【October 1, 2026 update】 More details have been added, mainly on changes to member benefits, including Milestone Rewards and onboard dining.

On September 29, 2026, Alaska Air Group released several official announcements at its annual Investor Day and laid out the premium roadmap for Alaska and Hawaiian over the next few years: Atmos Rewards is introducing an industry-first Choice Accrual model, a debit card launches in early 2027, and 2028 brings the Aurora and Leihōkū luxury business suites plus Premium Reserve premium economy. The sections below take each piece in turn.

1. Choice Accrual: you pick how you earn

This is the first U.S. airline program that lets members choose how they earn points on flights.

Key dates

  • October 1, 2026: Choice opens. Members can sign in and set a preference.
  • January 1, 2027: The choice takes effect for every flight on or after that date.

Three modes (the points formulas are confirmed; the Status Points rate for each mode has not been published)

Mode Points formula Who it suits
Distance-based 1 mile flown = 1 point; no cabin bonus and no minimum mileage guarantee Long-haul international and transcontinental flyers
Revenue-based $1 spent = 5 points (taxes excluded; base fare, upgrades, preferred seats, and other add-ons included) People who often buy expensive last-minute or business-class tickets
Segment-based 1 one-way segment = 500 points Frequent connectors and short-haul flyers

Alaska has confirmed that Status Points will accrue under the mode you choose, but it has not published the Status Points rate for each mode. Choice Accrual applies to flights on Alaska, Hawaiian, and partner airlines. Award tickets redeemed with points currently earn Status Points by distance flown.

Changes and defaults

  • You can change the choice only once per calendar year, and the change applies only to future travel.
  • Existing members who do not choose stay on the traditional distance-based mode.
  • Members who join on or after January 1, 2027 default to revenue-based.
  • Points and Status Points from cobrand credit-card spending are unaffected and still accrue separately from card spend.

2. Atmos Rewards debit card: early 2027

  • Planned for early 2027. Pre-registration opened on September 29 (atmosrewards.com/debit).
  • The card earns points and Status Points. Benefits include several card designs, discounts on flights and onboard purchases, free points sharing, no foreign transaction fees, and the option to offset some account fees with points.
  • Also announced: in 2027, Bank of America cardholders will be able to transfer points into Atmos Rewards. The Atmos Rewards Visa Business card will be refreshed by the end of 2026 (10x points on business spend, lounge passes, free same-day changes, and more).

3. Aurora: Alaska’s new flagship business suite (2028)

  • 787 fleet: Every widebody 787 gets 34 Aurora Suites. The share of premium seats on the 787-9 rises from 38% to about 46%.
  • 737-10 MAX: At least 25 aircraft will each have 12 Aurora Suites for transcontinental first class. This is the first time Alaska has put a lie-flat seat on a narrowbody.
  • The suite: a privacy door on the 787, a fully flat bed, direct aisle access, a 19-inch 4K screen, Bluetooth, and wireless, USB-C, and AC power. Seats are upholstered in Ultraleather.
  • On the ground: a dedicated Seattle check-in and concierge, an Aurora Lounge, menus from named chefs (including Renee Erickson and Brady Ishiwata Williams), and on-demand dining.
  • Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi is free for members (sponsored by T-Mobile).

4. Leihōkū: Hawaiian’s premium experience (2028)

  • All 24 A330s will be fully refurbished starting in 2028. The forward cabin gets 22 Leihōkū Suites: fully flat, with a privacy door, direct aisle access, and a 19-inch 4K screen.
  • Both Honolulu and Seattle get a dedicated check-in and concierge. Menus come from local chefs, with hotel-style bedding.
  • New Honolulu lounge: about 13,000 square feet at the entrance to the T1 Mauka Concourse, opening in early 2028, with room for about 200 people.

5. Premium Reserve: a new premium-economy cabin (2028)

  • It arrives in 2028 with the new cabins and completes a four-cabin layout: Aurora/Leihōkū Suites + Premium Reserve + Premium Class + Main Cabin.
  • Seat counts: 35 on the 787-9 and 787-10, 28 on the A330, and 12 on the 737-10 MAX.
  • 38 inches of pitch, a wider seat, a leg rest and calf rest, a 16-inch 4K OLED screen, and upgraded dining.

6. Lounges and the route network

  • New Seattle lounge: in the C Concourse expansion, nearly 41,000 square feet. When it opens at the end of 2027 it will be the largest lounge in Seattle and one of the largest in the United States. It splits into a 500-seat Alaska Lounge and a 200-seat Aurora Lounge, with private showers, a wellness space, and a chef-run kitchen.
  • New San Diego lounge: 14,000 square feet, opening in 2028.
  • Routes: Seattle already flies to London, Rome, Reykjavik, Tokyo, and Seoul. Paris and Athens open in spring 2027. The goal is at least 15 intercontinental destinations from Seattle by 2030.

7. Atmos Communities: a free interest group, expanding to six on October 1

Think of Communities as a free tag inside the loyalty program. You tell the airline how you usually travel, and it adds a few benefits aimed at that kind of trip.

How it works

  • Free to join. There is no extra fee.
  • Optional. If you skip it, the account still works. You just do not get the community benefits.
  • One free change per year. Fly long-haul this year and travel with kids next year, and you can switch.
  • To unlock it: pick a community on the website, download the Atmos Rewards Beta App, and turn on email updates.

By where you live (your address has to be verified)

  • Huakaʻi by Hawaiian (Hawaiʻi residents): 2 free checked bags on interisland flights, including sports equipment such as surfboards and golf bags; one quarterly interisland discount code for 10% off (cobrand cardholders get 20% off and can include up to 6 companions); 3x points when you convert Foodland supermarket spend; Alaska has also previewed an interisland bonus of 50% extra points and Status Points as “coming soon.”
  • Club 49 (Alaska residents): 2 free checked bags on trips to and from Alaska, and 3 free checked bags on flights within the state; two Travel Now discounts a year (30% off a one-way Y fare booked within 4 days of departure); in-state cargo at $49 per 100 pounds.

By how you like to travel

  • Global Locals: only for members who live outside the United States. Flights that depart from or arrive outside the United States earn an extra 10% Status Points.
  • Families on the Go: Extra points and Status Points on trips to popular family destinations, with a higher bonus the more you fly there. Award tickets for children under 12 return 20% of the points. Atmos Rewards Unlocked family experiences are 20% off.
  • Culinary Journeys: Extra points and Status Points on flights to selected food cities. Atmos Rewards Unlocked food-and-wine experiences are 20% off.
  • Active Escapes: Extra points and Status Points on flights to outdoor destinations. Alaska’s update page lists 30% off an AllTrails membership as one example of a partner benefit; other outdoor-adventure benefits follow the terms shown on the Community page.

Alaska also says every Community includes a curated destination challenge. Complete an eligible destination to earn extra points and Status Points; complete the full list to earn up to 10,000 points in total.

Which one to pick

  • If you have a child under 12, pick Families on the Go. The 20% points rebate on kids’ award tickets is a real saving.
  • If you live outside the United States and often fly internationally, pick Global Locals to reach a higher status faster.
  • If you are mainly chasing food or the outdoors, pick Culinary Journeys or Active Escapes for extra points and experience discounts at those destinations.

8. Other membership updates

  • Premium Class family travel, from November 2, 2026: Atmos Platinum and Titanium members can already bring one adult companion into Premium Class at no charge. From November, an eligible minor companion can also travel free when space is available. The companion must be on the same flight and reservation as the member, be under 18 when travelling, and cannot be on a Saver Fare.
  • Silver upgrade change, from February 2027: Silver members will no longer receive a complimentary Premium Class upgrade when booking, but remain eligible for upgrades within 48 hours before departure.
  • Atmos Members Day: The first Wednesday of each month, when member offers and new experiences are released together.
  • New lifestyle partners: Alterra Mountain Company, Nordstrom, and Pebble Beach Resorts.
  • Free Starlink Wi-Fi: Atmos Rewards members can use Starlink Wi-Fi for free. Alaska expects about half of the Alaska and Hawaiian fleets to be equipped by the end of 2026, and most of the fleets by the end of 2027.

9. Milestone Rewards changes, from January 1, 2027

Alaska will also adjust some of the selectable benefits at Milestone tiers:

  • 10K: The bonus-points option falls from 750 points to 500 points.
  • 30K: The bonus-points option falls from 2,500 points to 2,000 points, while the discount-code option rises from $25 to $50.
  • 55K: Upgrade certificates fall from up to four to up to two, but the certificates can be used on international flights and include the Suites experience.
  • 125K: Benefits currently offered at 150K move to 125K.
  • 150K: Benefits currently offered at 125K move to 150K.

As free Starlink Wi-Fi rolls out across the fleet, Wi-Fi-pass and Wi-Fi-subscription options will be removed from Milestone Rewards.

10. Onboard dining changes, from February 1, 2027

Alaska and Hawaiian will rework onboard food-and-beverage benefits by status tier:

  • Atmos Gold: On Alaska, select premium drinks become complimentary, including spirits, wine, beer, Straightaway Cocktails, and non-alcoholic options such as Stumptown Cold Brew and HOP WTR. On Hawaiian, the selection includes Ko Hana Rum cocktails and Tide & Vine Wines.
  • Atmos Platinum, Titanium, and Million Milers: Receive complimentary chocolate in every cabin on both airlines, in addition to continuing premium-drink benefits.
  • Atmos Titanium and Million Milers: Continue to receive complimentary meals on both Alaska and Hawaiian.

11. Points Activity page update, first quarter of 2027

Alaska plans to update the Points Activity page so members can see how base points and bonus points make up each transaction. This builds on the 2026 addition of separate displays for redeemable points and Status Points.

12. Automatic upgrade-certificate waitlists, later in 2027

Later in 2027, Alaska plans to add automatic waitlists for upgrade certificates on all Alaska and Hawaiian routes:

  • Upgrade-certificate requests will be processed ahead of complimentary upgrades and continue to be processed until departure.
  • Upgrade certificates will be priced by flight segment going forward.
  • Alaska says it will publish complete rules at least one month before launch.

This is a news summary, not advice to buy a ticket or apply for a card. Official releases: Aurora / Leihōkū announcement, Atmos Rewards expansion, Alaska Accelerate strategy.