Earning Points with Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines: 9 Strategies Revealed

Atmos Rewards, the new loyalty program by Alaska Airlines, offers a multitude of ways for members to earn points and Mileage Plan miles. This program, a fusion of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines' loyalty programs, promises generous earning, valuable redemptions, and strong global partnerships.

Earning Points with Atmos Rewards

Atmos Rewards members can accumulate points in various ways. Booking hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages through Alaska is one such method. The program also partners with numerous airlines, including the entire oneworld alliance members like American Airlines, British Airways, and Qatar Airways, as well as others such as Hawaiian Airlines (joining soon), Aer Lingus, and Singapore Airlines.

Points can also be earned when flying with these partner airlines, with the number of points varying by class and airline. For instance, members can earn points with Rocketmiles at 500 to 10,000 points per night on every reservation booked through Rocketmiles.

Atmos Rewards members can also earn points by using certain travel credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Wells Fargo Autograph® Card, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, and more. Additionally, points can be earned through rental car partnerships, shopping portals, and dining programs.

Earning Points with Partners

Atmos Rewards members can earn points with various hotel chains, including Choice Hotels, Best Western, Westmark Hotels, Coast Hotels, and Marriott Bonvoy. The number of points earned varies by hotel chain. For example, members can earn 250 miles per qualifying stay with Best Western, while with Choice Hotels, members can earn 250 miles per qualifying stay.

Car rental partners such as Thrifty, National, Budget, Alamo, and Hertz also offer points for rentals. Members can earn points with Thrifty at 50 points per day, 150 points per day on all rentals of three or more days. With Hertz, members can earn 200 points per day for rentals up to four days and 2,000 points total for rentals of five or more days.

Elite Benefits and Perks

Atmos elite flyers can enjoy perks like bonus points, free meals, or Alaska Lounge passes at milestones like 10K, 30K, 55K, etc. Atmos Platinum (75K; 80k in 2026) and Atmos Titanium (100K; 135k in 2026) members earn complimentary upgrades and milestone perks. Atmos Titanium members will receive complimentary same-day upgrades into long-haul international business class for member + 1 companion starting in 2026.

Redeeming Points

Atmos Rewards points can be purchased directly, though buying is usually more expensive than their redemption value. Members can redeem their points for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and more. Starting in late 2026, members will also be able to earn points based on distance flown, fare paid, or segments flown with Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines, with the option to choose a preferred earning method once per year.

Shopping and Dining

Atmos Shopping and Atmos Dining let Atmos Rewards members earn bonus points at partner retailers and restaurants, sometimes as high as 20 points per $1 spent. The Atmos Rewards shopping portal allows members to earn extra points when shopping at certain retailers, on top of whatever rewards they receive from the credit card used to pay.

Transferring Points

Marriott credit cards can be used to transfer Marriott Bonvoy® points to Alaska at a 3:1 ratio, though this is considered a less efficient use of points.

Credit Cards for Earning Points

Atmos Rewards members can earn points using Atmos credit cards, with two options available: the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card and the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card.

Missing Miles

If you forgot to apply your loyalty account number to a flight or are missing miles you should have earned, you can use the information on the Atmos website to claim any missing miles.

In conclusion, Atmos Rewards offers a wide range of options for members to earn points and Mileage Plan miles. By choosing a travel credit card that prioritizes what's important to you and making the most of the program's partnerships, members can maximize their rewards.