The Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card may be the entry-level card option for Atmos Rewards, but it's anything but basic. This card packs a punch with a free checked bag and preferred boarding on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights, with a fan-favorite $99 Companion Fare for cardholders who meet the spending requirements.
Even if you don't fly Alaska or Hawaiian often, the points you earn on the card can help you get outsized value. With a robust network of Oneworld and nonalliance partners, Atmos Rewards can take you just about anywhere in the world. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Atmos Rewards Ascent: The basics
The Atmos Rewards Ascent is a cobranded airline card within Atmos Rewards, the joint loyalty program between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.
For a $95 annual fee, the card earns valuable Atmos Rewards points and provides a few added benefits.
Some of the best ways to maximize these points include redeeming for premium cabins with Oneworld partners, such as Cathay Pacific and Fiji Airways. However, Atmos Rewards points are also solid for short-haul domestic routes on Alaska Airlines and American Airlines.
One of the card's standout perks is its annual $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) that is earned each account anniversary as long as you've spent $6,000 or more in the prior anniversary year.
Generally, it's a solid option for Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines frequent flyers, thanks to the perks provided when flying with either airline, such as free checked bags and preferred boarding.
However, if you're looking for more premium perks like lounge access, this card won't meet your needs.
Related: Which credit card should you use for Alaska Airlines flights?
Atmos Rewards Ascent pros and cons
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Atmos Rewards Ascent benefits
The Atmos Rewards Ascent offers fewer benefits than other cobranded airline cards. However, you can still expect some perks.
Perks when flying Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines
Cardholders receive one piece of free checked luggage for themselves and up to six other passengers on the same reservation when flying Alaska or Hawaiian and paying with the Atmos Rewards Ascent. This saves at least $30 per person each way on checked bags, which is a significant savings if you fly with either airline frequently.
Cardholders also get preferred boarding on Alaska and Hawaiian, and they'll receive 20% back on inflight purchases with both airlines when they use the card.
If you're working toward Atmos Rewards status, you can earn 1 status point for every $3 spent on the card, with no cap on the number of status points you can earn through spending.
Companion Fare
As mentioned above, one of the best benefits of the Atmos Rewards Ascent is the $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23). This can be unlocked after spending $6,000 or more on the card within the prior anniversary year.
You'll get value from this perk as long as you fly Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines with a friend or family member on paid fares at least once a year.
Carly Helfand, TPG's director of content strategy, previously used the Ascent's Companion Fare to take a last-minute trip to Chicago with her husband. The round-trip flights from Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) cost $542.60 per person, but she paid $679.63 for both tickets thanks to the Companion Fare.
Alaska Lounge+ membership discount
While the Atmos Rewards Ascent doesn't provide outright lounge access, you can get $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership when you pay with this card. A membership costs $795 per year.
This benefit alone offsets the card's $95 annual fee. However, given how expensive membership is, this perk isn't too useful unless you were already going to pay for an Alaska Lounge+ membership.
Other considerations
It's worth noting that this card doesn't provide basic travel protections like baggage delay insurance, lost luggage insurance, purchase protection and trip cancellation/interruption coverage. If these perks are important to you, you may want to consider an alternative option.
On a more positive note, this is a good card to take abroad since it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
Related: The 5 best airline credit cards with annual fees of $150 or less
How to earn and use Atmos Rewards points
The Atmos Rewards Ascent earns Atmos Rewards points on purchases. These points are often best redeemed toward air travel. Let's dive into what to know.
Earning Atmos Rewards points
With this card, you'll earn:
- 3 points per dollar spent on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- 2 points per dollar spent on cable, at electric vehicle charging and gas stations, on local transit and ride-hailing services, and on select streaming services
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
Plus, cardholders with an eligible Bank of America account will also receive a 10% bonus on all points earned from purchases.
TPG's October 2026 valuations estimate Atmos Rewards points are worth 1.55 cents apiece.
This card may not be the best option for spending categories outside of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases. However, if you're all in on earning Atmos Rewards points, swiping this card becomes more attractive.
Redeeming Atmos Rewards points
Atmos Rewards provides stellar redemption rates on domestic travel. Short-haul economy tickets start at just 4,500 points one-way.
One of my favorite ways to redeem Atmos Rewards points is to book short-haul American Airlines flights, such as Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in Kentucky, at this 4,500-point rate.
It can also be a good deal to redeem for longer domestic flights. For example, a one-way flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) starts at 12,500 points in economy.
Premium cabins can start as low as 15,000 points one-way on shorter flights and 30,000 points one-way on longer U.S. routes. For trips to Hawaii, awards from the West Coast typically start at 12,500 points each way in economy and 30,000 points each way in first class.
Atmos Rewards is part of the Oneworld alliance, which means you can book partner flights with airlines such as British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas. Keep in mind that partner awards include a $20 nonrefundable booking fee.
TPG director of travel content Eric Rosen's favorite ways to maximize Atmos Rewards redemptions include booking Cathay Pacific or Japan Airlines business class from the U.S. to Asia for 75,000 points one-way and Fiji Airways business class from the U.S. to Fiji for 75,000 points one-way.
Related: 10 best ways to redeem 100,000 Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points
Where the Atmos Rewards Ascent falls short
Despite its benefits, there are a few reasons why you may not want to apply to the $95-annual-fee Atmos Rewards Ascent:
- The card does not include travel protections.
- The card's earning rates aren't particularly high, and many other travel cards provide a better return for your spending.
- You have to spend $6,000 on the card in an account anniversary year to earn the Companion Fare.
- You must fly on Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines to receive a free checked bag or preferred boarding.
Atmos Rewards Ascent vs. Atmos Rewards Summit
If you are ready to go all in on Atmos Rewards, consider its premium sibling: the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card.
For a higher $395 annual fee, the card provides Alaska Lounge passes, a 25,000-point Global Companion Award every year and a high earning rate on foreign purchases.
Related: How to reach Alaska Airlines elite status with the Atmos Summit Visa
Is the Atmos Rewards Ascent worth it?
The Atmos Rewards Ascent is a great way to collect valuable Atmos Rewards points. If you value that currency highly, this card is a fantastic starting point.
However, if you find the earning rates restrictive and the benefits underwhelming, another option may be the best choice.
Related: Atmos Rewards Ascent vs. Business: Which $95 Alaska-Hawaiian card should you get?
When to apply for the Atmos Rewards Ascent
New Atmos Rewards Ascent cardholders can earn up to 80,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare: Earn 60,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. Earn an additional 20,000 bonus points after spending a total of $5,000 on purchases, also in the first 90 days from account opening.
Cardholders who meet the higher spending requirement will earn a total of 80,000 bonus Atmos Rewards points, which TPG values at $1,240.
This is one of the highest bonus amounts we've seen in the card's offer history, making it a fantastic time to apply if you can earn the full bonus.
Related: Last-minute strategies for earning Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards elite status
Other cards to consider if you don't want the Atmos Rewards Ascent
If you aren't certain about the Atmos Rewards Ascent, here are some alternatives worth considering:
- If you want to earn Chase points: Go for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), one of the top mid-tier travel cards on the market. It offers generous point-earning opportunities, especially on dining and streaming. These valuable points can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel through Chase Travel℠. To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
- If you're after Capital One miles: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card combines fixed-value redemptions with 15-plus airline and hotel transfer partners. With its reasonable annual fee and attractive rewards on everyday spending, this card is a valuable asset worth holding onto. To learn more, read our full review of the Venture Rewards.
- If you'd consider a business card: The Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card has comparable benefits to the Atmos Rewards Ascent and is a solid option for business owners who frequently fly Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines. To learn more, read our full review of the Atmos Rewards Business.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel credit cards.
Bottom line
The Atmos Rewards points you'll earn on the Atmos Rewards Ascent unlock fantastic redemption rates on domestic flights, as well as international routes through its Oneworld partners.
Award-savvy travelers know you don't have to be an Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines loyalist to enjoy the rewards you earn with this card. However, some of the card's perks may go unused if you don't at least occasionally fly with one of its primary airlines.
Consider what matters most to you in exchange for a $95 annual fee, and you'll be on your way to hitting the skies.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.