Alaska Airlines is letting its loyalty members choose their own earning style. From October 1, 2026, Atmos Rewards members (the combined Alaska-Hawaiian program) can pick between earning on miles flown, money spent, or flight segments taken - a rare bit of flexibility in an era when most US airline programs reward spend above all else.
The three options are straightforward. One point per mile flown rewards anyone racking up long distances on cheap fares, like a budget transcontinental ticket. Five points per dollar spent suits travellers who buy pricey premium cabin tickets. And a flat 500 points per segment works well for people hopping between the Hawaiian Islands or other short routes. The choice covers both redeemable points and status points, and applies to flights departing on or after January 1, 2027.
Here's the catch for anyone with an existing account: if you do nothing, you'll keep earning by distance. New members joining from January 1, 2027, however, will be defaulted into the spend-based model. You can switch your selection once per calendar year for future travel, so it's worth a few minutes of thought before your next booking - especially if you tend to fly cheap fares on long routes.
Beyond the earning choice, Alaska has a fuller 2027 roadmap. An Atmos Rewards debit card arrives in early 2027, promising points and status points, flight and onboard discounts, free points sharing and no foreign transaction fees - though earning rates haven't been published yet, so treat it as a wait-and-see. Bank of America cardholders will be able to transfer points into Atmos Rewards sometime in 2027, with ratios still unannounced, and Alaska hints at further transfer partners among global financial institutions down the line.
There are smaller perks too. Atmos Communities - interest-based member groups - expand from two to six on October 1, adding international travel, family travel, outdoors, and food alongside the existing Alaska and Hawai'i resident groups, with deals and bonus-point offers attached. New retail and lifestyle partnerships include Alterra Mountain Company, Nordstrom, and Pebble Beach Resorts. And from November 2, Platinum and Titanium members can bring eligible children plus one companion into Premium Class free of charge when seats are available.
For travellers, the practical takeaway is simple: if you're an existing member chasing status on long, cheap flights, do nothing and keep your distance-based earning. If you're new to the program, or you spend heavily on premium cabins, check the math before the defaults lock in. The debit card and transfer partnerships could be genuinely useful, but the earning rates will decide that - details Alaska hasn't shared yet.
Credit: Live and Let's Fly
