As announced, Alaska Airlines will introduce the option in its Atmos Rewards program on January 01 to choose whether to earn flight miles based on the previous distance basis, a revenue basis, or a segment basis (500 miles).

This choice will then automatically apply to partner airlines as well, where instead of the revenue basis, a mileage basis with cabin factors will be used. Those are then also increased in Business Class, so you collect 250% of the flown miles. For many international members, this is likely the best option.

As of October 01, the program introduced another interesting initiative: annually changing Atmos Communities. After registering in one of the offered communities, you will receive bonus miles and bonus status points for flights to selected destinations, up to a maximum of 10,000 bonus points for ten flights. The first member to reach the ten destinations in a community will receive a bonus of 100,000 miles.

For the period until the end of 2027, six communities are available (with one reserved for members in Alaska and Hawaii). The “Global Local” community, for example, includes ten hubs of oneworld partners, and as a member, you additionally receive a bonus of 10% of the status points on flights between the USA and these destinations, including on oneworld partners.