Ep. 174: HawaiianMiles Are Ending: What Hawaii Travelers Lose With Atmos Rewards

174_HawaiianMiles Are Ending- What Hawaii Travelers Lose With Atmos Rewards

[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: Hawaiian Airlines just announced major changes. Hawaiian miles are going away soon, and in this episode, I’m breaking it all down. You’re gonna learn what Hawaii travelers will lose with this switch to Atmos. Rewards, the new rewards program of Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines, and what you need to do.

[00:00:17] Bryan Murphy: Before September 25th,

[00:00:22] Bryan Murphy: Aloha.

[00:00:22] Bryan Murphy: Welcome to Hawaii’s Best, the podcast, helping Travelers Plan an unforgettable Hawaii vacation with insider tips and featuring local voices. I’m Brian Murphy, a husband dad of three, and certified Hawaii destination expert. Each week I share local insights, travel tips. And up-to-date news sometimes with guests across Hawaii and sometimes solo.

[00:00:43] Bryan Murphy: All to help you Plan your next trip to Hawaii

[00:00:51] Bryan Murphy: Lohan. Welcome back to Hawaii’s Best.

[00:00:53] Bryan Murphy: Today we need to talk about some big changes that. It’ll probably affect a lot of travelers, especially if you fly Hawaiian. Hawaiian Airlines is officially retiring its Hawaiian Miles program on October 1st, 2025, and it’s replacing it with a brand new loyalty program called Atmos.

[00:01:12] Bryan Murphy: Rewards. This is part of the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger.

[00:01:16] Bryan Murphy: Now, if you’ve been a Hawaiian Miles member, this change may feel like a letdown, honestly, and some of the most useful perks for people traveling to and within Hawaii are going away. And the new program seems better suited for long haul.

[00:01:32] Bryan Murphy: International Flyers to be honest. And in this episode I’m gonna break down and help walk you through exactly what’s changing, what benefits are ending, and what ATMOS does A-T-M-O-S Atmos rewards is bringing to the table. And most importantly, what you need to do before September 25th to protect your miles and make the most of what’s left of the program.

[00:01:55] Bryan Murphy: Spoiler alert, I am not optimistic about this change. I mean, I’ve been a Hawaiian Miles member since almost day one, and I love it. I love the perks that have grown over the years as I get through what is changing, I think it’s gonna be pretty apparent that a lot of the Hawaiian perks that happen happen to do with Hawaiian Airlines are going away and are changing pretty drastically.

[00:02:23] Bryan Murphy: So I’m not super excited about this. At first, I was very optimistic about the merger with Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines expanding network, and that’s how it’s being sold. But as we were getting into really the weeds of the merger, routes changing, routes ending. The New Miles program is pretty lacking, honestly.

[00:02:45] Bryan Murphy: But I know some of you’re saying that’s just part of the merger that, and I totally get that. I totally get both sides. I can see both sides and I’m gonna try to be as unbiased as possible and just kinda give you the facts of what the program is. But to be honest, I’m, I’m honestly disappointed because initially I got Hawaiian miles to travel to Hawaii and not necessarily to fly international, to fly Alaskan, but that’s just kind of what goes on with this merger.

[00:03:13] Bryan Murphy: And I totally get, I can hear some of you right now saying, well, I mean, Hawaiian Airlines was gonna go bankrupt, which Alaska bought them. I’m glad they’re still keeping the brands. Separate, but a lot of things are merging. A lot of routes have ended and are going in in this year, and the rewards program is just part of it.

[00:03:31] Bryan Murphy: So let’s get into it. Here’s the bottom line.

[00:03:33] Bryan Murphy: Hawaiian Miles is coming to an end starting October 1st, 2025. This year, all of your Hawaiian miles will automatically convert to Atmos rewards points at a 1 0 1 rate. So you don’t need to do anything on your end. The transfer just automatically happens for you.

[00:03:49] Bryan Murphy: But here’s the thing. The important detail to note is that from September 26th through September 30th, your Hawaiian miles account will be frozen. And during this time, you won’t be able to log in. You won’t be able to redeem miles or transfer them. So if you’ve been holding onto points for a flight or upgrade, you’ll need to act.

[00:04:10] Bryan Murphy: Before September 25th, it’s being reported that another key date has already passed. Being able to transfer points miles from Hawaiian Airlines to Mariet Bonvoy that exits on August 20th the day I’m recording this. So if you’re planning on moving points that way, that option is no longer available. I can say that is debunked as of right now because I just tried it.

[00:04:32] Bryan Murphy: I logged into my Hawaiian Airlines account and I was able to transfer. To my Bonvoy account if I wanted to. So as of right now, as I’m recording on August 20th, that is still available. So I don’t know if it’s gonna be when this releases tomorrow and the 21st, but the good news is that your balance, your status and you know your account information should carry over smoothly into Atmos rewards.

[00:04:57] Bryan Murphy: I can’t get over that name, Atmos. I don’t. Anyways, okay, I’ll stop with the freeze coming for those few days at the end of September, this is the window to make any last moves with your miles.

[00:05:09] Bryan Murphy: So what are we losing with this merger into this new rewards program? So let’s talk a little bit about that. And honestly, this is a part that stings the most for.

[00:05:18] Bryan Murphy: Us who relied on Hawaiian miles. So first, no more guaranteed inter island seats for elite members. I know this was a huge benefit, especially for residents of Hawaii, whether it was a quick business trip from a. Oahu to Maui or visiting family on another island, those guaranteed seats gave peace of mind that you actually would make it on the flight you needed.

[00:05:43] Bryan Murphy: Without that, travel between islands becomes less predictable and likely more expensive. Next same day, standby is also ending. This perk gave flexibility. If plans change or if you needed to catch an earlier flight home. Many locals used it as it was a great safety net, so losing it makes travel less convenient and a little bit more riskier if your schedule happens to shift.

[00:06:08] Bryan Murphy: Another thing going away is discounted upgrades at the gates. These were one of the. Easiest ways to get a taste of first class without really breaking the bank for frequent flyers. It was a small luxury that softened long flights to and from the mainland and come October. Those quick upgrades at the gate will no longer be an option.

[00:06:31] Bryan Murphy: Finally, the plumeria lounge, discounted day pass is also disappearing. Lounges may not be a priority for every traveler, but for those who use them, they make travel a lot more comfortable, especially with a layover or a delay. So if you’re looking to enjoy the lounge after October 1st, during the only option will be full priced passes for the day.

[00:06:54] Bryan Murphy: If you don’t already have that tiered. Reward level. All of these changes point to the same reality. Hawaiian Miles used to be a program built with Hawaii travelers in mind. It was local, it was flexible. It had made perks that made sense. If your main focus was travel to Hawaii. Utmost rewards, on the other hand, is designed for a broader global audience.

[00:07:20] Bryan Murphy: And while that has its advantages for Hawaii based or Hawaii focused travelers, like a lot of you who listen to this podcast, it definitely feels like a real loss.

[00:07:30] Bryan Murphy: Okay, so I’m not gonna be completely pessimistic. I do want to give you what. Is also new and exciting. With Atmos Rewards, as I mentioned, it’s meant to be a bigger, more global program.

[00:07:42] Bryan Murphy: First, you’ll be able to use your points across Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian, and more than 30 international partners, so that opens up access to over thousands of destinations worldwide. Like Hawaiian miles points will never expire, which is nice. That’s not anything new. Um, starting in 2026, I believe, around springtime, probably first or second quarter, you’ll get to choose how you earn status points.

[00:08:08] Bryan Murphy: So that’s either by miles flown, dollars spent, or even flight segments. That flexibility is something new to the airline industry, which is pretty cool. Also, complimentary upgrades are also part of the program, so curious to see what that all entails. But on Alaska Flights, that starts on October 1st of this year.

[00:08:30] Bryan Murphy: And on Hawaiian flights that’ll begin spring of 2026. And finally, Atmos is introducing a new premium credit card designed to help members rack up points faster and reach elite status more easily. I’m not sure if I’m gonna be doing that currently. I do have. Hawaiian business and personal cards. Not sure what I’m gonna do yet.

[00:08:52] Bryan Murphy: Have to see how it all pans out. But you know, while these perks may be great for people flying long haul or internationally for Hawaii focused travelers, they honestly don’t feel like a direct replacement of what we’re losing. And that’s what this podcast is all about. It’s about Hawaii travelers in mind.

[00:09:12] Bryan Murphy: So that’s the scope and the lens that I’m wanting to kind of, I guess, report what the changes are with the rewards program. So basically, what does this all mean for Hawaii travelers? Hawaii travelers, if you live in Hawaii or if you fly to Hawaii, often the reality is inner island travelers probably lose the most, which is unfortunate because Hawaiian Airlines was built with Hawaii in mind.

[00:09:37] Bryan Murphy: I mean, my goodness, they, they use Hawaii branding and Hawaii names and the whole thing. So I would hope that inner island travelers would gain and not lose from this. But from what I’m able to research, and I’m gonna list all my sources below what I got, all, all this information, but what I’m able to gather is that inner island travelers seem to lose the most from this merger.

[00:10:00] Bryan Murphy: Hawaii Miles was honestly built with those who live in Hawaii. It was built with them in mine. Perks, like guaranteed seats, standby options and discounted upgrades might made Flying between islands more affordable and flexible. Without those inner island flights become less predictable and likely more expensive for families traveling to see relatives or for people commuting for work.

[00:10:22] Bryan Murphy: This change probably hits the hardest. And if you’re traveling between Hawaii and the Continental us the mainland, it’s kind of a mixed bag. Meaning on one hand, Atmos gives you access to Alaska’s entire network, plus over 30 international partners, which is great if you’re looking at bigger trips. But for those who mainly fly West Coast Hawaii routes the day-to-day benefits feel reduced.

[00:10:46] Bryan Murphy: And there’s also this question of elite status. What does that mean? And right now that’s relatively attainable for frequent Hawaii travelers. But starting in 2026, the requirements climb higher. Platinum moves from 75,000 to 80,000 points to titanium jumps from a hundred thousand. All the way up to 135,000 points.

[00:11:08] Bryan Murphy: This shift makes it harder to qualify unless you’re flying longer distances or spending significantly more on tickets.

[00:11:16] Bryan Murphy: Okay, so if you are planning on keeping your Hawaiian miles and just wanting it’s rolled over to Atmos, there’s a checklist I created for you. You can go to Hawaii’s best travel.com/ 1 7 4.

[00:11:30] Bryan Murphy: Or just go to the first link that you see in the show notes below. Here’s what I included on that checklist to make sure you do before September 26th when the account freeze will happen. And if you wait, you won’t be able to log in or use your miles until October. Until October 1st. So the checklist would be one, redeem miles.

[00:11:48] Bryan Murphy: Now, if you’ve been saving for a flight or an upgrade, book it before. Oh, that’s another thing I forgot to mention. Sorry I’m a little scattered right now because. Just wanted to get this info to you. But the other thing that I read is that you’re not gonna be able to use points slash miles to get upgrades when booking like you are able to.

[00:12:09] Bryan Murphy: Now, I believe it’s gonna be a cost, like an extra cost you can’t use miles of points on. Okay? Anyways, number one, redeem miles an hour. So if you’re, you’ve been salmon for flight, uh, or an upgrade. Book it before September 25th. After that, your account will be locked until Atmos goes live on October 1st, number two, transfer or gift miles.

[00:12:31] Bryan Murphy: Marriott transfers are supposedly already gone. I would check on your end, but if you wanna transfer and try to, you know, transfer your points to Marriott Bonvoy, definitely try. That might still be available, but if you’re planning to share Hawaiian miles with a friend or family member, you’ll need to do that before the 25th.

[00:12:50] Bryan Murphy: Number three, update your account info. So just double check that your name, email number are correct. That way the migration into Atmos will be smooth. Uh, number four, use lounge discounts. The Plumerial lounge discount and pass will no longer carry over. So if you want to use one, this is kind of your last chance.

[00:13:08] Bryan Murphy: Number five, record your balance and status. So be sure you have screenshots or write down your current mileage balance and elite tier, everything should transfer over, but it’s always smart to have a backup. Record of everything. And then number six, be ready for October 1st. Once Atmos rewards, you know, launches, log in to confirm that your miles have converted to points and your status carried over as well.

[00:13:31] Bryan Murphy: So just think of September 25th as your deadline to tie up loose ends on Hawaii. Miles after that, you’ll be in the transition period until Atmos officially. Takes over. Alright. So if you want, if you want more ways to save and plan smarter now that Hawaiian miles are ending, I’ve got some great past episodes that I’ll link below.

[00:13:50] Bryan Murphy: Episode 1 56, for example, talks about the best time to visit Hawaii. I’ll link a few relevant episodes below that will be helpful. Just, uh, just planning a trip to Hawaii in general with saving money in mind. Alright, so to wrap up, Hawaiian miles are going away and utmost rewards. It’s stepping in. So for Hawaii focused travelers like me, maybe you, and maybe the majority of you that are listening, it’s not all good news, but I’m gonna be optimistic.

[00:14:18] Bryan Murphy: I still love my Hawaiian Airlines, but with the right strategies, you can still save money and enjoy your trip to Hawaii for sure. And if you want a quick checklist of what to do before September 25th, I’ve put one together for you. Just go to the first link in the show notes that you see below. All right, thank you so much for tuning into Hawaii’s best.

[00:14:37] Bryan Murphy: Be sure to follow for future episodes. Stay up to date. And until next time, my friend, as always. Live with Aloha

[00:14:48] Bryan Murphy: Mahala for listening to this episode of Hawaii’s. Best to stay up to date on future episodes. Hit follow on your podcast app. Hawaii’s Best is a production of shore break media group with editing by easy podcast solutions and music courtesy of our friends. Stick figure.