Alaska Airlines Reveals New Ways To Use Atmos Points. Here’s Why It May Not Be a Good Deal.

It’s been a busy few weeks for Alaska Airlines as it expands its Atmos Rewards loyalty program and updates the flight xperience. Now, the airline has announced that Atmos Rewards members have more ways to spend their points.

Through Atmos Rewards Unlocked, members can now use points for experiences with different brands, including Alterra Mountain Company, Nordstrom, and Pebble Beach Resorts.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Alaska Adds Multiple Redemption Options Through Atmos Unlocked

Alaska Airlines has been in the news a lot lately. It recently announced the next steps in its new Alaska Accelerate initiative, which aims to elevate its Atmos Rewards loyalty program. This includes new ways to earn elite status, a new Alaska Airlines debit card, new earn rates for partner flights, and new partner designations.

Now, it’s taking things a step further. Alaska has revealed new redemption options through its Atmos Rewards Unlocked initiative. Atmos Unlocked is Alaska’s rewards marketplace where members can turn their points into experiences through exclusive packages, events, and partner offerings.

The platform includes everything from travel experiences to exclusive events, with new packages added regularly.

The latest additions include experiences connected to Alterra Mountain Company, which operates numerous ski resorts with Ikon Pass, as well as Pebble Beach Resorts, which offers one of the most recognized lifestyle travel destinations in the country.

Additionally, members can now use their points for fashion-focused experiences with Nordstrom, including private holiday shopping experiences at Nordstrom stores in several major markets across the country.

Should You Redeem Atmos Points This Way?

On paper, the additional ways to redeem points sound exciting. The problem? Just because something sounds exciting and you can redeem your points for it doesn’t mean that you should.

For travelers who know how to maximize the value of airline loyalty programs, Atmos Rewards points can be considerably more valuable when redeemed for flights. We value Atmos Rewards points at 1.6 cents each — among the highest of any airline currency.

The new experiences may be enticing and somewhat exclusive, but spending a large balance of hard-earned Atmos Rewards points on them could leave you with significantly less value than redeeming them for award tickets.

The exception, of course, is if you have plenty of points and find an Unlocked experience you would happily pay for in cash. However, it’s important not to confuse an exclusive experience with a good redemption value.

Final Thoughts

Atmos Rewards Unlocked now provides members with even more ways to redeem Atmos points. The program now partners with Alterra Mountain Company, Nordstrom, and Pebble Beach Resorts.

For the majority of Atmos Rewards members, the best use of points remains award travel. The new experiences are tempting, but you’ll ultimately get less value from your redemptions here on a cents-per-point basis.