Weekend Edition / Dear Ohad...
Alaska & Hawaiian prepare for a loyalty identity shake-up | Southwest flirts with free Wi-Fi for Rapid Rewards | Qantas quietly tweaks its point prices again | United’s giving cardholders flash sale bonuses | and Air Canada redefines Aeroplan earning | We’ve got all this week’s tea below. 👇🏻
Alaska is rebranding its loyalty world - are we ready for Atmos Rewards?
--Curious in California
Dear Curious,
Yes, their buzz is real. A leak confirmed the upcoming Atmos Rewards name - the new combined loyalty program merging Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles. Details are due this month, with Hawaiian switching over by October 1, 2025. No branding rationale yet, and community commentary ranges from skepticism to amusement: “Atmos Rewards feels vague and risks confusing guests…” - Reddit user
ProTip: Hold off mass transfer activity until full terms drop - but mentally prepare for a merged balance and possible new elite thresholds.
Why is Southwest suddenly giving away free Wi-Fi? Scam or strategy?
--Logging in from Logan
Dear Logging In,
No scam - it’s a trial. From August 8 to 14, Rapid Rewards members flying Southwest can enjoy free in-flight Wi-Fi - normally about $8/device. It’s an experiment to test member engagement and loyalty growth while monitoring technical constraints (legacy vs. new satellite systems)… hint: a permanent rollout might be coming.
ProTip: If you're flying Southwest this week and care about streaming, log in and test it. Free Wi-Fi during a loyalty trial? That’s more than “lite” perks.
Qantas messing with points again - should I scream or strategize?
--Ticking off in Tassie
Dear Ticking Off,
You can breathe - the tempest was mild but real. Starting August 5, Qantas raised Classic Reward pricing by 15–20% (e.g., Sydney–Melbourne in economy jumps from 8,000 to 9,200 points), but also released 400,000 new ‘points-only’ seats (so-called “points planes”) across cabin classes. Domestic Jetstar flights even got slightly cheaper.
ProTip: For long-haul premium, still chase cathartic per-point value - but for Aussie domestic jaunts, these new points-plane seats might yield better ROI if you can snag them early.
United handed out flash sale awards again - did I miss them?
--Swiping in Seattle
Dear Swiping,
You didn’t miss your shot - it just expired. United ran a co-branded cardholder flash sale this week offering ultra-low awards to destinations like Thailand and Vietnam, valid for 24 hours only. It’s the latest in a string of daily-deal promos; one day you blink, you lose.
ProTip: Bookmark the United card website or follow their email alerts like a hawk. For these fleeting promos, right-time reflexes = free miles heaven.
Air Canada’s being “redefined” - what’s changing for Aeroplan earners?
--Mary in Montreal
Dear Mary,
Aeroplan is going revenue-based - starting soon (likely January 2026), miles earned will align with dollars spent, not miles flown. That’s better for big spenders, but a shift away from the traditional distance-based reward you're used to.
ProTip: Do future Aeroplan redemptions while people still game the old distance-based model - then shift to credit-spend strategies once the new structure rolls in.
Until next week - may your merges be seamless, your Wi-Fi free, your flash sales fast, and your miles worth their weight in awesomeness.
Got a redemption riddle, a miles meltdown, or a routing rabbit hole?
Email newsletter@upnonstop.com and we’ll unpack it next Sunday.
