Airline Rewards Programs Are Changing: From JetBlue-United to Hawaiian-Alaska

This fall, airline rewards programs are evolving, with two major shifts reshaping how travelers maximize points. JetBlue has formed a new partnership with United after stepping away from its former Hawaiian alliance, while Hawaiian partnered with Alaska Airlines to launch a new loyalty program, Atmos Rewards. Here’s what travelers need to know to get the most from their rewards programs.

JetBlue and United Launch Their ‘Blue Sky’ Collaboration

Last month, JetBlue and United Airlines introduced the first major customer benefit from their Blue Sky collaboration: loyalty members of both airlines can now earn and redeem points or miles across each other’s networks.

• JetBlue TrueBlue members can now earn points and redeem them on flights across United’s global network, including United Express.
• United MileagePlus members can now earn and redeem miles on most JetBlue flights to top leisure destinations.

Travelers will now see flight options from both airlines when searching on either carrier’s website or mobile app. To earn miles or points, TrueBlue members can simply enter their loyalty number when booking United-operated flights on the United website. Similarly, MileagePlus members can enter theirs when booking JetBlue-operated flights on the JetBlue website.

To redeem points or miles, members should continue booking award travel directly through their respective airline’s website.

The airlines emphasize that this is just the beginning of their partnership, with additional Blue Sky benefits rolling out in phases, including:

• Revenue booking across both networks (Q1 2026) — book itineraries on either airline using cash or miles/points.
• Reciprocal perks and benefits (early 2026) — such as priority boarding, preferred and extra legroom seating and same-day standby/flight changes.
• MileagePlus Travel transition to Paisly, LLC (early 2026) — United’s MileagePlus Travel with expanded travel offerings, including hotels, rental cars, cruises, packages and travel insurance, will be powered by JetBlue’s wholly owned travel product company, Paisly.
• JetBlue’s support for United’s JFK expansion (early 2027) — access to slots for up to seven daily roundtrips from JFK's new Terminal 6.

This milestone reflects JetBlue and United’s vision for a more rewarding travel experience, offering customers greater flexibility and choice when booking flights. TrueBlue members can find more information here, while MileagePlus members can find more details here.

JetBlue and Hawaiian Airlines End Their Partnership

Before launching its new collaboration with United, JetBlue stepped away from its nearly decade-long loyalty partnership with Hawaiian Airlines back in July.

While the last day to book a Hawaiian Airlines flight (to earn or redeem TruBlue points) officially ended on September 30, travelers still have until March 31, 2026, to complete eligible booked travel or to submit any retroactive requests to earn TrueBlue points on Hawaiian flights.

But don’t worry — with the conclusion of the JetBlue-Hawaiian partnership, Hawaiian has quickly aligned with a new partner, Alaska Airlines, opening fresh opportunities for frequent flyers to earn and redeem rewards.

Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Introduce Atmos Rewards

Back in August, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines announced their alliance with a new unified loyalty program, Atmos Rewards. The program offers members more ways to earn valuable points across an extensive network of over 1,000 destinations worldwide, connecting flights operated by Alaska, Hawaiian and more than 30 global airline partners, including those in the oneworld alliance.

Effective on October 1, Atmos Rewards introduced several features, including:

• Updated member numbers: HawaiianMiles accounts transitioned to new Atmos Rewards numbers, while Alaska Mileage Plan numbers automatically became the Atmos Rewards number. Travelers should now use their Atmos Rewards number across both airlines.
• Seamless point transition: Existing Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles members automatically transitioned to Atmos Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio, ensuring no loss in value.
• New status tiers: Members can earn Silver, Gold, Platinum and Titanium status, with points accumulated not only through flights but also via partner airlines, hotels, car rentals, dining, shopping and other non-flight partners.
• Enhanced Neighbor Island travel rewards: Members earn up to five times more points on Neighbor Island flights than under HawaiianMiles, with a minimum of 500 points per flight and faster status accrual.

Looking ahead to 2026, Atmos Rewards will add even more perks, including:

• Choice-based earning: For the first time in a global airline loyalty program, travelers can select how to earn points and status points to match their travel style — distance flown, price paid or segments flown.
• Enhanced travel benefits: Complimentary upgrades, free Starlink Wi-Fi on equipped aircraft, milestone perks starting at 10,000 status points and elite benefits tailored to both domestic and global travel routes.
• Upgrades with points: A new option to redeem points for upgrades.
• Updated credit card program: Co-branded credit cards will be rebranded to Atmos, giving members additional ways to earn points and boost status.
• Enhanced Huaka‘i benefits: Members earn a 50% bonus on points and status points for Neighbor Island flights and continue to enjoy perks like a free checked bag and quarterly fare discounts.

With Atmos Rewards, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines are redefining what loyalty can look like, offering greater flexibility, faster earning and more ways to enjoy travel. To learn more, check out the official Atmos Reward website here.

Airline loyalty programs are shifting rapidly, highlighting a broader industry focus on flexibility, customer choice and seamless network coverage. By staying informed about evolving partnerships and timelines, travelers can take full advantage of new earning pathways, expanded redemptions and upgraded benefits — all while making their points go further than ever.