#1 Among Airlines
Point Value
1.6 ¢
Program Score
8.2
Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines have some great sweet spots, but understanding their award charts is key.
Atmos Rewards associated alliance is oneworld Alliance
Visit oneworld Alliance
The best way to earn Atmos points is by flying on Alaska, Hawaiian, or one of their partner airlines. Alaska currently offers three co-branded credit cards that can earn a substantial number of points, and Hawaiian has two co-branded cards. All earn Atmos points. There are also other, lower-value ways to earn points.
Atmos Rewards members can choose how they earn points and status points on Alaska and Hawaiian flights, with three earning options: distance traveled, price paid, or segments flown.
You can select your preferred earning method beginning October 1, 2026, and your selection will apply to flights departing January 1, 2027, or later.
Here’s how each earning option works:
Important: Saver fares do not earn Atmos points or status points. This applies to Saver fares booked on or after June 11, 2026, for travel on or after August 1, 2026.
Existing Atmos members who don't make a selection will continue earning based on distance flown. New members who join beginning in 2027 will default to earning based on price paid. You can change your earning method once per calendar year for future travel.
Elite members also receive bonus points on flights:
For most travelers, distance-based earning will likely provide the most points, but the best choice depends on how and where you fly:
Points Navigator Tip: The break-even point between distance-based and price-based earning is 20 cents per flown mile. A 2,500-mile flight costing $500, for example, earns 2,500 points under either method.
Partner earning currently varies based on the airline, fare class, cabin, and how you book your ticket. Atmos has more than 30 airline partners, and earning with partners is an important part of the program, particularly for premium-cabin travel.
Atmos has not yet announced how partner flights will earn points and status points under the new 2027 earning system or whether your selected earning method will apply to partner flights. Until those details are announced, check the partner page for the current earning rates for each airline.
Alaska and Hawaiian have a combined five co-branded credit cards that earn Atmos points redeemable on either airline or their partners. Alaska offers a premium personal card, a lower-tier personal card, and a business card. Hawaiian has one personal card and one business card.
Bilt is currenty the only transferable points program that partners with Atmos. If one of the new Bilt 2.0 cards works for you, and you can maximize it to earn points on your housing, we highly recommend signing up for one for its strong transfer partners, regardless of your airline loyalty.
Note that Atmos announced in September 2026 that Bank of America will become a new transfer partner. No other details have been announced yet, and Bank of America does not currently have any airline or hotel transfer partners. We'll update this section as more information becomes available.
A unique way to earn Atmos points is using one of the two Atmos personal cards to pay rent through Bilt. Cardmembers can link their Atmos card to their Bilt account and earn 3x points on rent payments, up to $50,000 per year. You will have to pay a 3% fee to do this, so you're effectively buying Atmos points for 1¢ per point. Since we value Atmos points at 1.6¢ per point, this can be a good deal if you consistently get a high value when redeeming Atmos points. Note that this is only available on the Atmos Summit and Ascent cards, not the Business card. Rent spending also earns status points toward elite status.
Transfer points to another member
Atmos lets you transfer points to another member for a fee of $10 per 1,000 points plus a $25 processing fee per transaction. This can help consolidate points for an award, but we don't recommend this as the cost often makes it a poor value unless you're only topping off an account.
Create a Network with the Summit card
If you have the Atmos Summit card, you can create a network with up to 10 Atmos members and share points between members at no cost. This is the best option for families or groups who regularly earn Atmos points, as it eliminates the standard transfer fees.
Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature
Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite
Special Offers Related to Atmos Rewards. Click the arrow to see more.
We briefly mentioned in another Breaking Point that Atmos will introduce a new debit card in 2027, and Alaska has now opened an early access list for it. If you register your interest by October 31, 2026, Alaska will send you a code for 20% off eligible travel from January 6 through March 10, 2027. You must book by December 7, 2026, and provide a valid Atmos Rewards account number when registering. The upcoming debit card will earn Atmos points on everyday purchases, offer rewards tied to savings, and include an annual flight discount, although Alaska has not yet released the full earning rates, fee structure, or complete benefits. Registering for early access does not open an account or guarantee eligibility for the debit card, and there is no requirement to apply for or open the card to receive the 20% discount code.
When Atmos officially launched a little over a year ago, one of the more exciting announcements was the ability to choose how you earn points, a first in the airline loyalty industry. That option is finally here, with Atmos Rewards members able to choose their earning method beginning tomorrow, October 1, 2026. Your selection will apply to flights departing January 1, 2027, or later. You'll have three options: earn 1 point per mile flown, 5 points per dollar spent, or 500 points per flight segment. The same method applies to both redeemable and status points. Existing members who don't make a selection will continue earning based on distance, while new members joining in 2027 will default to earning based on price. Members can change their selection once per calendar year for future travel. There are some important changes even if you stick with distance-based earning, though: class-of-service bonuses and minimum-mile earning are going away. The new earning system doesn't change status points earned from credit card spending or the requirements for Atmos elite status.
Bank of America will become a transfer partner of Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards in 2027, giving cardholders another way to earn one of the more valuable airline currencies. We don't yet know which Bank of America cards will be eligible, as Bank of America does not currently transfer to any airline or hotel partners. We also don't know when transfers will begin or what the transfer ratio will be. This is an exciting development, as it could signal the beginning of a new transferable points system if Bank of America adds transfer capabilities and more partners. That's all speculation, of course, but we'll be watching closely as more details emerge. Atmos also says it plans to add transfer opportunities with other select global financial institutions in the future. Bilt is currently the only major transferable points program that transfers directly to Atmos Rewards, and it does so at a 1:1 ratio. Alaska also announced plans for a new Atmos Rewards debit card in early 2027 and a refresh of the Atmos Rewards Visa Business Card later this year, with complete details still to come.
If you're a parent who wants travels with a lap infant, Atmos Rewards has introduced a very generous policy on award tickets. When booking an award flight through Atmos, you'll only have to pay the applicable government taxes and fees to add a lap infant under two years old. No additional points will be required. This applies to all award redemptions, whether you're flying Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, or one of Atmos' partner airlines. Many airline programs charge 10% of the adult cash fare for a lap infant, which can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars on premium-cabin tickets. Atmos' new policy is among the most generous available, joining programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, which charges just 2,500 points or $25 CAD, while Virgin Atlantic generally charges 1,000 to 7,000 points depending on the cabin. You'll need to call Atmos to add a lap infant to an award booking.
Redeeming Atmos points for airfare is by far the best use of your points. When Alaska and Hawaiian combined their loyalty programs into Atmos, they fortunately kept their popular award charts, which is why you are often able to get outsized value on your award redemptions.
Check out all their award charts here (scroll halfway down the page), and see some of our favorite sweet spots below.
Discover your points' highest-value redemption options. Use the filters to find the optimal sweet spot for your next trip.
Even though flights are priced dynamically and the award charts are “Starting at” prices, this is where most of the sweet spots are found.
Atmos pricing can vary by date, so use calendar view or flexible-date searches to find awards near the lowest chart prices.
British Airways awards through Atmos can carry high fuel surcharges, especially on flights to Europe. Check American, Aer Lingus, Finnair, or other partners before booking BA-operated flights.
Atmos prices mixed-cabin awards based on the highest cabin included, even if only one short segment is in a premium cabin. Check each segment before booking.
Atmos charges a $20/person partner award booking fee, and those fees are not refundable if you cancel. Modify the award instead of canceling when possible, and note that Summit cardholders avoid the fee entirely.
The Atmos program is the combined loyalty program for Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines. It is best suited for more advanced users who can take advantage of its partner network and are willing to be strategic with redemptions. It’s one of the top loyalty programs in the hobby, with strong sweet spots both on Alaska and Hawaiian flights and across its partners.
The lack of major credit card transfer partners is the biggest limitation, as only Bilt and Marriott points currently transfer into Atmos. If you live in Seattle or another West Coast hub, or travel frequently to Hawaii, Atmos is a clear win. It may not be the best program for beginners, but it’s worth joining while you learn. The more time you spend in the hobby, the easier it becomes to take advantage of its best opportunities.
Atmos Rewards has four elite status tiers: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium. You earn status by collecting status points throughout the calendar year, with higher tiers requiring more status points and providing additional benefits.
All Atmos elite members receive:
The benefits for each tier depend on which airline you fly with - Alaska, Hawaiian, American, or oneworld. The Status Levels below are when flying on Alaska only. You can see benefits for Hawaiian, American, and oneworld partners <a href="https://www.alaskaair.com/atmosrewards/content/benefits/global" target="_blank">here</a>
Beyond elite status, you can unlock additional rewards by reaching specific Status Point milestones before reaching the next status level.
Your Atmos points remain active as long as your account is in good standing. Canceling a credit card will not impact your points, as they are tied directly to your Atmos account. Bank of America cards are subject to the B of A 1/24 Rule, which states that the card "may not be available to you if you currently have or have had the card in the preceding 24 months." This means you will have to wait 24 months after closing your account before being eligible for a new card again. The Atmos Summit card does not have this language in their terms, but it is a new card released in August 2025, so this rule may get added to the terms once the card is closer to being 24 months old.
In August 2025, Alaska’s loyalty program was renamed Atmos Rewards, the joint program with Hawaiian after their 2024 merger. You can earn Atmos points by flying either airline or partners, and by using any of their five co-branded credit cards.
Atmos Rewards is the combined loyalty program for Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines. You earn points for flights and status points toward elite tiers. You can redeem points for flights on either airline or partners, while status points help earn elite status and unlock benefits based on your tier.
Holding Atmos elite status is the best path to free upgrades on Alaska. All tiers qualify, though higher tiers clear more often. Earn status by flying Alaska, Hawaiian, or partner airlines, or by spending on co-branded credit cards.
Yes, but only with a paid or award First Class ticket on flights operated by Alaska or Hawaiian. One flight on your itinerary must be at least 2,000 miles, or travel to, through, or from Alaska. Upgraded First Class tickets do not include lounge access.
Tracking Points & Transfer Options
