You have two flights booked: one on Alaska, one on American, and two loyalty programs that seem like they should work together. They do. No formal link between Alaska Airlines’ Atmos™ Rewards (the evolution of Mileage Plan) and American Airlines‘ AAdvantage exists, and none is needed. Both airlines belong to the oneworld® alliance (Alaska joined on 2021-03-31), so you earn and redeem across partners simply by adding the right frequent flyer number to each booking.[1][2][3][4]
Quick Answer
You can’t “link” Alaska Atmos Rewards and American AAdvantage accounts because no formal linking feature exists. Add the frequent flyer number you want to earn with to each booking. Both programs are in oneworld, so you can earn and redeem across partners. Create separate accounts, then choose which number to credit per flight.
What’s in This Article
- Before you begin
- Creating an Alaska Airlines Atmos™ Rewards account
- Creating an American Airlines AAdvantage account
- How to use both programs together: step-by-step
- Transferring miles between accounts
- How to earn and redeem across both programs
- Managing accounts and recent program changes
- Troubleshooting common issues
Key Takeaways
- No formal account linking exists between Alaska and American. Add the frequent flyer number you want to earn with to each reservation.[3][5]
- Alaska renamed its program Atmos™ Rewards (the evolution of Mileage Plan).[6]
- HawaiianMiles moved fully into Atmos™ Rewards on 2025-10-01. A brief account-access freeze occurred in late September as part of the migration.[9][10]
- American Airlines’ AAdvantage remains a separate program. You can book partner awards (including Alaska-operated flights) on AA.com.[4]
- Miles and points can’t transfer between AA and Alaska programs. Redeem on partners instead.[13]
- Earning and redeeming on each other’s flights works via oneworld membership and bilateral partnership pages on both airlines.[1][7]
- Starting in 2026, Atmos members can choose how they earn points: by distance flown, price paid, or segments flown.
Before you begin
Setting up and using both programs takes about 10 minutes. Gather the following before you start.
- An email address — one account per program is fine
- Your legal name as it appears on your passport or government ID (it must match your ticket exactly)
- Any existing booking confirmation numbers, if you need to add a frequent flyer number to a flight you already booked
- Boarding passes or e-tickets saved somewhere accessible, in case you need to request retro credit later
Creating an Alaska Airlines Atmos™ Rewards account
Sign up for Atmos™ Rewards on alaskaair.com. You’ll get a loyalty number for earning on Alaska, American, and other partners, and for redeeming points on alaskaair.com.
According to Alaska’s newsroom, the airline launched Atmos in August 2025 as the evolution of Mileage Plan. It kept partner earning and redemption while adding new member benefits.[6][8] In 2026, Atmos rolled out flexible earning options, a rare option among major global airlines. Members can now choose to earn based on distance, price, or segments, and can change their selection once per year.
Creating an American Airlines AAdvantage account
Create an AAdvantage account on American’s site. After enrolling, your AAdvantage number tracks miles and Loyalty Points earned from flights with American and partners, eligible credit card spend, and other activities.
You can redeem miles for travel on American and many partners directly on AA.com. Partner flights show up in search results, and you can filter by airline.[4]
How to use both programs together: step-by-step
No “link accounts” button exists for AAdvantage and Atmos. Instead, follow these steps.
- Create your Atmos™ Rewards account at alaskaair.com and note your loyalty number.
- Create your AAdvantage account at aa.com and note your AAdvantage number.
- Add the right number at booking. For flights you want to credit to AAdvantage, enter your AAdvantage number. For flights you want to credit to Atmos, enter your Atmos number. Do this at booking, in “Manage Trip,” or at check-in.
- Earn miles or points on the partner’s flight per that program’s partner earning chart. Check current rates on AA’s Alaska partner page or Atmos’s American partner page before you fly, as rates can change.
- Redeem on the website of the program whose miles you’re spending. Use AA.com for AAdvantage awards. Use alaskaair.com for Atmos awards. Both sites show partner flights in their search tools.
Pro tip: Book partner awards on the program site you’re redeeming with, not the operating carrier’s site, to see the widest award availability.
| Action | AAdvantage (AA) | Atmos™ Rewards (Alaska) |
|---|---|---|
| Add your program number to earn miles or points | Enter your AAdvantage number at booking, in “Manage trips,” or at check-in. Works on AA and eligible partner flights (including Alaska).[3] | Enter your Atmos number for Alaska, Hawaiian, and partner flights. Credit posts per partner rules.[8] |
| Book partner awards | Redeem on AA.com. Partner flights (including Alaska) are bookable online in most cases.[4] | Redeem on alaskaair.com. Search partners (including American) using “Use points.”[8] |
| Request missing credit | Use AA’s Request flight miles form (include your ticket number).[11] | Use Alaska’s Request credit page. Timelines vary by partner.[12] |
| Elite and status recognition | oneworld benefits apply on partners, including Alaska, based on your AAdvantage tier.[3] | oneworld benefits apply on partners, including American, based on your Atmos tier.[2][7] |
This alliance-based integration simplifies mile management and delivers reciprocal perks without any account-linking step.
Products Worth Considering
TRACK MILEAGE AND MORE: Tracking mileage and expenses for work doesn’t have to be a time-consuming chore. With the Portage mileage notebook, keeping track of business expenses is easy.
Made in USA - Proudly produced in Ohio by a Veteran-owned business
【Sufficient Recording Space】Auto mileage log book has 1260 entries， Each entry has space to log date, business purpose, odometer reading, and total mileage,emergency contacts, maintenance records, insurance information and so on. Accurate records of every trip, applicable to personal taxes and business claims
Transferring miles between accounts
Direct transfers between AAdvantage and Atmos aren’t possible. You can’t combine or move balances between the two programs. Redeem on the partner you want to fly instead.[13]
Note: Instead of transferring, build up miles in one program until you have enough for a redemption on the partner. Both sites show partner award availability in their search tools.
If you have AAdvantage miles and want Alaska-operated flights, search and book on AA.com (partner flights are included). If you have Atmos points and want American-operated flights, search and book on alaskaair.com using “Use points.”[4][8]
Products Worth Considering
EASILY TRACK MILEAGE & OTHER CAR INFO: Perfect for personal and professional use, this mileage log book includes detailed pre-printed pages to track trip mileage, expenses, gas consumption, lubrication, repairs, tire mileage, etc.
✓ MORE THAN JUST A MILEAGE LOG BOOK: Skyline Auto Mileage Log Book is the universal driving log book that will help you log mileage, expenses, gas consumption, lubrication, tire mileage, repairs, and helpful contacts.
What You Will Receive: you will receive 2 pieces of car mileage and expense notebooks, each notebook contains plenty of pages, which are enough for your daily use and record keeping needs
How to earn and redeem across both programs
- Earning on partner flights: AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points accrue on eligible Alaska flights per AA’s partner chart. Credit your AA number. Atmos points accrue on eligible American flights per Alaska’s partner rules. Credit your Atmos number. Check current earn rates on each program’s partner page before you fly, as rates can change.[5][7]
- Redeeming: Book with the program whose miles or points you’re spending. Use AA.com for AAdvantage; use alaskaair.com for Atmos. Both search tools include partner flights.[4][8]
Products Worth Considering
Managing accounts and recent program changes
Manage each account separately by logging into both your Atmos™ Rewards and AAdvantage profiles. Monitor balances, status progress, and promotions on each airline’s site.
Alaska launched Atmos™ Rewards in August 2025. HawaiianMiles moved fully into Atmos on 2025-10-01. Account functions went temporarily offline during the planned late-September migration window, then returned to normal after the transition.[6][9][10] HawaiianMiles balances and status moved into Atmos automatically.
In 2026, Atmos introduced flexible earning options. Members can now choose to earn points based on distance flown, price paid, or segments flown, and can change their selection once per year.
Troubleshooting common issues
- Wrong program number on a booking: Update it in “Manage Trip,” at check-in, or by calling an agent.
- Award availability: Search on the site you’re redeeming with. Partner space varies and can update throughout the day.[8]
For more tips on packing light for these trips, see our carry-on luggage guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Alaska and American Airlines loyalty accounts?
Alaska Airlines runs Atmos™ Rewards and American Airlines runs AAdvantage as separate frequent flyer programs. Both airlines are oneworld members, which enables partner earning and redemption on each other’s flights without any account link.[1][2]
Why would I use both programs together?
Both belong to oneworld, so you can earn and redeem across partners without linking accounts. Choose which program number to apply per trip based on where your balance is largest or where you want your next award. Redeem on your chosen program’s site.[1][4]
How do I “link” my Alaska and American Airlines accounts?
No formal link exists. Add the frequent flyer number you want to earn with to each booking. Redeem on the site you’re spending from: AA.com for AAdvantage, alaskaair.com for Atmos.[3][8]
Can I transfer miles or points between my Alaska and American accounts?
No. Direct transfers aren’t supported. Redeem on partners instead.[13]
What changed with Atmos™ Rewards and HawaiianMiles in 2025?
Alaska launched Atmos in August 2025. HawaiianMiles moved fully into Atmos on 2025-10-01, with a brief pre-transition account freeze in late September. HawaiianMiles balances and status transferred into Atmos automatically.[6][9][10]
Conclusion
The key point: you don’t need to link your accounts because the oneworld alliance does the work for you. Pick the program number you want to earn with, add it to your booking, and redeem on that program’s site when you’re ready to fly. Start by creating both accounts today so you’re set up before your next trip.
References
- oneworld press release: “Alaska Airlines Officially Joins oneworld” (2021-03-31). oneworld.com
- oneworld members overview (current list of member airlines). oneworld.com
- American Airlines partner page: Alaska Airlines (earn/redeem; status benefits; partner chart). aa.com
- AA “Using miles for travel”: partner award booking on AA.com. aa.com
- AA Alaska earning chart with Loyalty Points notes (see partner page above). aa.com
- Alaska Newsroom: “Introducing Atmos™ Rewards” (August 2025). news.alaskaair.com
- Atmos partner page: American Airlines (earn/redeem for Atmos members). alaskaair.com
- Atmos “Use points”: redeem on Alaska, Hawaiian, and partners online. alaskaair.com
- Hawaiian Airlines loyalty updates: HawaiianMiles remains through 2025-09-30; transitions to Atmos 2025-10-01. hawaiianairlines.com
- Hawaiian Airlines September migration notice: pre-transition account-access freeze details. hawaiianairlines.com
- AA “Request flight miles” (retro credit). aa.com
- Alaska Atmos “Request credit” (retro credit). alaskaair.com
- NerdWallet: “Can you transfer miles between American and Alaska?” (2025-09). nerdwallet.com