HawaiianMiles Changes for Atmos Rewards

The new Alaska Air Group loyalty program, Atmos Rewards, dropped on August 20, 2025. However, as you saw in my coverage that day, communication wasn’t the best. Actually, it was AWFUL. So, I’m here again to go over HawaiianMiles changes for Atmos Rewards, based on the latest information available to us. 

When the Atmos Rewards pages went live on the night of August 19, 2025, they were incomplete. In fact, the initial version of the table left out upgrade information on flights operated by Hawaiian Airlines. That made it seem as if First Class upgrades wouldn’t be available on any Hawaiian flights, which isn’t good, given that they’d be the only way to travel to, from, and within Hawai’i with AAG in the near future. 

But, then, the page was updated to say that First Class upgrades would become available in “Spring 2026,” suggesting that upgrades would be going away on October 1, 2025, and would return three to nine months later. 

Well, it turns out that this table on Alaska Air’s website still isn’t quite right. Nor is their FAQs. At least, as they relate to Hawaiian. 

 

HawaiianMiles Changes for Atmos Rewards

Thanks to the absolute mess the communications have been for the launch of Atmos Rewards have been, I feel the need to write this post on HawaiianMiles changes for Atmos Rewards to help provide clarity. However, before I do, I want to give a shout out to reader @khigaki for bringint this information to my attention in the first place. 

 

Recapping Elite Tiers

Before we get into the HawaiianMiles changes for Atmos Rewards, I think it’s work recapping how the “new” elite tiers are going to work.

• 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 40,000 to 74,999 EQMs 
• Atmos Silver/oneworld Ruby: MVP and Pualani Gold – members with 20,000 to 39,999 EQMs

Now, it’s worth noting that the status requirements aren’t changing.

 

Premier Club Access

Pualani Gold, Pualani Platinum, and those traveling in First Class currently receive access to Hawaiian’s Premier Club lounges. However, as of October 1, 2025, Atmos Silvers and higher, plus First Class passengers (same criteria as today) continue to have access, but only if you’re a Huaka’i member. This change effectively limits access to Hawai’i residents who meet the other criteria, only. 

 

Base Member Changes

Next up as I go over HawaiianMiles changes for Atmos Rewards, I’d like to go over changes for base members, such as myself. 

• Milestone Rewards are coming to HawaiianMiles members after the transition on October 1, 2025. These rewards start at 10,000 Status Points, and include:
  • Bonus points
  • Dollar off future Alaska flight
  • Wi-Fi passes (Alaska flights)
  • Complimentary Lounge day pass
  • Upgrade certificates
  • Nominate someone for status
• The ability to redeem miles for upgrades to First/Business Class are going away
• Discounted checked bag fees for inter-island flighs (1st @ $15 and 2nd @ $20), though Atmos Rewards Huaka’i members will still get one free checked bag on these flights. Those who aren’t Hawai’i residents (Huaka’i member) will need to pay $35 for their first checked bag on these flights

 

Pualani Gold -> Atmos Silver

For Pualani Gold members, who will be Atmos Silver members as of October 1, 2025, the only negative change going into effect surrounds checked bags. Specifically, you’ll continue to receive two free checked bags through the end of 2025. However, in 2026, that allowance drops to one. Moreover, you’ll no longer be able to stack the free checked bags you get with your credit card and the free bag you get for holding status. But it isn’t all bad. Today, only the member receives the free bags, while under Atmos, a member’s companions will all receive that one checked bag. 

It’s worth noting that Alaska Air’s page says the above goes into effect on October 1, 2025, which differs from what Hawaiian’s page says. 

Other negative changes include:

• Inability to qualify with segments until you select it when the ability becomes available later in 2026
• Status will expire on December 31 annually rather than February 28
• Elite bonus will decrease from 50% to 25% effective January 1, 2026
• Neighbor island same-day standby ends October 1, 2025
• Discounted day passes to Plumeria Lounge is going away on October 1, 2025
• Discounted day of departure discounted paid upgrades is ending on October 1, 2025
• Complimentary Fare-Hold reservations is ending at 5 pm HST on September 25, 2025

With the bad news out of the way, let’s go over the good Pualani Gold HawaiianMiles changes for Atmos Rewards:

• Complimentary First Class upgrades on Alaska Airlines for member and one companion
• Complimentary First Class upgrades on all domestic Hawaiian Airlines flights beginning in Spring 2026 for member and one companion
• Access to First Class check-in lines and priority boarding increases from two companions to all on the same itinerary 
• Complimentary Preferred Seats at booking goes from six companions to all (except when booking Saver)
• Upgrade to Premium Class on Alaska Air at check-in for member and one companion
• Premium Class is selectable at booking for certain fare classes
• Upgrades to Extra Comfort on Hawaiian mirroring the above Premium Class benefits, coming in Spring 2026
• Earn a minimum of 500 miles on all Alaska and Hawaiian flights – not just inter-island ones
• Milestone perks as of October 1, 2025
• oneworld status and benefits as of October 1, 2025

Benefits that are not changing for Pualani Gold include:

• Complimentary First Class upgrades on neighbor island flights
• 20,000 EQM/Status Point qualification requirement
• Priority bag handling, but now with AS and HA
• Priority call routing and handling
• More seats available for selection on neighbor island flights
• Discounted Hawaiian Air award flights

 

Pualani Platinum -> Atmos Gold/Platinum/Titanium

HawaiianMiles changes for Atmos Rewards for existing Pualani Platinum members is a bit more complicated. That said, changes that apply to both won’t be covered again – refer to the Pualani Gold section. That said, like the previous section, let’s cover the bad news first. 

• Atmos Gold (40,000 Status Points) will see checked bag allowance drop from three to two – Platinum/Titanium keeps three
• Elite bonus miles is dropping from 100% to 50% for Atmos Gold, while Platinum will continue to receive 100%, and Titanium will get 150% – change as of January 1, 2026
• Guaranteed neighbor island seat availability up to 72 hours prior to departure ends October 1, 2025
• Atmos Gold members who do not purchase a Y, Q, or W fare will be placed on an upgrade list, with upgrades beginning 72 hours before departure for Extra Comfort
• Complimentary Clear Plus subscription for Pualani Platinum 75k members have ended

Benefits not changing for Pualani Platinum members include: 

• $10 daily in-flight purchase credit for Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard holders

 

HawaiianMiles Changes for Atmos Rewards, Final Thoughts

There you have it. This is how benefits are evolving as HawaiianMiles changes for Atmos Rewards. Yes, there are negative changes coming, but there are positive ones, too. The one thing that sticks out to me, though is how unclear these changes were during the initial launch, and how confusing certain ones remain. This continues to reinforce my belief that Alaska Air was just awful communicating the launch of Atmos Rewards, and/or they really didn’t think things through well.