Alaska, Hawaiian debut Atmos Rewards with free Wi-Fi

Published on Aug 20, 2025, 2:26 pm CDT

5 min read

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have launched Atmos Rewards, a combined loyalty program that unifies Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles into one platform with more ways to earn and redeem. Members will be able to choose how they earn points, by distance, by price paid, or by segments flown, with rollout beginning in 2026. Alaska also confirmed it will install Starlink across its fleet, with fast, free Wi-Fi for Atmos Rewards members via T-Mobile starting in 2026 and completing in 2027. HawaiianMiles transitions to Atmos Rewards on October 1, 2025.

Key Points

Why it matters: One program, flexible earning, larger partner network, and free Wi-Fi for members.
Travel impact: HawaiianMiles migrates October 1, 2025, with 1:1 points conversion.
What's next: Multi-path earning goes live in 2026, plus new milestone perks.
Lyft earning, hotel bookings, and events expand non-flying points.
New Summit Visa Infinite speeds status and adds lounge passes.

Snapshot

Atmos Rewards keeps the generosity Mileage Plan is known for while expanding choice and access. Members can redeem with Alaska, Hawaiian, oneworld, and 30-plus partners across 1,000-plus destinations. Redemptions start from 4,500 points one way. Installations of Starlink begin in 2026, delivering free, high-speed Wi-Fi for Atmos Rewards members on Alaska and additional Hawaiian aircraft through a T-Mobile partnership, with full Alaska fleet completion expected in 2027. Everyday earn options include 2 points per dollar on Lyft rides, and 3 points per dollar on airport and Lyft Elevated rides, plus nearly a million hotels and vacation rentals. Mileage Plan members became Atmos Rewards members today, while HawaiianMiles accounts convert on October 1, 2025.

Background

Alaska Air Group announced plans to acquire Hawaiian in December 2023, then secured approvals with conditions in 2024 and 2025. The combined carrier is keeping separate brands while integrating networks, technology, and loyalty under a single program aligned with oneworld. Alaska has been building out Seattle long-haul flying and premium initiatives, while Hawaiian is rebalancing its long-haul network and product. The loyalty tie-up also follows partnership shifts around Hawaiian, including the sunset of its JetBlue arrangement in 2025, a transition we covered in JetBlue-Hawaiian Airlines Partnership Ends: What Travelers Need to Know. Together, Atmos Rewards positions the group to compete for premium travelers, inter-island flyers, and international connections.

Latest Developments

Flexible earning options arrive in 2026

Atmos Rewards introduces a choose-your-path model for earning both points and status points when flying Alaska or Hawaiian. Members will be able to select one of three methods and change it once per year. Distance earn awards one point per mile flown, supporting long-haul value seekers. Price-based earn grants five points per dollar spent, including premium-cabin purchases, rewarding higher fares. Segment-based earn gives a flat 500 points per flight, appealing to short-haul travelers such as Neighbor Island and West Coast flyers. Points pool into the same balance for redemptions, while status points track tiers and milestone perks that begin at 10,000 status points.

Free Starlink Wi-Fi for members, powered by T-Mobile

Alaska will equip its fleet with Starlink starting in 2026, with completion targeted for 2027, and extend access to select Hawaiian aircraft. Atmos Rewards members will receive fast, free Wi-Fi through a new partnership with T-Mobile, including seamless, ad-free log-ins for T-Mobile customers. Alaska says this will deliver gate-to-gate connectivity on more departures from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) than any competitor, improving streaming, messaging, and work on board. The carrier cites sub-100-millisecond latency and up to 500 Mbps speeds, a step up from many geostationary systems used today.

New Summit Visa Infinite accelerates status and perks

The new Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite card layers premium benefits on top of the program. Cardholders earn one status point for every $2 in purchases, plus a 10,000-status-point annual bonus beginning with the first anniversary, creating a faster path to Atmos Silver and Atmos Gold. Benefits include eight Alaska Lounge passes per year, waived partner award booking fees, and a Global Companion Award that applies to partner award redemptions, including premium cabins. The card also supports free points sharing within a network of up to 10 Atmos Rewards members, and 3x points on eligible dining and foreign purchases.

Analysis

Atmos Rewards is a notable pivot toward traveler choice. Distance-based earn preserves Mileage Plan's appeal for long-haul economy flyers, who often saw better value than with revenue-based rivals. Price-based earn caters to premium-cabin and corporate travelers who want status acceleration tied to spend. Segment-based earn uniquely fits Hawaiʻi inter-island and short-hop West Coast flyers, setting Alaska and Hawaiian apart among U.S. programs. Add in universal partner earn rates and a 1,000-plus destination footprint, and redemptions should remain versatile, though award availability will still determine real-world value. Free Starlink for members is a strong differentiator, particularly on northern polar routings where connectivity can sag. The Summit Visa Infinite's status-by-spend, companion award, and points sharing signal a push upmarket without abandoning mileage-centric value. Travelers should note rollout timing, since choose-your-path earning and Communities arrive later in 2026, and HawaiianMiles account access pauses from September 26 to October 1, 2025, during migration. For broader Hawaiian context, see Hawaiian Airlines Expands Winter Schedule for 2025-26.

Final Thoughts

By blending the best parts of Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles, then adding multi-path earning, milestone perks, and member-free Starlink Wi-Fi, Alaska and Hawaiian are raising the bar on loyalty utility and onboard experience. The migration is straightforward with 1:1 conversions, status alignment, and existing card continuity. The biggest watch items are the 2026 rollouts, award seat supply, and how partner charts evolve. If you fly either carrier or their oneworld partners, enroll, link accounts, and map your strategy before October 1, 2025, to capture early benefits under Atmos Rewards.