‘Atmos Communities’ expand with 6 new options to save and earn

There are new ways to earn bonus points, land discounts and snag freebies with a major U.S. airline loyalty program.

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines just launched a handful of new “communities” in their combined Atmos Rewards program.

Think of these as mini clubs inside the loyalty program that offer a handful of smaller perks, such as a free checked bag or bonus points for flying to certain cities.

There’s one “community” for Atmos members who frequently fly with children. If you join, you can get 20% of your points back whenever you redeem for your child’s flight.

Another, for frequent globe-trotting travelers, comes with extra status-earning points whenever you transfer points into Atmos from partners like Bilt.

And those are on top of Alaska and Hawaiian’s longtime loyalty communities for residents of Alaska and Hawaii.

In all, there are a total of six “Atmos communities,” and every member should join one to try and tap into some savings and extra points in 2027.

Here’s what to know.

Atmos communities: What are they?

Atmos Communities are basically little loyalty programs within Atmos Rewards.

There used to be two: Club 49 (for Alaska state residents) and Huaka’i by Hawaiian (for Hawaii-based frequent flyers).

Those two programs are still active — and are getting new benefits. But Alaska and Hawaiian also rolled out four additional communities as of Oct. 1:

• “Global Locals,” for frequent international flyers
• “Families on the Go,” for Atmos members who often fly with children
• “Culinary Journeys,” tailored around foodies
• “Active Escapes,” for adventurous travelers

Who can join Atmos communities?

Every Atmos member should join one of the six communities, since they are free and can save you money.

Club 49 is limited to Alaska residents, and Huaka’i by Hawaiian is exclusive to Hawaii residents.

But the others are open to all Atmos Rewards members. You can join only one community at a time and switch communities once annually.

Every Atmos Community comes with special challenges that can land you bonus points and status points. Plus, you can receive discounts on experiences and targeted flight deals with each.

Here are some of the perks unique to each community.

Club 49: What to know

Club 49 is Alaska Airlines’ Atmos Community that’s exclusively for state of Alaska residents.

This program is a no-brainer for any Alaska-based flyer.

Benefits include:

• Two free checked bags on Alaska or Hawaiian flights to or from the state of Alaska.
• Three free bags when flying Alaska within the state.
• Two annual “Travel Now” discounts on last-minute flights: 30% off one-way refundable economy (Y-class) travel to, from or within the state of Alaska. Applies to flights booked within four days of departure.
• Flat $49 (plus tax) fee on shipping cargo: Up to 100 pounds in up to two 35-gallon totes or shipping containers.

Huaka’i by Hawaiian

This is Hawaiian’s long-standing, sub-loyalty program for residents of Hawaii.

There are significant savings for Atmos members who join:

• 50% more points on flights between the Hawaiian islands, beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
• Two free checked bags on neighbor island flights, including sporting equipment like surfboards and golf bags.
• Quarterly fare discount: Every three months, members receive a code for 10% off a neighbor-island booking. Eligible credit card holders get 20% off.

Global Locals

This program, focused on frequent travelers, is open to any Atmos Rewards member.

This will likely be one of the most popular options for members outside the states of Alaska and Hawaii — especially those seeking Atmos Rewards elite status.

Two unique benefits to know:

• You get 10% more status points on international flights when crediting to Atmos. This includes award bookings.
• You’ll also get 1 status point for every 25 points you transfer into Atmos Rewards from partners, including Bilt. That means, if you were to transfer 50,000 Bilt points to Alaska, you’d get 2,000 status points — 10% of the way to Silver elite status.

You can also earn bonus points flying to the home of major Oneworld alliance carriers, like London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR).

Families on the Go

This community is geared toward travelers who frequently fly with children.

Members can earn 20% back when booking award flights for their children aged 12 or younger. This applies to flights booked on Alaska, Hawaiian or other partners you can book with Atmos Rewards points.

There are also bonus points available on flights to destinations with popular family-oriented attractions. Cities include Orlando, San Diego, Cancun, Tokyo and New York City (via John F. Kennedy International Airport [JFK]).

Culinary Journeys

Culinary Journeys members can earn up to 10,000 bonus points and status points by flying to cities known for their robust food scenes.

New York City, London, Tokyo, and Austin, Texas, are just some of the cities that made the list.

Active Escapes

Active Escapes members can similarly earn extra points on flights to destinations like Bozeman and Kalispell, Montana; Palm Springs, California; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Airports near national parks are featured heavily, but Nadi, Fiji, also made the list.

The number of points you can earn grows larger each time you reach another city.

Any Atmos Rewards member can join either program.

Bottom line

Every Atmos Rewards member should join one of the six communities, since it’s really a no-lose situation; you can earn extra points or some discounts. I’d suggest reviewing the full list of perks to see which program best fits your travel habits.

If you live in Hawaii or Alaska, Huaka’i by Hawaiian or Club 49 is likely your best bet.

Outside those states, I imagine Global Locals and Families on the Go offer some of the most valuable benefits.

But each of the half dozen communities has some intriguing options for members.

And, don’t forget: Atmos Rewards choice accrual is now live, so you can choose how you’ll be awarded points and status in 2027.