In August 2025, we saw the Atmos Rewards loyalty program launch , as that’s the new combined loyalty program of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. The program is really well thought out, in my opinion, with some unique features you won’t find with other programs.

At the time the program was announced, there was one major weak point, as I saw it, which came down to the lack of value of crediting partner flights to the program… even though that has historically been one of the best parts of the program!

Within weeks of the program launching, Atmos Rewards announced that this would improve “later in 2026.” Well, the full details of the improved partner points earning rates have just been announced, and there’s a catch that I wasn’t anticipating.

Atmos Rewards has a lot of airline partners, including oneworld as well as non-oneworld carriers. As it currently stands, points earning rates differ massively for travel on partner airlines, based on whether you’re booking the ticket through Alaska or directly through the partner airline.

Below is the current points earning chart when booking partner airlines through Alaska.

Below is the current points earning chart when booking direct with partner airlines.

As I’ve said before, while the points earning rates are great if booking directly through Alaska, they’re otherwise pretty uncompetitive. It’s one thing if all partner flights could easily be booked directly through Alaska, but that’s simply not the case.

For example, earning a total of just 150% points for international first class or 125% points for international business class just doesn’t cut it nowadays. For that matter, there’s a certain irony to the program offering status points on award flights at the rate of 100% across cabins, which in many ways is more rewarding than revenue flights booked through partners.