines loyalty program is here, and it’s called Atmos Rewards. This is a moment in time that marks what is likely the most tangible shift of this very different integration process. And the one that will have the largest impact on frequent fliers of both airlines. 

While I’m sure there will be people up in arms and caught off-guard by the announcement of Atmos Rewards, this development has been in the works for quite some time, and has been preceded by very tangible changes, such as the ability to transfer miles between Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles in September 2024, elite status matching in December 2024, and more. We’ve even known for some time what shape the program would likely take. However, before we delve into the “new” program, I would like to provide a brief recap of my previous comparison of the two legacy programs. 

 

Mileage Plan vs HawaiianMiles

I’ve done an in-depth comparison of the two programs before, which you can find here. However, the thing to remember when looking at Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles is that the two are more similar than not. The primary differences are that Mileage Plan has more elite tiers and more “traditional” elite benefits, while HawaiianMiles is configured slightly differently, given the size of the airline’s network and the diversity of its routes. Nowhere is this more evident than in how statuses match between the two:

• MVP = Pualani Gold; requires 20,000 miles flown or 30 segments
• MVP Gold = Pualani Platinum; requires 40,000 miles flown or 60 segments
• MVP Gold 75k requires 75,000 miles flown or 90 segments
• MVP Gold 100k requires 100,000 miles flown or 140 segments

Both MVP and Pualani Gold receive a 50% mileage bonus, while MVP Gold and Pualani Platinum get 100%, and both also receive priority boarding. However, HawaiianMiles Pualani Elite members are the only ones who receive complimentary upgrades, and only on inter-island flights. They are given a certain number of certificates for trans-Pacific upgrades based on how much they fly, which is completely opposite from Mileage Plan’s unlimited system-wide upgrade policy. Granted, upgrades can be extremely difficult to come by, especially when flying in and out of SEA. 

The largest difference is that the benefits between the two when the same benefit exists is that Pualani Platinums get three free checked bags, while MVP Gold gets only two. Only 75k and 100k members receive a larger baggage allowance. 

Crucially, both programs award miles based on miles flown, and not on the amount spent. 

 

Atmos Rewards

The name of the new, combined loyalty program is no secret. It was accidentally leaked by the company several weeks ago, and even before then, many in the community already knew what the name was going to be. I, for one, find the name a bit odd. I get that Atmos is shorthand for atmosphere, which is related to air travel. However, I associate the word with Dolby Labs, as in Dolby Atmos, which is a surround sound technology for 3D surround sound. Weird, I know. 

At any rate, I’ve long suspected that Atmos Rewards would literally be a rebranded Alaska Mileage Plan. And, now we know this to be the case. Sort of. The basic structure of the program is changing. However, there are new options and tweaks to benefits, including elite benefits. To start, though, let’s go over the basic program changes: 

• Points: for some reason, AAG decided to change the program’s currency from miles to points. However, the conversion will be 1 mile = 1 point, while there will continue to be no expiration for them
• ID Number: if you have an existing Mileage Plan account, your ID number will remain the same
• Status Currency: like miles to points, elite qualifying miles (EQMs) will now be called “status points” (SP). 
• Elite Tiers: Ben Minicucci compared the new loyalty program to Marriott Bonvoy, in that it’ll be a program representing multiple brands. Well, they took that comparison a step further and adopted Bonvoy’s elite tier nomenclature:
  • Atmos Titanium/oneworld Emerald: MVP Gold 100k and Pualani Platinum members with 100,000 EQMs or more
  • Atmos Platinum/oneworld Emerald: MVP Gold 75K and Pualani Platinum member with 75,000 to 99,999 EQMs
  • Atmos Gold/oneworld Sapphire: MVP Gold and Pualani Platinum members with less than 75,000 EQMs 
  • Atmos Silver/oneworld Ruby: MVP and Pualani Gold

 

Revised Elite Qualifications

While earning Status Points is still based on miles flown, at some point in 2026, AAG will allow Atmos Rewards members to choose if they want to earn based on miles flown, by segments, OR on amount spent. No tentative date has been announced yet, but we do know is what the earning structure will be: 

By Segments

• Purchase Segments: earn 500 points and status points for each segment flown
• Award Flights: earn 500 status points for each segment flown

By Spend

• Purchases: earn 5 points and 5 status points for every $1 spent, excluding taxes and fees
• Redemptions: earn 1 status point for every 20 points you redeem

It’s worth noting that HawaiianMiles would award a minimum of 250 miles for inter-island flights, but actual miles flown for trans-Pacific flights. Now, it’s all or nothing. But if you fly mostly within Hawai’i, you’d rack up points quicker. 

 

Segregated Elite Benefits

In what is, to me, a shocking turn of events, AAG is keeping elite benefits segregated based on the brand with which you’re flying in Atmos Rewards. For example, as I said before, Alaska Mileage Plan elites could receive unlimited complimentary upgrades to First Class, while HawaiianMiles members only received this perk for inter-island flights, plus a certain number of vouchers for trans-Pacific flights. And that’s kind of staying that way. 

As you can see in the above charts, those free upgrades to First Class on inter-island flights is going away. Not only that, but trans-Pacific flights on Hawaiian still won’t be eligible for complimentary First Class upgrades. And since AAG wants to make Hawaiian the sole airline for flying between the continental U.S. and Hawai’i, that means First Class upgrades for all flights to Hawai’i are going away. This is a brutal reduction of benefits for those of us who call the islands home. 

On the flip side, elites now get a complimentary (space available) companion upgrade on both airlines, Premium Class on all flights anywhere in the world, and top-tier Titanium members will be eligible for international First and Business class upgrades. Though I’m guessing “First Class” is actually the standard domestic First Class for flights to places like Iceland. 

I guess the saving grace for Hawai’i residents is that American Airlines remains an option for those who are hoping to score a First Class upgrade. Just know, though, that they (rightfully) prioritize their own elite over Atmos Rewards elites. 

 

Transition Timeline

For Alaska Mileage Plan members, the switch over to Atmos Rewards already occurred, as it’s literally just a rebrand of the existing program. However, for HawaiianMiles members, things are going to be a bit more complicated:

• HawaiianMiles accounts will transition to Atmos Rewards on October 1, 2025
• You’ll continue to earn HawaiianMiles through September 30, 2025
• HawaiianMiles account actions will be limited the week prior to the changeover 
• The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard will continue to work after October 1, with no change to benefits, earning structure, or annual fee
• Huaka’i by Hawaiian will continue unchanged under Atmos Rewards after October 1

If you currently have a HawaiianMiles account AND a Mileage Plan account, it is important that you link your accounts BEFORE the transition takes place. If you don’t do so, you may see your HawaiianMiles account transferred to an all-new Atmos account, and not your existing Mileage Plan account. 

Of course, you don’t have to wait for the transition to occur to move things over. You can already match your statuses and transfer your miles between HawaiianMiles and Atmos. As such, you can manually transfer your HawaiianMiles account to Mileage Plan now, though you’ll still need to use your HawaiianMiles account for Huaka’i (Hawai’i residents only). 

 

Atmos Rewards, Final Thoughts

I… I’m not sure what to say. Like, yay? I was right about Mileage Plan being the surviving program that would then be rebranded. But, what the actual f**k? I feel like Hawai’i residents are being shafted! AAG is forcing us to keep a watered-down version of HawaiianMiles under Atmos Rewards. Not to mention that the program is now so much more convoluted/confusing than it needs to be. 

Alaska wants to be a global player and defend its position against Delta. But, guess what? By segregating benefits between your two brands and by making a whole state ineligible for coveted First Class upgrades, you’re effectively making yourself less attractive, especially to those who live in or travel to Hawai’i frequently. Or does it not matter because we’re a captive market with little in the way of choice, and you believe others who live elsewhere will remain blindly loyal based on the value of your points? 

This whole thing just seems so poorly thought out, which doesn’t exactly surprise me based on what we’ve already seen. 

And don’t get me started on the awful branding. I’m so disappointed in the name, and I guess that’s a logo?

With two cultures, three geographic locations, and nearly a century of history, the name “Atmos” is an enormous letdown. At least, in my opinion. Moreover, I find it so interesting that Marriott Bonvoy was referenced in previous communications, and they straight-up copied their elite tiers. Like, what? Could they not come up with anything more, I don’t know, unique or interesting? 

Then, there are the credit cards, which I’m also disappointed in! But I’ll cover those in a coming post. Stay tuned! 

Alas, I have no status, so the above doesn’t really impact me. However, it still doesn’t feel nice.