Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
Part of Atmos Rewards hub
GUIDE
How to earn Atmos Rewards elite status
Atmos Rewards elite status is the tier a member of Atmos Rewards, the loyalty programme of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, reaches by collecting status points, the programme's elite-qualifying currency. From 1 October 2026 members can choose how they earn points and status points on flights, and that choice applies to flights departing on or after 1 January 2027. [4] [6] [7]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Atmos Rewards members collect two separate currencies: points, which are spent on redemptions, and status points, which track progress toward status and milestones. [7]
- Members choose how to earn points and status points on flights by distance travelled, price paid or segments flown, a choice open from 1 October 2026 for flights departing on or after 1 January 2027. [4] [6]
- Choosing is optional, and the choice can be changed once per calendar year for future trips only. [4] [6]
- The published rates are 1 point per mile flown, 5 points per US$1 spent excluding taxes and fees, or 500 points per segment flown. [4] [7]
What are status points in Atmos Rewards?
Atmos Rewards is the combined programme that brought Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan and Hawaiian Airlines' HawaiianMiles onto one platform. [7] When Mileage Plan became Atmos Rewards, elite-qualifying miles were renamed status points, and Mileage Plan miles became points. [7] The two do different jobs: points are used for redemptions, while status points track progress toward status and milestones. [7] Terms such as elite status apply across programmes, but the rules on this page are specific to Atmos Rewards.
Progress is also rewarded through milestones. Alaska says rewards arrive earlier and more often as members reach milestones with their status points, and that each milestone unlocks a choice of perks starting at 10,000 status points. [7]
How do you choose how to earn status points on flights?
From 1 October 2026, Atmos Rewards members can select one of three earning methods, and the selection governs flights departing on or after 1 January 2027. [4] [6] The same choice sets how members earn points and how they earn status points on those flights. [4]
| Method | Published rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Distance travelled | 1 point per mile flown [4] [7] | Default for current members who do not select another option [4] [6] |
| Price paid | 5 points per US$1 spent [4] [7] | Excludes taxes and fees [4]; covers airfare and upgrades bought in premium cabins [7]; default for members joining on or after 1 January 2027 [4] [6] |
| Segments flown | 500 points per segment flown [4] [7] | Fixed amount per segment, which Alaska links to travellers taking several short flights [7] |
The choice reaches beyond Alaska's own aircraft: it applies to all Alaska, Hawaiian and partner flights, while credit card and partner earning stays the same as today. [4] Flying with Alaska, Hawaiian and more than 30 oneworld and other airline partners is itself an earning channel for points and status points. [5] [6]
Selecting a method is optional. A current member who does not pick a different option in 2026 keeps earning on distance travelled, and a member who joins on or after 1 January 2027 earns on price paid unless they choose otherwise. [4] [5] [6] Members may switch once per calendar year, and a switch covers future trips only, never travel already completed. [4] [6]
How else can members earn status points?
Flying is not the only route. The Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite card, co-branded with Bank of America, earns 1 status point for every US$2 spent on purchases, which Alaska presents as a faster path to status and milestones. [7] Alaska also says members can earn status points when they book award travel. [7] An Atmos Rewards debit card planned for early 2027 is designed to earn points and status points as well. [6] Atmos Communities, the programme's residence- and interest-based groups, carry tailored perks that include bonus status points for international travel. [6]
What benefits do Platinum and Titanium members get?
Alaska has published several benefits attached to its upper tiers under the Atmos Rewards name. [6] [7]
- Titanium members have a dedicated Titanium check-in facility in Seattle and a Titanium-exclusive offer of global upgrades to Alaska's premium cabins. [6]
- Alaska says Titanium members will be able to take complimentary, day-of-departure upgrades into global Business Class for themselves and a companion without needing points or a certificate. [7]
- From 2 November 2026, Platinum and Titanium members can bring eligible children and one companion into Premium Class on a complimentary basis when space is available. [6]
- Status holders and one companion can also receive complimentary upgrades on Hawaiian Airlines flights within North America, beginning the following spring as announced in August 2025. [7]
Upgrade mechanics are covered in the Atmos Rewards upgrade guide.
Exceptions and limits
- The earning choice starts with flights departing on or after 1 January 2027, so it does not change how points or status points were earned on flights before that date. [4] [6]
- Switching methods is capped at once per calendar year and applies to future travel only. [4] [6]
- The price-paid rate excludes taxes and fees, while airfare and upgrades purchased in premium cabins are included. [4] [7]
- The Premium Class companion benefit for Platinum and Titanium members applies when space is available. [6]
- The Business Class upgrade for Titanium members is described as a day-of-departure upgrade that requires no points or certificate. [7]
- Credit card and partner earning is unaffected by the flight earning choice. [4]
How the tiers compare with other airlines' published thresholds is set out in status thresholds in major programmes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I earn Atmos Rewards status points on flights?
Pick one of three methods — distance travelled, price paid or segments flown — from 1 October 2026, and the pick governs points and status points on flights departing on or after 1 January 2027. [4] [6]
Do I have to choose a new earning method?
No. Choosing is optional: current members who make no selection keep earning on distance travelled, and members joining on or after 1 January 2027 earn on price paid by default. [4] [6]
How often can I change my earning method?
Once per calendar year, and only for future travel; completed trips are not recalculated. [4] [6]
Can I earn status points without flying?
Yes. The Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite card earns status points on purchases, and an Atmos Rewards debit card planned for early 2027 is designed to earn points and status points too. [6] [7]
What is the difference between points and status points?
Points are used for redemptions, while status points measure progress toward status and toward milestones, the first of which starts at 10,000 status points. [7]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. It covers Atmos Rewards only; the elite programmes of oneworld partner airlines and of hotel and bank rewards schemes are not covered here.
- Atmos Rewards — Choose how you earn fact sheet, checked 18 October 2026
- Alaska Airlines newsroom: October Atmos Members Day flight deals, checked 18 October 2026
- Atmos Rewards expands with customized ways to earn, more benefits and new partners, checked 18 October 2026
- Introducing Atmos Rewards — an enhanced, combined loyalty programme by Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, checked 18 October 2026