In the world of loyalty programs, Alaska Airlines (now under the Atmos Rewards umbrella) is often called the “Holy Grail” for points and miles enthusiasts. While other airlines have moved toward systems that reward only how much you spend, Alaska, and its new integrated program with Hawaiian Airlines, remains the champion of rewarding how far you fly.
In 2026, the program has evolved into Atmos Rewards, a unified powerhouse that covers the West Coast, the Pacific, and a massive global network. Whether you’re a Seattle-based traveler or a global nomad, here is everything you need to know.
You can also use your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card to pay your rent through Bilt and earn MileagePlus points.
The Basics
Joining Atmos Rewards is free, and the program remains one of the last where “butt-in-seat” miles truly matter. You track two main things:
- Atmos Points: These are your “redeemable” rewards. You earn them by flying Alaska, Hawaiian, or partner airlines, and through credit card spend.
- Status Points: Used to reach Elite tiers (MVP, Gold, Gold 75K, and Gold 100K). Alaska remains unique because you earn these based on the actual distance you fly, not just the dollars you spend.
Note on Expiration: Atmos points do not expire as long as your account remains active (earning or redeeming) once every 24 months.
Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards: Earning Points
Atmos Rewards remains a distance-based stronghold in an industry that has gone “revenue-mad.”
- Flying: You still earn at least 1 point for every 1 mile flown on Alaska and Hawaiian flights. Elite members receive massive bonuses (up to 150%).
- If you have the credit cards, you earn miles but also companion certificates, which come as points. These do expire.
- The 10% Relationship Boost: If you have an eligible Bank of America checking or savings account, you earn a 10% bonus on all points earned from your Atmos credit card spend.
- Partner Airlines: You can earn points by flying on the oneworld alliance (American, British Airways, Qantas) and “Global Partners” like Starlux, Condor, and Fiji Airways.
- Buying points: You can also buy points, usually with a bonus. We have seen frequent 100% bonuses. If you have a specific redemption in mind, it might be cheaper to buy points, rather than using cash.
Redeeming Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards
Alaska recently moved to a unified, distance-based award chart. This makes it easy to know what a flight will cost:
- Short-Hop Awards: Starting at just 4,500 points for flights under 700 miles.
- Global Partner Awards: These are grouped into three regions (Americas, Europe/Africa, and Asia Pacific) with transparent pricing based on the distance flown.
- No Blackout Dates: If there’s a seat for sale on Alaska or Hawaiian, you can generally book it with points.
Why Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards is Unique
There are two “killer features” that make Atmos Rewards the best program in the U.S.:
- The Free Stopover: This is the legendary “secret sauce.” On a one-way international award ticket, you are allowed one free stopover. You can fly from San Francisco to Tokyo, stay for four days, and then continue to Singapore—all for the price of a single award. It can be buggy though – your best bet is to call and try to book it.
- Instant Delay Credit: A new feature for 2026—if your Alaska flight is delayed by 2+ hours or cancelled within 24 hours of departure, cardholders receive an instant $50 voucher automatically.
The Hawaiian Connection
The merger with Hawaiian Airlines created a “Pacific Powerhouse.” In 2026, the two programs are fully integrated into Atmos Rewards:
- 1:1 Transfers: You can move points between your Alaska and Hawaiian profiles instantly. A lot of people went all-in with their Amex points. We will see how it pans out.
- Network Synergy: Use your points to book Hawaiian’s flagship Dreamliner service to Sydney, Seoul, or Tahiti with ease.
- Inter-Island Hopping: The best way to use small amounts of points for quick jumps between the islands.
Alaska Airlines partner overview
Alaska Airlines partners with more than 30 airlines worldwide. Mileage Plan members earn and redeem points across most partners. Status benefits apply primarily within the oneworld alliance.
Oneworld Alliance partners
Mileage earning, redemption, and elite status recognition apply across all Oneworld airlines.
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Fiji Airways
- Finnair
- Iberia
- Japan Airlines
- Malaysia Airlines
- Oman Air
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- Royal Air Maroc
- Royal Jordanian
- SriLankan Airlines
Earn and redeem partners
You can also earn and redeem miles on these non-one world partners. Some of these airlines (especially the smaller ones) do not recognize status and/or does not allow redemption. Partner flights booked through Alaska earn 100% of miles flown. Business class flights earn 250% of distance on all partners. Oneworld status tiers (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald) apply only to alliance airlines.
- Aer Lingus
- Air Tahiti Nui
- Condor
- Hainan Airlines
- Icelandair
- Korean Air
- Porter Airlines
- STARLUX Airlines
- Aleutian Airways
- Bahamasair
- Cape Air
- Contour Airlines
- ITA Airways
- Kenmore Air
- Mokulele Airlines
- Philippine Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- Southern Airways Express
Credit Cards and Transfer Access
The partnership between Bank of America (BOA) and Atmos Rewards is the primary way to supercharge your balance.
- Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature ($95 fee): The classic card. It offers the famous Annual Companion Fare (buy one ticket, get one for $99 + taxes) and a free checked bag.
- Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite ($395 fee): The new premium heavy-hitter. It includes Global Companion Awards (can be used for Business Class), 8 lounge passes per year, and a 10,000 status point head-start on elite status every year.
- Transfer Partners: Atmos Rewards is a 1:1 partner with Bilt Rewards. You can also transfer from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 ratio).
Sweet Spots
To get the maximum “Points to Pictures” value, look for these specific redemptions:
- Fiji Airways to Australia: 55k points for Business Class with a free stopover in Fiji.
- Starlux Business Class: 75k points for one of the world’s most luxurious new cabins to Taipei.
- Cathay Pacific First Class: Still one of the best uses of points in existence for travel to Hong Kong.
- West Coast “Short Hops”: 4,500 points for expensive last-minute flights like Seattle to San Francisco.
Summary
In 2026, Atmos Rewards is the ultimate program for travelers who value transparency and luxury. By combining the distance-based earning of the old Alaska program with the premium perks of the new Bank of America “Summit” card, you can unlock international Business Class travel faster than with almost any other airline.
