Alaska Airlines is sticking with Bilt partnership as new Atmos program launches

Despite an all-new loyalty program that launched last week, one of the best ways to quickly earn points with Alaska Airlines is remaining exactly the same.

The airline’s partnership with Bilt Rewards isn’t going anywhere, which means renters can still turn their monthly payments into award flights aboard Alaska and its vast network of partners.

Don’t mistake that, though, as a sign that the airline is throwing the door open to more transfer partnerships with other major bank programs.

“Those are ultimately competitors,” Brett Catlin, Alaska Air Group’s vice president of loyalty, alliances and sales, told TPG.

Read more: Atmos Rewards reveal: 5 under-the-radar perks, from upgrades to lounge access

Alaska, Atmos and Bilt

Bilt and Alaska launched their tie-up in 2024, offering renters an attractive option to cash in on what is, for many, their largest monthly expense.

As part of the arrangement, Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees) members can earn 1 point per dollar spent on rent payments* and then transfer those points to the issuer’s airline and hotel partners, Alaska among them.

That means $2,000 on your monthly rent can quickly turn into 2,000 airline points — a valuable proposition with Alaska, where just a few thousand points are good for an award flight, including aboard top domestic partner American Airlines.

*Up to 100,000 points each calendar year; must use the card five times each statement period to earn points

That Bilt-to-Alaska transfer option remained in place despite Alaska’s rebranding of Mileage Plan as Atmos Rewards, launched this month with Hawaiian Airlines.

So did the ability for Atmos credit card holders to, alternatively, charge rent to their airline card via Bilt’s network and earn 3 Atmos points per dollar spent — albeit with a 3% fee tacked on.

“We’re excited to support Atmos Rewards’ launch and deepen our partnership with Alaska Airlines, including our industry-leading benefits that let Atmos members earn rewards simply by paying their rent or spending in their neighborhood with Bilt,” the issuer said in a statement to TPG.

A more cautious approach with transfer partners

Generally speaking, though, Alaska is a little less bullish on the broader idea of customers transferring flexible bank points into its loyalty program — a setup that, in Catlin’s eyes, may push customers to spend outside the Atmos Rewards ecosystem.

“I think that’s a debate that’s going on throughout the industry is, ‘how much do you want to incubate a competitor,'” Catlin said.

1 transfer partnership already ended

Keep in mind, Alaska’s 2024 acquisition of Hawaiian already spawned the end of one major credit card transfer partnership.

Earlier this summer, American Express cardholders lost their ability to move Membership Rewards points to HawaiianMiles, the outgoing Hawaiian loyalty program that’s set to end Oct. 1.

And based on Catlin’s comments, it sounds like Alaska and Hawaiian are unlikely to strike up a new deal with any other bank partners anytime soon.

Part of the reason: In launching Atmos Rewards, Alaska hoped to create an ecosystem that incentivized customers to spend, either on Alaska and Hawaiian, with Atmos partners (like Lyft) or on Atmos cobranded credit cards, Catlin said.

Not to mention, the new premium Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card actually comes with a sort of transferable currency of its own; cardholders can transfer Atmos Rewards points to a handful of hotel programs, including Marriott Bonvoy and IHG One Rewards.

“When we think about our portfolio and what we’re aiming to build with Atmos Rewards, a lot of the value is our members engaging with our partners,” Catlin said. “In some respects it can make sense to work with a competitor. And others it may not.”

Read more: Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card review: The best card for purchases abroad

So, what about Bilt?

Bilt, of course, is one “competitor” Alaska continues to work with.

And Catlin, at this point, is striking a collegial tone about the airline’s ties to Bilt.

“We’re happy with the Bilt relationship. We did something that was innovative,” Catlin told TPG. “It’s working with where we’re at today.”

I asked how he views that partnership, long-term. Catlin again referenced the airline’s overall view of transfer partnerships:

“Philosophically — not specific to Bilt,” he replied, “Whether it’s the airline, our rewards program, we’re not in the business of incubating competitors.”

Related reading:

For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.