In this podcast episode, we’ll talk about Frontier’s Million Mile Match, we’ll get tripped up by The Seattle Seahawks 12s, and we’ll debate which loyalty program is better: American Airlines’ AAdvantage program or Alaska’s Atmos program.
AAdvantage vs Alaska Atmos
Watch here:
Or listen here (or click “Follow” on the player below to select your preferred podcast app instead):
Giant Mailbag
(01:26) – Lisa gives us an update about the question of whether or not she had a no-show fee when she cancelled her 2 LifeMiles flights.
Mattress Running the Numbers
(05:05) – Frontier Match your Miles
Read more about Frontier Match your Miles here.
Bonvoyed
(13:13) – Wyndham/Vacasa
Awards, Points, and More
(17:02) – Delta 12Status is back: Washington state residents earn 1 SkyMile for every Seahawks passing yard
(19:06) – Delta not changing elite requirements in 2026
(22:25) – Condor flights now bookable with JetBlue points (54K biz class from east coast to FRA; ~100K from west coast)
Read more about Condor flights with JetBlue points here.
Main Event: American Airlines AAdvantage vs Alaska Atmos
(25:15) – Similar programs
(31:25) – Earning Redeemable Miles
(38:27) – Elite Status
(54:29) – Using Miles
(1:05:53) – Final Word?
Question of the Week
(1:13:23) – Questions about rebooking options with Hawaiian Airlines with a route termination.
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Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder
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“If you’re earning just based on credit card spend, [Alaska] is not easier…”
I think in certain circumstances, it might be?
Let’s say you hold each airline’s high end card (Atmos Summit, Citi Executive).
To get mid-tier oneworld sapphire *exclusively* with credit card spend, you’d need…
Alaska Gold, 40k points:
Requires 60k spend (1 point per 2 dollars = 30k + 10k “boost” by having Summit.)
American Platinum, 75k points:
Requires 65k spend (1 point per 1 dollar = 65k + 10k bonus by having Citi Exec).
In that scenario, Alaska requires $5,000 less spend on a card with a $200 lower annual fee. (Sure, there are other benefits w/ Citi’s higher fee and the Summit has a big reward for hitting that 60k spend – but this is purely status based.)
When it’s not easier:
If you’re using both airline’s “regular” card. (AA still gets 1:1, AS gets 1:3)
If you’re chasing top tier status with a top tier card. (Citi Exec kicks in an extra 10k bonus for going over 90k points, meaning you’d need to spend $180k for top tier. To get to Alaska’s top tier using the Summit, you’d need to spend $250k!)
Anything I’m missing?
I was really surprised they missed this comparison. Glad you called it out.
Glad someone else brought this up. For at least one more year there’s an even better option on the AA side – the Aviator Silver.
Aviator Silver gives 5K loyalty point bonuses at the $20K, $40K, and $50K spending thresholds. Spending $60K on it would give 60K loyalty points + 15K bonus = 75K and AAdvantage Platinum, the same Oneworld Sapphire level status as Atmos Gold. Additionally the card has a lower annual fee than the AAdvantage Executive or Atmos Summit ($199) and you would earn a double companion voucher at $20K spend. That voucher allows two companions to fly with you for $99+tax each (though with a lot of restrictions- black out dates, domestic economy only, cash fare, etc.).
Nick has this card and has spent on it to earn the double companion voucher before so I’m surprised he didn’t call this out. The same $60K of spending can you get Oneworld Sapphire in either program with the right card.
If you’re chasing AA top tier you can get both the Aviator Silver and AAdvantage Executive cards. It’s a lot in annual fees but you’d end up with 35K in bonus loyalty points by hitting at least $50K in spend on the Aviator Silver plus $15K more on either card. $65K would give you 65K loyalty points + 15K bonus (Aviator Silver spend) + 20K bonus (AAdvantage Executive loyalty point thresholds) = 100K. Spending from there you need a total spend of $90K to reach Platinum Pro and $165K for Executive Platinum.
It’s not 1-2 it’s 12.
12s are the Seattle Seahawks fans who are know to be so loud during games it’s like having a 12th man on the field.
Oops. Paused listening to podcast to post comment. Just continued and heard your clarification. I guess this rabid Seahawks fan spoke too soon 🙂
just watched on the Telly, not my cup of tea
Great podcast as always. What is the best game plan let’s say you have P1 (AA plat Pro) and p2 (with a bucket of Alaska miles) with a few kids. If I’m booking AA with Alaska miles add the AA number for P1 and everyone else uses their Alaska number to take advantage of status?
I believe that when booking an award with Alaska miles, Alaska does not allow the person redeeming points to add a non-Alaska number (so as to garner elite benefits from the other program). But, I don’t know about companions. If the second passenger is listed as a travel companion and has AA as their loyalty program included, it’s worth a test to see whether elite benefits attach. Let the FM team know.
You can still redeem Alaska miles while using your AA status, just need to book for yourself without using the default profile in your Alaska account, meaning booking for a “new person” with the same first and last name and DOB, that’s how you can add you AA number later.
Yes I’ve used this numerous times as well with no issues. I would attach my AA loyalty number after the booking to get status benefits (I did that on AA’s site using the confirmation code for AA – did not enter it on Alaska’s site).
You obviously won’t earn Atmos status points for miles flown doing this, so you do need to choose which program you focus on for your status earning.