In August 2024, we saw the launch of Atmos Rewards, the loyalty program of of Alaska Air Group, which includes Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. This included a rebranding of elite tiers, plus plans to introduce a new top tier perk. Along those lines, we’ve just seen that exciting benefit rolled out, and it’s a major incentive to pursue status.
Atmos Rewards Titaniums now get global upgrades
Atmos Rewards has four elite tiers — Titanium, Platinum, Gold, and Silver — and Titanium members are eligible for a special elite perk, which has just been rolled out, as of late April 2026.
Specifically, Atmos Rewards Titanium members are now eligible for day-of-departure upgrades into business class on all flights globally, without using points or a certificate. This applies not only to the member, but also to a companion traveling on the same reservation.
That makes Atmos Rewards the only loyalty program in the United States to offer such a perk, and it means you can be eligible for an upgrade to destinations like London (LHR), Rome (FCO), Seoul (ICN), Tokyo (NRT), etc. Admittedly there’s quite a risk associated with using this perk, because talk about a long flight on which to have a “battlefield” upgrade.
This complimentary upgrade perk is super valuable, and a major incentive to go for Titanium status. Titanium requires earning 135,000 Atmos Rewards status points in a calendar year, and those can be earned with credit card spending, award flights, and more.
It is worth noting one quirk with these upgrades. Per the Atmos Rewards website, “all status holders will show on the waitlist for flights to or from Asia, Europe, and Oceania,” though only Titanium members are eligible. So I guess there’s some IT limitation for now whereby those upgrades show for everyone, even if it’s not the case.
Upgrade certificates can also be used on global routes
Maybe I just haven’t been paying attention, but this caught me off guard. Atmos Rewards offers the milestone perks program, whereby members receive various benefits for passing different status points thresholds. Among those is the ability to earn upgrade certificates.
Historically, these have been usable throughout Alaska’s network, which admittedly was limited to the Americas. So what’s the latest on that, with the airline now going global? Well, it’s now possible to use these upgrade certificates for flights outside of the Americas as well, including on Alaska and Hawaiian:
- All of Alaska’s long haul routes out of Seattle require two upgrade certificates
- Hawaiian’s long haul routes also require two upgrade certificates, except flights to Pago Pago (PPG), Papeete (PPT), and Rarotonga (RAR), which require one upgrade certificate
Now, the actual process of upgrading is rather convoluted, and hopefully this is simplified over time:
- You have to fill out an upgrade request form between 30 days and 72 hours of departure
- Between 72 hours and four hours of departure, upgrades may be processed (though it doesn’t appear there’s last seat availability, or anything like that)
- If the upgrade doesn’t clear at least four hours before departure, then there’s no way to waitlist the upgrade anymore
This means that those with upgrade certificates get priority over Titanium members with clearing upgrades in advance, and then within four hours of departure, only Titanium members are eligible for upgrades.
Bottom line
With Alaska having finally launched long haul service under its own flight numbers, there’s also an exciting update when it comes to upgrades.
Atmos Rewards Titanium members and up to one companion are now eligible for upgrades on all Alaska and Hawaiian flights globally, which is a perk you won’t otherwise find in the US airline industry. Beyond that, upgrade certificates earned with the milestone perks can also be used in this way, though you may need two certificates, and the actual process of applying an upgrade certificate leaves a bit to be desired.
What do you make of the Atmos Rewards Titanium global upgrade perk?