Atmos Rewards Will Soon Open 'Choose How You Earn', and Bank of America Transfers Are on the Way

Alaska's Atmos Rewards is finally opening up Choose How You Earn to every member on October 1. You pick one of three ways to earn: distance flown (1 point per mile), price paid (5 points per eligible $1), or segments flown (500 points per segment).

Your pick applies to flights departing on or after January 1, 2027, and you can make one pick per calendar year. If you don't choose, you default to earning based on the price paid for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights.

But that's not all. Starting in 2027, holders of eligible Bank of America cards will be able to transfer points to Atmos, joining Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy as the only transfer partners today. Alaska hasn't said which cards qualify or what the ratios will be, so we'll have to wait and see.

Also on deck: an Atmos debit card in early 2027 with flight and onboard discounts, points sharing, and no foreign transaction fees (preregistration is open). The Atmos Rewards Visa Business Card is also getting a refresh later this year, with 10x on eligible purchases through Atmos Rewards for Business, lounge passes, and free same-day confirmed changes.

Andrew's Take

Since you only get one pick a year, I wouldn't rush to choose on October 1 (earning under this scheme doesn't start until January anyway). The Bank of America news is exciting, but we still don't know which cards will be eligible, so wait to see before you apply for a new card.