Latest news with #AtmosRewards
Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Business
- Newsweek
How Alaska, Hawaiian Airlines Are Changing Loyalty Program
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have launched a joint loyalty program called Atmos Rewards and introduced a new premium co-branded credit card, the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite, as part of a broader repositioning to serve more global and premium travelers. The move combined Alaska's Mileage Plan with Hawaiian Airlines' HawaiianMiles into Atmos Rewards and added a $395 annual-fee Visa Infinite card aimed at high-spend travelers, signaling a strategic shift toward premium revenue streams that many carriers rely on to boost profits. Newsweek reached out to Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines via email for comment. Why It Matters Airlines have leaned more heavily on loyalty programs and co-branded credit cards because those products can produce larger profit margins than ticket sales alone, an industry dynamic summarized in recent trade reporting and coverage of the Atmos launch. The new program offers flexible earning methods, letting members choose to earn by distance flown, by price paid, or by number of segments flown, a departure from many U.S. carriers' traditional mileage-based systems. What To Know Alaska Air Group has combined Alaska's Mileage Plan and Hawaiian's HawaiianMiles into Atmos Rewards, with full account transitions for members scheduled for October. The Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite card carries a $395 annual fee and offers benefits including lounge access, a global companion award, lounge passes, a $50 instant delay credit for qualifying delays, free checked-bag benefits, and priority boarding, according to the airline. An Alaska Airlines jet taxis at San Francisco International Airport on June 4, 2025. An Alaska Airlines jet taxis at San Francisco International Airport on June 4, 2025. Getty Images Members can choose how they accrue status and points: one point per mile (distance), five points per $1 spent on flights (price), or 500 points per flight segment (segments), with the option to change that preference once per year. The airlines confirmed that Hawaiian Airlines would join the oneworld alliance in 2026, expanding partner access for Atmos members. Alaska and Hawaiian said members would see account transitions without loss of benefits, with Hawaiian's Pualani Elite mapping to Atmos tiers and additional milestone perks. What People Are Saying Andrew Harrison, chief commercial officer at Alaska Airlines, said in a statement: "Atmos Rewards is more than a loyalty program – it's a reflection of how guests travel today. We listened to what our members value most and built a program that's grounded in generosity, personalization and practicality. "We're putting our members in the pilot's seat, giving them control over how they earn and redeem, while honoring the legacy and values of both Alaska and Hawaiian." What Happens Next Atmos Rewards membership transitions are scheduled to continue through October 1, 2025, for HawaiianMiles members, while Alaska Mileage Plan members were automatically enrolled.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Introducing Atmos™ Rewards - an enhanced, combined loyalty program by Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, unlocking a world of more choices, benefits and possibilities
A first for any global airline, members can choose how they earn points and status points when they fly with us – by distance traveled, price paid or segments flown The #1 airline rewards program is getting even better: Atmos Rewards members enjoy industry-leading generosity with even more ways to earn and redeem points for travel adventures around the globe Unleash the full power of Atmos Rewards with our new premium credit card, the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® card, offering a Global Companion Award and an even faster way to earn status Alaska ushers in a new era of inflight connectivity with the installation of ultra-fast Starlink Wi-Fi, free for Atmos Rewards members beginning in 2026 SEATTLE, Aug. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On a mission to transform global travel, Alaska Airlines launched Atmos™ Rewards today – our evolved, supercharged loyalty program that unifies the best of Mileage Plan and Hawaiian Airlines' HawaiianMiles into a combined platform to deliver more choice, more rewards and more global access than ever before for our members. Atmos Rewards continues the generosity that Mileage Plan has long been known for. Alaska has the #1 airline rewards program according to U.S. News & World Report. And it's getting even better. Atmos Rewards offers new ways to earn valuable points across an extensive worldwide network spanning over 1,000 destinations, connected by the strength of Alaska, Hawaiian and more than 30 global airline partners, including the oneworld alliance. We've also assembled a rich collection of partners to earn points with when our members are not flying. Atmos Rewards is the global airline program that encourages members to tailor the program to their travel style and choose what matters most to them, from flexible point-earning options to preferred perks and personalized benefits in the new Atmos Communities. "Atmos Rewards is more than a loyalty program – it's a reflection of how guests travel today," said Andrew Harrison, chief commercial officer at Alaska Airlines. "We listened to what our members value most and built a program that's grounded in generosity, personalization and practicality. We're putting our members in the pilot's seat, giving them control over how they earn and redeem, while honoring the legacy and values of both Alaska and Hawaiian." The power of choice, points that go further and greater access to the world Choose among three ways to earn: We're introducing a first for a global airline that gives our members ultimate flexibility. Later in 2026, points and status points can be earned in one of three ways when flying with us. Members can select the earning option that works best for them and change their preference once a year: Distance traveled: Earn based on how far you go with one point for every mile flown. For thrifty travelers who take cross-country or international trips, this might be the best choice. Price paid: Earn five points for every $1 spent when purchasing a flight. This includes airfare and upgrades purchased in premium cabins. For travelers flying in our premium cabins, including our lie-flat suites, this might be the best choice. Segments flown: Earn a flat 500 points for each flight segment flown. For flyers who take numerous short-distance flights, such as those between Neighbor Islands in Hawai`i or within California, this option guarantees a set number of points on every trip. Reward yourself: We keep adding new ways for members to use their valuable points to see the world. They can redeem points for award travel to more than 1,000 destinations on Alaska, Hawaiian and 30+ global airline partners, including oneworld member airlines. Redemptions start at only 4,500 points one-way. We're installing Starlink across the entire Alaska fleet: Alaska and Hawaiian will add Starlink inflight connectivity to more planes, bringing the fastest Wi-Fi in the skies to even more flights. Alaska has teamed up with T-Mobile to make this new Wi-Fi service free exclusively for Atmos Rewards members. Installations on Alaska's fleet will begin in 2026 and be completed in 2027. More partners, more points: Atmos Rewards members can now earn 2 points for every $1 spent on everyday Lyft rides, and 3 points for every $1 spent on airport and elevated Lyft rides. Link your Atmos Rewards and Lyft accounts at to earn more points wherever you go. Later this year, we'll add more partners to our lineup. Book stays: Explore nearly a million hotels and vacation rentals worldwide where you can earn or redeem points. Atmos Rewards Unlocked: Points can also be used to secure tickets to unique events and travel experiences – available only to Atmos Rewards members. Endless earning: Points and status points are earned on flights with us and our partners, as well as through routine purchases with the Atmos Rewards Visa® credit cards and Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard® credit cards* and on purchases made with our non-airline partners. Members can also earn status points when they book award travel. Points are used for various redemptions, and status points track progress toward reaching status and milestones. The power of our new premium card: With our new Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® card, co-branded with Bank of America, cardholders can reach status and milestones even faster by earning 1 status point for every $2 spent on purchases. Milestones unleash perks: Rewards come earlier and more often when members reach milestones with their status points. Each milestone unlocks a choice of perks starting at just 10,000 status points. More generous upgrades are on the way: For our Atmos Titanium members, we'll be the only U.S. airline to offer complimentary, day-of-departure upgrades into global Business Class for them and a companion without requiring points or a certificate. Also, status holders and one companion can take advantage of complimentary upgrades on Hawaiian Airlines flights within North America beginning next spring. With new Atmos Communities, pick a group and enjoy extra benefits: All members can choose to be part of Atmos Communities later in 2026 with exclusive benefits tailored to what interests them most. Options include groups unique to members within a specific area of residence, like our popular Huakaʻi by Hawaiian for Hawai'i residents and Club 49 for residents of the state of Alaska (available now), or benefits aligned with interests like travel with families, wellness and more. "Atmos Rewards is designed to set a new standard for airline loyalty – more generous, more flexible and easier to use, whether members are flying across the globe or just across the Islands. With the combination of Alaska and Hawaiian, we seized a rare opportunity to imagine how we could make the most generous loyalty program even better," said Brett Catlin, vice president of loyalty, alliances and sales at Alaska Airlines. "With industry-first features like customizable ways to earn and unique benefits tailored to how people travel, we're giving our guests more control, more value and more reasons to engage." What you need to know As of today, Mileage Plan members are now Atmos Rewards members. They retain their existing account numbers with no interruption to their benefits – there's nothing they need to do. With Atmos Rewards, Mileage Plan miles are now 'points' and elite-qualifying miles are referred to as 'status points.' One Mileage Plan or HawaiianMiles mile = one Atmos Rewards point. The value of points does not change, and points do not expire. Members can continue to redeem for travel on Alaska, Hawaiian and our global partners. HawaiianMiles members and all their miles will automatically transition into Atmos Rewards on Oct. 1. They will receive a new account number if they have not previously linked their HawaiianMiles account to a Mileage Plan account. We have more details for HawaiianMiles members here. Alaska Airlines Visa® cards are being rebranded as Atmos Rewards Visa® cards. Account numbers and benefits remain the same. Use of the cards and benefits will continue without interruption – there's no action for cardholders to take. The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard* continues unchanged. The card name and benefits stay the same, and cardmembers do not need to take any action. We'll remain the only U.S. airline that offers points for miles flown, but later in 2026, members will be able to choose how they earn points: by distance traveled, price paid or segments flown. For members who have status with us, benefits stay the same with more on the way. Learn more about the new Atmos tier names and updates to earning status here. More about Atmos Rewards The Atmos Rewards name is designed to inspire wonder. It's a play on "atmosphere," embodying an elevated brand that takes travelers to new heights through a visual identity reminiscent of an airplane window, inspiring flyers to dream. The soft gradients, smoothly transitioning in color and intensity, harmoniously weave together the blue of Alaska and the purple and pink of Hawaiian. The name also cues a promise of "most" – demonstrating the 11 years of Alaska's Mileage Plan being named the number one airline loyalty program and cueing more rewards, more destinations and more choice. Visit to learn even more about our new loyalty program. And follow us on our new Atmos Rewards social channels: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn and YouTube. Our credit card programs A perfect complement to Atmos Rewards is our new premium credit card: the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® card. It features exclusive travel perks, including a unique Global Companion Award that can be redeemed on our partners and in premium cabins, accelerated points and status earning potential, Alaska Lounge passes, and other benefits designed to elevate every step of the journey. Learn more about all the benefits at The card has an annual fee of $395**. The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card and Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card are being rebranded to Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® card and Atmos Rewards Visa® Business card. Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ will now be our $99 Companion Fare. Account numbers remain the same, and cardholders will continue to enjoy all the same benefits and earning power with Atmos Rewards. Current cardholders will receive an Atmos Rewards-branded credit card, featuring the new name and design, when their current card expires. Eligible Atmos Rewards Visa cardholders have access to select benefits across both airlines, including a free checked bag, the $99 Companion Fare, and 3x points on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases. For Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® cardmembers, there is also no interruption in service or use of benefits now or upon the HawaiianMiles transition to Atmos Rewards on Oct. 1. Cardmembers enjoy select benefits across both airlines, including two free checked bags on eligible flights and 3x points on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases. Our growing global gateway in Seattle Alaska continues to expand internationally with new flights from our hometown airport in Seattle – where we're the largest carrier – to Rome, London and Reykjavik, Iceland. Nonstop service to those European markets is scheduled to begin in spring 2026. We currently fly from Seattle to Tokyo Narita, with flights to Seoul Incheon starting Sept. 12. By 2030, we plan to serve 12 intercontinental destinations from Seattle. To support Alaska's transformation, we're establishing a 787-9 hub in Seattle that will deploy as many as 17 787s across our global network. * Hawaiian credit cards continue to earn HawaiianMiles until Oct. 1, 2025. **Terms and conditions apply. These credit card programs are issued and administered by Bank of America, N.A. Visa, Visa Signature and Visa Infinite are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. About Alaska Air GroupAlaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, with McGee Air Services a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. We are a global airline with hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. We deliver remarkable care as we fly our guests to more than 140 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. We'll serve new destinations in Europe beginning in spring 2026: Rome, London and Reykjavik, Iceland. Alaska is a member of the oneworld alliance with Hawaiian scheduled to join in 2026. With oneworld and our additional global partners, guests can earn and redeem points for travel to over 1,000 worldwide destinations. Guests can book travel at and Learn more about what's happening at Alaska and Hawaiian. Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as "ALK." View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Alaska Airlines
USA Today
11 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Alaska and Hawaiian revamp loyalty with free upgrades, new card
As Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines continue their integration, the company on Wednesday announced a new loyalty program called Atmos Rewards with a slate of updated benefits for members. Among the biggest updates of the combined loyalty program is that members will have a choice in how they earn status. There will also be changes to upgrade availability and new ways for all travelers to interact with the program. 'We wanted to democratize it,' Brett Catlin, Vice President of Loyalty, Alliances and Sales at Alaska Airlines, told USA TODAY in an interview. 'Other consumer programs are so much better at that, and we took inspiration from say, like a Sephora, that found ways to engage people who aren't their top spenders.' Existing Alaska Mileage Plan members were automatically enrolled in Atmos Rewards with their same account number. HawaiianMiles members will receive a new account number, and their existing Hawaiian Airlines loyalty account will be converted on Oct. 1 if they haven't already linked to a Mileage Plan account. Here's what Alaska and Hawaiian loyalists should expect from the new program. Choose how you earn status The most significant change for Atmos Rewards, and the biggest differentiator with other airline programs, is that travelers will have a choice in how they earn status. Atmos Rewards members will be able to choose whether they earn points towards status based on how much they spend, the distance they fly or the number of flights they take. Most other major airline loyalty programs use either an entirely spending-based system toward earning status, or a combination of spending and another metric. 'We wanted to find a way to reward people in the way they wanted to be rewarded," Catlin said. This earnings system will roll out in late 2026 and will use the following formula for each selection: Members will be able to update their earning mechanism preference once a year. New perks Top-level Titanium members in the Atmos Rewards program will be able to secure complimentary international business class upgrades on departure day without using an upgrade certificate. Most airlines require elite flyers to apply in advance for upgrades to business class on long-haul flights, and limit the number of such upgrades available to each member each year. As Alaska Airlines expands its international route network, this perk could be especially appealing. 'That's a powerful driver of program engagement," Catlin said, noting that free upgrades are frequently seen as the most important perk of airline loyalty programs. Even for non-elites, perks will be available just for participating. Atmost Rewards members will be able to take advantage of program "milestones" where they unlock perks starting at 10,000 status points, even before they achieve status, according to Alaska Airlines. The company did not specify in its press release what those perks would be. JetBlue has a similar model for earning perks before status in its TrueBlue program. Communities for all Atmos Rewards is also meant to provide new ways for travelers to engage with the airline, even if they're not road warriors. The airline will offer several free-to-join Communities as part of its new loyalty program, including existing groups for Alaska and Hawaii residents, as well as interest and lifestyle-based options like communities for family travel or one with a wellness focus. According to Catlin, communities are free to join and are meant to help even infrequent travelers feel like they're getting perks out of Atmos Rewards membership. 'With industry-first features like customizable ways to earn and unique benefits tailored to how people travel, we're giving our guests more control, more value and more reasons to engage," he said in a statement. A new credit card, too In addition to the new loyalty program, Alaska and Hawaiian are introducing a new premium credit card, the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite card by Bank of America. The $395 annual fee comes with perks like lounge passes, automatic travel delay credits, free checked bags, priority boarding and more. 'The Atmos Rewards Summit card sets a new bar for what a premium travel card can be –globally connected, deeply rewarding and designed to elevate every step of the journey,' Catlin said in a statement. 'We crafted this card from the ground up to offer unique, industry-leading benefits with outsized rewards and experiential enhancements unmatched by any other airline card.'
Skift
11 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
Alaska Airlines Overhauls Loyalty Program, Plans to Install Starlink
Alaska Airlines launched a combined loyalty program with Hawaiian Airlines on Wednesday, nearly a year after the merger between the two carriers was approved. The new program, called Atmos Rewards, is similar to Marriott Bonvoy, where multiple brands fall under one loyalty program. Customers will be able to earn and redeem frequent flier miles for flights from both Alaska or Hawaiian. The structure of the program is unusual for a frequent flier program. Besides combining two airlines under one loyalty program, Atmos also gives customers the opportunity to choose one of three ways to earn points: Distance traveled Price: Travelers can earn five points for every $1 spent, which includes airfare and upgrades purchased in premium cabins Segments flown: Travelers can earn 500 points for each segment flown. Alaska said the option could be attractive to customers who take many short-distance flights. Brett Catlin, Alaska's v
Business Insider
11 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Alaska Airlines is rolling out Elon Musk's Starlink to all its planes and letting customers choose how to earn loyalty points
Alaska Airlines is bringing Elon Musk's Starlink internet to all its planes as part of a loyalty-program overhaul after merging with Hawaiian Airlines. The airline announced Wednesday that the high-speed, streaming-quality WiFi will be free for all members of its Atmos Rewards program. It comes after Hawaiian became the world's first major airline to deploy the service last February. Alaska Airlines expects to begin installing Starlink next year and have it fully installed across its fleet in 2027. "The idea of a game changer is a word I don't particularly subscribe to, but Starlink, for a business traveler, fundamentally changes your productivity and what you can get done," Brett Catlin, Alaska's vice president for loyalty, told Business Insider. "It can't get on our fleet soon enough," he added. Alaska also announced that loyalty members will be able to choose how to earn points: per mile flown, per dollar spent, or per flight segment. "We were very deliberate in how we designed the program to make sure that we brought everyone in, that it was this idea of a big tent," Catlin told Business Insider. He explained how customers flying on short-haul trips like Honolulu to Maui could benefit from choosing to earn via flight segment, with each worth 500 points. Meanwhile, high-spending business travelers would likely prefer to earn per dollar. Loyalty members would be able to change their preferences once a year. "It's technically more complicated to introduce, of course, but we were very deliberate in deciding we're going to make that investment because it's important to how we compete," Catlin said. A new co-branded credit card with Bank of America, called Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite, would let holders reach status faster, earning one status point for every $2 spent on purchases. The airline also said that Atmos Titanium members, the top tier worth 100,000 status points, could be offered complimentary business-class upgrades for themselves and a companion on the day of departure. The Seattle-based carrier is opening its first-ever transatlantic routes and doubling down on its loyalty scheme, which is crucial to US airlines' profitability. "Loyalty, particularly for a US carrier, is integral to everything that we do — both the program, but then also the co-brand portfolio," Catlin said. Through the first half of the year, Alaska Airlines turned a profit of $6 million, while its loyalty program generated revenue of $417 million. Since acquiring Hawaiian Airlines, it has taken ownership of four Boeing 787 Dreamliners, opening up longer journeys. Alaska's Dreamliners will first fly from Seattle to Seoul on September 12. Flights to Tokyo begin on January 7, followed by flights to Rome and London in the spring.
