Category: Alaska Airlines

Atmos Rewards is on the verge of becoming a lot more customizable.

Starting October 1, members will be able to choose how they earn points and status points on flights, join new groups that unlock benefits based on how they travel, and get several new perks.

And there’s considerably more coming in 2027.

Alaska Air Group announced a broad expansion of Atmos Rewards on Tuesday, September 29, including a new debit card and the ability to transfer points from eligible Bank of America cards. The latter could make Atmos Rewards points considerably easier to earn without flying Alaska or Hawaiian or spending on one of their cobranded credit cards.

There’s a lot changing, and some of it takes effect this week.

Atmos Rewards Members Can Choose How They Earn

Starting October 1, Atmos Rewards members can select one of three ways to earn points and status points on flights: distance traveled, dollars spent, or segments flown.

The choice will apply to flights departing January 1, 2027 or later.

Existing members who don’t make a selection will continue earning based on distance, while new members joining January 1 or later will default to earning based on the price of the ticket. Members can change their selection once per calendar year for future flights.

It’s an unusual amount of control for an airline loyalty program.

Someone taking frequent short flights could choose to earn based on segments, while another member could stick with distance. Higher-spending members have the option of tying earnings to the price of their tickets instead.

And earning is only one part of the customization Alaska is adding.

New Atmos Rewards Communities Come With Different Benefits

Atmos Rewards is expanding its Communities program from two groups to six on October 1.

Club 49 and Huakaʻi by Hawaiian, which are built around Alaska and Hawaii residents respectively, will be joined by Global Locals, Families on the Go, Culinary Journeys, and Active Escapes.

Depending on the group, perks can include free checked bags, flight deals, bonus point challenges, partner offers, discounts on Atmos Rewards Unlocked experiences, bonus status points for international travel, and discounts on points bookings for children.

The last one is particularly interesting for families, while the international status point bonuses give Atmos Rewards another way to reward members differently based on how they actually travel.

Bank of America Points Will Become Transferable to Atmos Rewards

One of the bigger changes isn’t arriving until 2027.

Alaska says customers with eligible Bank of America cards will be able to transfer points directly into Atmos Rewards.

There are still some important blanks. Alaska hasn’t said which Bank of America cards will participate, which rewards will be transferable, or what the transfer ratio will be.

But the concept itself is notable.

Bank of America already issues the Atmos Rewards credit cards. Allowing points from other eligible cards to transfer into Atmos Rewards would create another path into the program without requiring spending directly on an Atmos Rewards card.

And Bank of America won’t necessarily be alone. Alaska says Atmos Rewards eventually plans to add points transfers from other select financial institutions around the world.

An Atmos Rewards Debit Card Is Coming, Too

Atmos Rewards is also moving beyond credit cards.

A new Atmos Rewards debit card is planned for the first quarter of 2027, with preregistration open now. The card will earn Atmos Rewards points and status points on purchases, but Alaska is also teasing something less typical for a debit card: the ability to earn rewards on savings.

Other announced benefits include an annual flight discount, discounts on flights and onboard purchases, free points sharing, no foreign transaction fees, and the ability to use points toward certain account fees.

There aren’t many specifics yet about how earning on purchases or savings will work, or the value of the annual flight discount.

There is, however, an incentive to register early. Atmos Rewards members who join the early access list by October 31 will receive a code for 20% off an eligible Alaska flight for travel from January 6 through March 10, 2027. Registration doesn’t open an account or guarantee eligibility for the debit card.

The card will be issued by Cross River Bank and managed by Alviere rather than Bank of America, which issues the Atmos Rewards credit cards.

There’s another card update coming sooner. Alaska plans to refresh its Atmos Rewards Visa Business Card later this year with lounge passes, free same-day confirmed flight changes, and 10X points on eligible purchases through Atmos Rewards for Business.

More details are expected later this fall.

More Benefits Are Coming for Platinum and Titanium Members

Higher-tier Atmos Rewards members are getting another change beginning November 2.

Platinum and Titanium members will be able to bring eligible children and one companion into Premium Class at no additional charge when space is available.

Alaska has also introduced a dedicated Titanium check-in facility in Seattle and is offering Titanium members global upgrades into Alaska’s premium cabins.

There’s a lot happening to Atmos Rewards at once, but the common thread is choice. Members can choose how they earn, join communities based on how they travel, and soon have more ways to earn or move points into the program.

The Bank of America piece could be particularly important once Alaska fills in the missing details. For now, though, the first round of changes starts October 1.