Hey {{first name | reader}},
Happy Wednesday! Halfway through the week. Three quick hits today: a buy-points promo that can make sense, a surprisingly premium A350 cabin reveal from Edelweiss, and yet another reason Emirates First is becoming a unicorn unless you're an airline elite.
Here's what's inside today's post:
Buy Alaska Atmos Rewards points with up to a 100% bonus (when it's actually worth it)
Edelweiss A350 cabin reveal: Business + Premium Economy actually look legit
Qantas just tightened the Emirates First door (and bumped the price) ✈️🍾
Buy Alaska Atmos Rewards points with up to a 100% bonus (when it's actually worth it)
Alaska's loyalty program — now branded Atmos Rewards (formerly Alaska Mileage Plan) — just launched a new points purchase promo.
Promo window: January 19 to February 18, 2026.
If you're targeted for the best offer, it's tiered like this:
Buy 30,000–100,000 points → 100% bonus
Smaller purchases get 80–90% bonuses
The real cost (the only number that matters)
Alaska sells points for $35 per 1,000 points before bonus, and with a 100% bonus, the effective cost can drop to about $18.80 per 1,000 points (example: buy 100k → receive 200k for $3,762.50).
When buying these points makes sense
Unlike programs like Aeroplan or Flying Blue, Alaska points aren't a currency you can stockpile easily via tons of transfer partners — so if you're aiming for an Alaska sweet spot in the future (a specific partner in business/first, or a stopover-style routing), buying during a 100% bonus promo can be a smart move even if you're not booking tomorrow.
The key is still to have a clear redemption target (or at least a shortlist) so you're not sitting on a balance with no plan — but for Alaska, "buying ahead" is way more defensible than it is with most programs.
Why Atmos is interesting:
They have a unique partner lineup (oneworld + several non-oneworld airlines)
They still allow a stopover on a partner award (even on one-ways), which is increasingly rare
And they tend to be strong for both aspirational partners and short-haul premium value
The "don't mess this up" checklist
Have a plan first
Know the limits: non-elites can buy up to 150,000 points/year (bonus not counted), elites can buy unlimited
Points are sold via points.com, so it won't code as airfare on your credit card
Watch out for fuel surcharges on a few partners (it's not universal, but it exists on some)
My take: If you've got an idea for a redemption lined up (especially partner business class) and buying points drops your all-in cost well below the cash fare, this can be a smart move.
Edelweiss A350 cabin reveal: Business + Premium Economy actually look legit
Edelweiss (Swiss leisure carrier, part of the Lufthansa Group) is retrofitting its Airbus A350s and just revealed the new cabin details — and honestly, I love their new vibe!
Edelweiss A350
Business Class: suites + 1-2-1 (and the details we care about)
Edelweiss is going with a 1-2-1 Business Class layout. Some standout hard-product features Edelweiss is highlighting:
32-inch 4K monitors in Business Class (big screen energy)
Wireless charging and Bluetooth connectivity for your headphones
This is the kind of stuff you normally associate with top-tier long-haul products, not a "leisure-focused" brand.
Edelweiss A350 business class
They are also rolling out some suites and sliding doors that are designed to give more privacy (they note the doors are about 120 cm high). This is a trend we see growing a lot nowadays.
Edelweiss A350 business class Suites
They're also putting in Premium Economy with a 2-3-2 layout (28 seats total).
That matters because Premium Economy can be the sweet spot for long-haul comfort when Business pricing is wild — and it's also the cabin where airlines often cut corners. This looks like a serious attempt.
The Wi-Fi angle: Starlink
Edelweiss is also leaning into connectivity with Starlink (which you all know by now that I am a fan of), with complimentary messaging for all guests, and "high-speed internet" available.
I am happy to see how an airline is improving its cabins! And the great part is that we shouldn't wait long, since the first aircraft will enter service in December this year, and they expect to complete the retrofit by the middle of 2027.
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Qantas just tightened the Emirates First door (and bumped the price) ✈️🍾
We all know that Emirates First is getting harder to book on points… so you're not imagining it. And Qantas Frequent Flyer — which used to be one of the more "accessible" paths for a lot of people — is now adding a few more hurdles.
Emirates First Class suite
Here's what's changing:
1) No kids under 9 on Emirates First awards (Qantas Points)
Effective January 21, 2026, Qantas is enforcing a minimum age of 9 years old for Emirates First Classic Flight Rewards booked with Qantas Points. Cash tickets aren't affected — this is specifically for points bookings.
2) Emirates First awards now require Qantas Silver status (or higher)
From February 18, 2026, you'll need Qantas Silver or above to redeem Qantas Points for Emirates First award seats. If you have no status, you're simply blocked from booking Emirates First via Qantas points.
3) Emirates awards get more expensive on Qantas Points
Starting March 31, 2026, Qantas is increasing the points required for all Emirates Classic Flight Rewards by up to 30%, with First Class hit hardest.
My take: this is the direction we've been watching for a while — Emirates First is slowly becoming a "status-first" product. Between limited award space, partner access tightening, and now Qantas gating First behind elite status, the "easy" routes are disappearing.
That's it for today. More deals and strategies coming your way on Friday.
Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi