✈ Why I’m Tempted to Switch to This Airline for 2026, the Best Carry-Ons for Any Trip & More From TPG ✈

Also: How I leveraged my Amex Business Platinum benefits for Delta Medallion status

December 19, 2025 View in browser

Why I'm considering Atmos Rewards elite status by Katie Genter, Lead writer Gone are the days when Alaska Airlines elite status was just for West Coast travelers. Now, there's a compelling case to be made for travelers throughout the U.S. to earn status through its Atmos Rewards program. So, is 2026 the year you'll switch to Atmos Rewards status? In 2026, Atmos Rewards will start letting travelers select a track for earning both points and status points. The three tracks are: distance flown, segments flown and price paid. That means, regardless of which path you prefer, the Atmos Rewards program could work for you. Plus, Atmos Rewards lets you earn toward status when redeeming points for flights (including flights operated by partner airlines). You also earn 1 status point per $2 spent with the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card. Combined with the ability to earn 3 points per dollar spent on eligible dining, foreign transaction, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases, the Atmos Rewards Summit card is a compelling option for travelers striving for Alaska status. It also comes with a really valuable limited-time online welcome offer that sets you up for lots of award flights: New cardholders can earn 80,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 90 days after account opening. Domestic flights in this program start at 4,500 points one-way, and you can get business-class seats to Europe for as few as 45,000 points — so just think of all you could do with that bonus. Of course, as with any program, there are some downsides to Atmos Rewards. Like: You can't combine two partner airlines on the same award ticket. There's sometimes phantom award availability. Many partner itineraries aren't bookable through Atmos Rewards. Even so, the Atmos Rewards program (especially when combined with the Atmos Rewards Summit card) is compelling for any travelers who want to earn status with a Oneworld airline. Here are some relevant stories about Atmos Rewards: Earn 80K bonus points and a Companion Award with the Atmos Rewards Summit How to reach Alaska Airlines elite status with just 1 card 10 best ways to redeem 100K Alaska Atmos Rewards points Best time to apply for Atmos Rewards cards based on offer history Who are Alaska Airlines’ partners? Plus, how to earn and redeem Atmos Rewards points Posts in this newsletter contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products, and this may impact how or where they appear. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. Photo Credit: ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY.

Today's top stories Keep calm and carry on: The best carry-on luggage for every kind of trip We rounded up the best carry-on luggage of the year, including bags from Away, Monos, July and Rimowa. Read more How I leveraged my Amex Business Platinum benefits for Delta Medallion status I used perks like Insider Fares and a 35% points rebate on a selected airline to earn Delta Medallion status at a discount. Read more Alaska Airlines adds 7 new routes, fortifies its turf in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska Alaska Airlines is fortifying its leading position in Anchorage and Portland with seven new routes next summer. Read more Africa's first Edition hotel is opening in Cape Town next year Here's what you need to know about The Cape Town Edition, set to open next year. Read more 6 ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a beginner Discover six beginner-friendly ways to maximize the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Read more

Handpicked for you Dive into your daily list of stories, curated based on your interests and past reads. 7 of the best airline sweet spots to redeem your points and miles Read more Capital One airline and hotel transfer partners: How to maximize your miles Read more 10 mistakes to avoid when redeeming airline points and miles Read more What are points and miles worth? TPG's December 2025 monthly valuations Read more How to earn last-minute airline elite status — and whether or not it's worth it Read more

The latest 1. Using your Amex hotel credit before the end of the year? Here are 3 things to know 2. The surprisingly powerful case for carrying both the Hilton Aspire and Surpass 3. Brookfield Place is a holiday oasis for shopping, dining and more in downtown Manhattan 4. American Airlines adds new US airport, plans 16-route expansion covering 20 cities in 2026 5. Chase Points Boost to offer less than 2 cents per point at some properties in The Edit — beginning after Dec. 22 6. Basic economy on American will no longer earn miles or Loyalty Points, a blow to AAdvantage members 7. 4 reasons to hold both the American Express Gold and Platinum 8. Southwest adds Turkish Airlines as sixth international partner 9. IHG is targeting select members with a compelling offer to buy elite qualifying points 10. Current Chase Sapphire Preferred offer: Earn 75,000 points, worth over $1,500 in travel

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