Alaska Airlines launches a $ 395 card, combines loyalty with Hawaiian

Alaska Airlines Enter the industry race for high -end credit cards and the creation of a combined program of frequent leaflets, called Atmos Rewards, with Hawaiian Airlines, which she acquired last year.

The infinite card of $ 395 per year of ATMOS REWARDS awards, co-marked with America Bankis the first premium credit card of the carrier and includes advantages such as the chasing of the airport show, good snapshots of $ 50 for delays and global company prices at reduced prices.

As part of the New Atmos program, travelers will have the choice of how they earn points:

1. From a distance: customers will earn a point for each mile they fly, which, according to Alaska, is better for travelers who often fly internationally or cross-country.
2. By price: travelers will earn five points for each $ 1 they will spend on a flight, which, according to the carrier, is intended for those who often fly in premium cabins like first class.
3. By flights: customers will earn 500 points for each segment they fly, which are intended for leaflets that will make a lot of short-haul trips, like those of Hawaii or California.

The frequent elite leaflet levels also change, and Alaska will force travelers to earn more points to reach the upper levels. Rival airlines have also made these types of changes regularly.

For the Atmos Platinum loyalty level, customers will have to earn 80,000 points next year, and 135,000 for Atmos Titanium Tier, compared to 75,000 and 100,000, respectively, in 2025. The commercial director of Alaska, Andrew Harrison, however told CNBC that the Miles were not devulated for the flight redemptions. There are also levels of silver and gold in the Atmos program, with all levels, including upgrades, when available, for free premium class seats on Alaska and one of the carrier partners, American airlines.

Although the program of frequent leaflets is combined, Alaska plans to keep its brand working separately from Hawaïian. However, he plans to launch a multitude of international routes on wide aircraft from his reception base in Seattle.

Alaska and its competitors have invested massively in the continuation of customers with higher expenses and the creation of a sticky company with loyalty obstacles customers must erase to access the advantages on the other side. Even low -budget airlines like Spirit Airlines And Airlines Frontier turned to higher -end strategies to try to return to profitability.

Airlines “with premium cabins, with high -end experiences, there is a good solid demand that has not changed materially and improves,” Harrison told CNBC.

Alaska also tries to keep the advantages and salons that feel exclusive to avoid a problem of industry with overcrowding.

The Infinite Visa Summit Visa of Rewards Atmos is delivered with eight pass per year, valid for the whole day of travel.

“These are your most loyal and frequent travelers. The worst thing you can do to them is to invite them to salons and have lines in front by saying that you cannot enter and you have to wait,” said Harrison.

Alaska is building a new show at its base at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport dedicated to international long-haul leaflets and provides one to one at San Diego International Airport.

JetBlue Airways Launched a premium credit card with Barclays US Consumer Bank earlier this year, with annual fees of $ 499. Other airlines have also increased costs and added advantages and bonuses to attract more registration and card holders.

“Our new Premium credit card is in the process of doubled annual projections for acquisitions, highlighting the huge request for customer demand for our premium products,” said JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty, during a profits call last month.

Alaska also said that it planned to offer Starlink Wi-Fi in all its fleet, a service that will be complementary to members of the loyalty program. Hawaiian Airlines signed an agreement for the service of Elon Musk’s SpaceX service for the first time in 2022.