Are you confused about the new mileage program for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines after the merger? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!
This post about the Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards program was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
The wait is finally over! After months of speculation since Alaska Airlines completed their acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in September 2024, we now have the details on their combined loyalty program.
On August 20, 2025, both airlines officially launched Atmos Rewards – and it’s a game-changer for families planning Hawaii trips.
As someone who has been tracking this merger closely and testing Hawaii travel strategies for mainland families, I’m excited to share why this could be the best thing to happen to Hawaii family travel in years.
Let me walk you through everything you need to know, plus my top strategies for maximizing these new opportunities.
What Is Atmos Rewards?
Atmos Rewards is the new unified loyalty program that replaces both Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan and Hawaiian Airlines’ HawaiianMiles programs.
But this isn’t just a simple merger – Alaska has created what they’re calling “the industry’s most generous loyalty program” with features no other airline offers.
The program officially launched on August 20, 2025, with full integration completing on October 1, 2025.
Your existing miles are now called “points” and transfer at a 1:1 ratio, so if you had 50,000 miles, you now have 50,000 points with the same redemption value. You can find complete program details on the official Atmos Rewards website.
The Revolutionary Earning Options (Coming 2026)
Here’s what makes Atmos Rewards truly innovative: Starting in 2026, you’ll be able to choose one of three ways to earn both redeemable points and elite status points when flying, and you can change your selection once per year.
Distance Traveled
Earn one point for each physical mile flown. This option is perfect for budget-conscious Hawaii families who book economy flights but travel long distances. To reach the lowest status tier (Atmos Silver), you’d need to fly roughly the equivalent of Seattle to Seoul twice per year.
Best for: Mainland families who book budget flights to Hawaii, take long international trips, or prioritize maximizing points on distance
Price Paid
Earn five points for every $1 spent on airfare and upgrades (excluding taxes and fees). Under this plan, Atmos Silver status would cost roughly $4,000 in airfare annually.
Best for: Mainland families who book premium economy, first class, or frequently upgrade their Hawaii flights
Segments Flown
Earn a flat 500 points for each flight segment, regardless of distance. To reach Atmos Silver with this option, you’d need 40 flight segments per year.
Best for: Mainland families doing extensive inter-island hopping during Hawaii vacations or those who take multiple trips to Hawaii throughout the year
New Elite Status Tiers and Benefits
The familiar MVP status tiers have been rebranded with the new Atmos identity, and qualification requirements for the top two tiers are increasing in 2026:
- Silver (formerly MVP)
- Gold (formerly MVP Gold)
- Platinum (formerly MVP Gold 75K)
- Titanium (formerly MVP 100K)
Game-Changing Titanium Benefits
Top-tier Titanium members will receive day-of-departure upgrades into long-haul business class for themselves and a companion – no points or certificates required. Alaska will be the only U.S. airline with this benefit.
For mainland families planning Hawaii trips, this means potential upgrades to lie-flat seats on flights to Asia or Europe – a massive value proposition that could transform your international travel experiences.
Credit Card Revolution: New Summit Card
The biggest news might be the launch of the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite card with a $395 annual fee. NerdWallet’s detailed review of the Atmos Rewards Summit card highlights why it could be perfect for mainland families traveling to Hawaii:
Welcome Bonus
Earn 100,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $6,000 in the first 90 days. Redemptions start at 4,500 points for a one-way economy ticket, so this bonus could get you several free flights.
Unique Earning Categories
Earn 3 points for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska and Hawaiian purchases, dining, and foreign purchases.
Annual Companion Benefits
Cardholders automatically receive a 25,000-point Global Companion Award every account anniversary, plus another 100,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $60,000 in an anniversary year.
Unlike the traditional $99 Companion Fare, Global Companion Awards can be used on any service class on any flight in Alaska’s network, including Hawaiian Airlines, Oneworld Alliance members, and other eligible international partners.
Family-Friendly Benefits
- Eight Alaska lounge passes per year, with each pass valid for one adult and up to two children under 21
- Free checked bags for the cardholder and up to six guests on the same reservation
- Free points sharing with up to 10 other Atmos Rewards members with no transfer fees
Fastest Path to Status
Get 10,000 status points every account anniversary and earn 1 status point for every $2 spent on purchases. By spending $20,000 with the Summit Card, you’ll earn Atmos Silver status, and $60,000 in spending gets you Gold status.
Existing Card Updates
Don’t worry if you already have Alaska or Hawaiian credit cards:
Alaska Airlines Cards: Alaska Airlines Visa cards are being rebranded as Atmos Rewards Visa cards. Account numbers and benefits remain the same, including the famous $99 Companion Fare, now valid for all Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights within North America.
Hawaiian Airlines Cards: The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard continues unchanged with the same card name and benefits.
Why Every Family Member Needs an Atmos Rewards Account
This is crucial: if your children don’t already have airline loyalty accounts, set them up now. Here’s why:
Future Travel Freedom
Points your kids earn on family trips will be available when they need them for college visits, study abroad programs, or their own future Hawaii adventures.
Family Point Pooling
Summit cardholders can establish a sharing network with up to 10 other Atmos Rewards members to transfer points back and forth with no fees. This makes it easy to consolidate family points for big trips.
Early Status Building
Kids who fly regularly with the family start building their own elite status, which means better travel experiences as they grow up.
Financial Education
Managing their own points teaches children about rewards, planning, and the value of loyalty – valuable life skills that extend beyond travel.
How to Set Up Kids’ Accounts:
- Visit the official Atmos Rewards website to get started
- Create individual accounts for each family member
- For children under 13, you’ll manage the account while they earn their own points
- Link all family accounts for easy point transfers
- Review the benefits FAQ to understand all available perks
Expanded Partner Network
One of the biggest wins from this merger is Hawaiian Airlines joining the oneworld alliance, giving all Atmos Rewards members access to top-tier carriers like American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Qatar Airways.
For mainland families planning Hawaii trips, this opens incredible redemption opportunities:
- Use Hawaii trip points to book flights anywhere in the world
- Earn points on partner airlines that count toward Atmos status
- Access oneworld lounges worldwide with elite status
Technology Upgrades Coming
Alaska is adding Starlink Wi-Fi to its entire fleet, with installations beginning in 2026 and completing in 2027. This service will be free exclusively for Atmos Rewards members.
For mainland families with kids who need entertainment during those long 5-6-hour flights to Hawaii, this is a massive upgrade that could save you money on in-flight internet purchases.
Communities: Tailored Benefits for Different Travelers
Atmos is introducing “Communities” – groups with benefits tailored to specific interests or locations. Currently available:
- Club 49: For Alaska residents
- Huaka’i by Hawaiian: For Hawaii residents, including quarterly 10% flight discounts
Coming later in 2026, they’ll launch communities for families, wellness travelers, and more.
As a family travel expert, I’m excited to see what the family-focused community will offer – potentially things like priority boarding for families or special kids’ meal options that would benefit mainland families traveling to Hawaii.
Additional Earning Opportunities
Beyond flights, you can earn Atmos points through:
Lyft Partnership: Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on everyday Lyft rides, and 3 points for every $1 on airport and elevated rides. You can easily link your Atmos and Lyft accounts to start earning immediately.
Travel Bookings: Book hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacations through Alaska’s website to earn one status point and one loyalty point per $1 spent.
Shopping Partners: Partners include retailers like 1-800-Flowers.com, Teleflora, and Alaska-based Carrs-Safeway stores.
Timeline and Important Dates
Now through September 30, 2025: HawaiianMiles accounts remain active and continue earning
September 26-30, 2025: HawaiianMiles accounts will freeze to accommodate the migration
October 1, 2025: HawaiianMiles and all miles automatically transition into Atmos Rewards
2026: New earning options and additional Communities launch
My Strategic Recommendations for Mainland Families Traveling to Hawaii
After analyzing all these changes, here are my top recommendations:
Immediate Actions (Do This Week)
- Set up Atmos Rewards accounts for every family member who doesn’t have one
- Link existing accounts if you have both Alaska and Hawaiian miles
- Research the Summit credit card – the benefits could easily justify the annual fee for mainland families who travel to Hawaii regularly
Medium-Term Planning (Next 3-6 Months)
- Evaluate your earning strategy for 2026 based on your typical Hawaii travel patterns
- Consider shifting Hawaii bookings to Alaska’s website to maximize earnings
- Plan a status run if you’re close to a higher tier – the new benefits are worth it
Long-Term Strategy (2026 and Beyond)
- Choose your earning method wisely based on your family’s travel style
- Join relevant Communities when they launch
- Maximize the partner network for non-Hawaii travel using points earned on Hawaii trips
Bottom Line: This Could Be Huge for Mainland Families Traveling to Hawaii
This merger represents the most significant change in Hawaii travel rewards in decades. For mainland families who are strategic about it, Atmos Rewards offers opportunities to make Hawaii travel significantly more affordable and enjoyable.
The key differentiators that make this especially good for mainland families planning Hawaii trips:
- Flexible earning options that reward different travel styles
- Enhanced companion benefits that work for mainland-to-Hawaii flights and internationally
- Free family point sharing that makes pooling resources easy
- Future-proofing kids’ travel with their own earning accounts
The mainland families who will benefit most are those who plan ahead and stay engaged with the program. Don’t let these opportunities pass by – the landscape of Hawaii travel rewards just got a lot more interesting!
Have questions about maximizing Atmos Rewards for your Hawaii family trips? Drop me a line – I love helping families navigate these complex programs to save money on their dream vacations!