We recently saw the launch of Atmos Rewards, the new combined loyalty program of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. The program is really well thought out, in my opinion, with some unique features you won’t find with many other programs.
If you ask me, there was one major weak part to Atmos Rewards when it came to the value of crediting flights to the program, and that’s now going to be addressed.
Atmos Rewards’ lackluster partner points earning rates
Atmos Rewards has a lot of airline partners, including oneworld as well as non-oneworld partners. As it currently stands, points earning rates differ massively for travel on partner airlines, based on whether you’re booking the ticket through Alaska or directly through the partner program.
Below is the points earning chart when booking partner airlines through Alaska.
Below is the points earning chart when booking direct with partner airlines.
As I’ve said before, while the points earning rates are great if booking directly through Alaska, they’re otherwise pretty uncompetitive. It’s one thing if all partner flights could easily be booked directly through Alaska, but that’s simply not possible.
For example, earning a total of just 150% points for international first class or 125% points for international business class just doesn’t cut it out nowadays. For that matter, there’s a certain irony to the program offering status points on award flights at the rate of 100% across cabins, which in many ways is more rewarding than revenue flights booked through partners.
It’s just strange to earn 125% status points for a business class ticket if paying cash, or 100% status points for a business class ticket if redeeming points. Perhaps that’s one major hesitation that was standing in the way of some oneworld flyers switching to the program. Along those lines, there’s positive news…
Atmos Rewards making partner flights more rewarding
Atmos Rewards has announced that it will be increasing points earning rates for first and business class travel on partner airlines, when booking directly through those partners. The catch is that these changes will only be implemented “later in 2026,” which seems like an awfully long time to wait for what’s a necessary change from a competitive standpoint.
Once these changes are implemented, here’s how points earning will change (and this includes both status points and redeemable points):
- Domestic first & business class tickets will go from earning 125% to 150% points
- International business class tickets will go from earning 125% to 250% points
- International first class tickets will go from earning 150% points to 250% points
As you can see, those are some major changes, especially for business class. I do find it strange that first and business class tickets internationally will earn the same number of points. Just to be clear, the above amounts are before any elite points bonuses, though those don’t count toward qualifying for elite status.
Bottom line
At some points “later in 2026,” Atmos Rewards will be improving points earning rates for first and business class tickets on partner airlines, when booking directly with partners. The changes are considerable, with international business class going from earning 125% points, to earning 250% points.
This is an overdue change, if you ask me, as crediting partner flights to the program largely didn’t make much sense. So this is great, I just hope the changes are implemented as soon as possible.
What do you make of these Atmos Rewards partner points earning changes?
