Tag: Frequent flyer miles

Why More Travelers Are Booking Premium Economy with Points and Why You Should Too

When it comes to long-haul travel, most flyers think there are only two options: spend fewer points and squeeze into economy, or spend big for a lie-flat seat in business class. But there’s a middle ground that too many travelers overlook: premium economy.

Premium economy sits perfectly between comfort and value. It offers just enough extra space and service to make a long flight restful, yet it typically costs 30–50% fewer points than business class. For many travelers, especially families, it’s the ideal balance between comfort, cost, and practicality.

What Is Premium Economy?

Premium economy is a distinct cabin class found on most major international airlines, positioned between economy and business class. It usually features:

Wider seats with 5 to 7 inches more legroom than economy
Deeper recline and leg or foot rests for better rest on long flights
Enhanced dining, often served with real glassware and upgraded meal options
Priority check-in and boarding, making airport navigation smoother
Extra baggage allowance and dedicated overhead bin space

Airlines like ANA, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, and Lufthansa are known for exceptional premium economy products, while American, Delta, and United have invested heavily in improving their cabins for long-haul travelers.

The Real Advantage: Sleep and Comfort Without Overspending

Long flights can be exhausting, especially overnight routes from the U.S. to Europe or Asia. Premium economy provides just enough space and recline to actually sleep on the plane, which can make or break how you feel when you land.

You won’t get a lie-flat seat, but the comfort upgrade is significant enough that many travelers now choose premium economy intentionally, not as a downgrade from business class but as a smart, points-efficient choice.

Save Points While Flying in Comfort

From an award travel perspective, premium economy is one of the best values in the sky. Many routes cost 30–50% fewer miles than business class redemptions, yet the experience is far better than standard economy.

For example:

New York to London in Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy can often be found for under 14K points, but with higher fees than economy. Even with the added surcharges, it remains a great value for a comfortable transatlantic flight.

Fly from major cities in the U.S. to Tokyo in Japan Airlines Premium Economy can be booked for 50,000 Alaska Atmos Reward points plus $18 in taxes.

These savings matter even more for families booking multiple tickets or travelers who want to conserve points for hotels or future trips.

Added Airport Perks That Simplify Your Journey

Beyond what you get onboard, premium economy passengers often receive priority airport services that make the journey smoother from start to finish:

Priority check-in counters to skip long lines
Faster boarding and deplaning, so you spend less time waiting
Priority baggage handling, meaning your bags usually arrive first

These conveniences can make flying with kids or connecting through busy airports much less stressful.

Premium Economy vs. Business Class: The Real Comparison

Feature	Premium Economy	Business Class
Seat Type	Recliner with extra legroom	Lie-flat bed or pod
Points Required (avg.)	30–50% less than Business	High, premium pricing
Meals	Upgraded economy-style	Multi-course dining
Ideal For	Budget-minded comfort seekers, families	Frequent travelers and luxury seekers

f you value sleep, space, and smart redemptions, premium economy delivers 70 to 80% of the comfort for nearly half the points. For most travelers, that’s a deal worth booking.

Why Premium Economy Is Perfect for Families

Families love premium economy for good reason. The extra seat width and legroom make it easier for kids and adults to relax without breaking the points bank. Parents appreciate early boarding, dedicated cabin service, and the ability to sit together in a smaller, quieter cabin.

For long flights to destinations like Europe, Japan, or Australia, premium economy can save thousands of points per trip while keeping everyone comfortable.

How to Book Premium Economy Using PointsYeah

Finding premium economy award space isn’t always easy since these cabins have limited seats. That’s where PointsYeah helps.

With PointsYeah’s lightning-fast award search, you can:

Compare award space across 200+ airlines instantly
Filter by cabin class, including premium economy
Set alerts so you’re notified when award seats open up
Track points prices and book when value improves

It’s the simplest way to see whether premium economy seats are worth the points, and often, they are.

When Premium Economy Is the Smarter Move

Premium economy makes the most sense when:

You’re flying overnight or long-haul (8+ hours)
You want to save points but still sleep comfortably
You’re traveling with family or a partner
Business class redemptions are scarce or overpriced
A transfer bonus makes premium economy redemptions especially strong

Booking premium economy can also help you extend the lifespan of your points, freeing up more value for future business or first-class deals when they truly count.

Final Thoughts: The Smart Traveler’s Sweet Spot

Premium economy hits the perfect balance: comfort, practicality, and value. You’ll save a meaningful number of points while still enjoying a much better flight experience that lets you arrive rested, not wrecked.

If you’ve been sleeping on premium economy, now’s the time to give it a closer look. Use PointsYeah to find, compare, and track the best premium economy award flights worldwide. You might just find it’s the class you never knew you needed.

🔍 Start searching premium economy award flights now on PointsYeah.com

October 14, 2025

Atmos Rewards: What Travelers Need to Know About the New Alaska + Hawaiian Loyalty Program
A Loyalty Shakeup in the U.S.

The loyalty world just got a big jolt. On August 20, 2025, Alaska Airlines officially rebranded Mileage Plan into Atmos Rewards. Hawaiian Airlines will join the program on October 1, 2025, bringing HawaiianMiles members into the fold.

If you’re an Alaska flyer, your account already shows Atmos branding. If you’re a Hawaiian flyer, your miles will convert 1:1 into Atmos Points this fall. No loss of value, no hidden catch. The biggest difference is the name on your balance, what used to be “miles” are now “points.”

Why does this matter? Because this isn’t just a rebrand. It’s the first time in years that a U.S. carrier has built an entirely new program instead of folding one into an existing system.

Why Atmos Rewards Exists

When Alaska and Hawaiian merged, they had a choice:
- Absorb HawaiianMiles into Mileage Plan, or
- Start fresh with something new.
They chose the second option. Atmos Rewards is designed to unify both airlines under one identity while making the program more flexible, and more competitive with American, Delta, and United.

For Alaska members, this feels more like an upgrade than a reset. You keep the strong partner network Mileage Plan already had, including oneworld.

For Hawaiian members, the change is dramatic. HawaiianMiles was a smaller program with limited partners and no global alliance access. Overnight, Hawaiian flyers get plugged into a network of 30+ partners and 1,000+ destinations worldwide.

Your Balances: Same Value, New Name

Here’s the simplest part of the change:
- If you had 50,000 Alaska miles yesterday, you have 50,000 Atmos Points today.
- If you had 50,000 HawaiianMiles, on October 1, you’ll see 50,000 Atmos Points in your account.
No games, no hidden devaluations. A straight 1:1 conversion.

The New Atmos Elite Tiers

Atmos Rewards introduces a four-tier structure:
- Silver (20,000 status points) → oneworld Ruby
- Gold (40,000 status points) → oneworld Sapphire
- Platinum (75,000 status points) → oneworld Emerald
- Titanium (100,000 status points) → oneworld Emerald
On the surface, these look almost identical to Mileage Plan’s MVP levels. But there’s a catch:

Thresholds are rising in 2026

Starting with 2027 qualification, two tiers get more expensive:
- Platinum moves from 75K → 80K
- Titanium moves from 100K → 135K
That’s a significant hike for top-tier elites. If you’re already chasing MVP Gold 75K, you’ll need to push further. Titanium flyers will see the biggest jump, a 35% increase.

More Flexibility to Qualify

Here’s where Atmos tries to set itself apart.

Starting in 2026, you can choose how you want to qualify for status:
- By miles flown
- By dollars spent
- By segments flown
This matters. Mileage Plan historically rewarded distance, while Delta and United have gone all-in on spend. Atmos gives members the ability to qualify in the way that matches their travel style.
- If you’re a long-haul flyer, miles are still your friend.
- If you’re a business traveler with expensive short hops, spend might make more sense.
- If you fly lots of short trips, segments give you another path.
It’s rare for a U.S. airline to let members pick the qualification method.

Upgrades: A New Top-Tier Perk

One of the flashiest new benefits is for Titanium members.

Atmos says it will be the only U.S. program to offer:
- Complimentary day-of-departure upgrades into global Business Class for Titanium elites and one companion, no points or certificates required.
This perk applies on long-haul Alaska and Hawaiian flights with lie-flat seats.

And there’s more coming in spring 2026:
- All Atmos elites (Silver and above) plus one companion will be eligible for complimentary upgrades on Hawaiian Airlines flights within North America.
That’s a big deal for Hawaiian flyers, who have never had access to complimentary upgrades like this before.

What This Means for Travelers

For Alaska flyers:
- Atmos looks and feels like Mileage Plan with new branding.
- The biggest change is coming in 2026, when elite thresholds climb and flexible earning starts.
For Hawaiian flyers:
- This is a massive upgrade. You gain access to oneworld, 30+ partners, and better redemption opportunities worldwide.
- Elite members will finally see a real upgrade system, both on long-haul and within North America.
For everyone:
- The program consolidates two airlines into one stronger competitor.
- It keeps the mileage-based model alive, while also introducing spend and segments in 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Balances convert 1:1. No loss in value.
- Four elite tiers. Platinum and Titanium thresholds rise in 2026.
- Flexible qualification. Choose how you earn starting 2026.
- Upgrades expand. Titanium gets long-haul Business Class day-of-departure upgrades; all elites get Hawaiian North America upgrades starting spring 2026.
- Biggest winners: Hawaiian flyers. They finally get global alliance access and a serious elite program.
Atmos Rewards doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does something rare in U.S. loyalty: it combines two programs without devaluing balances. For Alaska flyers, it’s an evolution. For Hawaiian flyers, it’s a revolution.

The real test will come in 2026, when new qualification rules and higher thresholds kick in. Until then, Atmos stands out as one of the more traveler-friendly programs in the U.S. market.
August 20, 2025