Link: Apply now for the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Credit Card
The $95 annual fee Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Credit Card (review) is the basic personal credit card of the Atmos Rewards program, which is the new loyalty program of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. The card is issued by Bank of America, and is a rebranding of the former Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card.
This is a card that many people may not have considered, so in this post, I’d like to share nine reasons you should pick up this card if you’re eligible, especially given the incredible offer that’s currently available. In no particular order…
Massive bonus of 80K points & $99 companion fare
At the moment, the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card has a huge two-part limited time welcome bonus. After spending $4,000 within the first 120 days, you can earn 80,000 Atmos Rewards bonus points, in addition to a $99 companion fare (plus taxes and fees from $23), valid for flights within North America on Alaska and Hawaiian.
I value Atmos Rewards points at 1.5 cents each, given the great uses of these rewards. That means that to me, the 80,000 points are worth $1,200. That doesn’t even account for the value of the companion fare.
Note that eligibility for this card (including the welcome bonus) is unrelated to which other Atmos Rewards cards you have. So you’re eligible for this card even if you have the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card (review) and/or Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card (review).
This is a card many people are eligible for
In the miles & points world, there are some cards that seemingly everyone has had at this point, and therefore they’re not eligible to apply for them and receive the bonus. Obviously, some people have had the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card (or its predecessor), but I assume there are lots more people eligible than with some of the mainstream travel rewards cards out there.
The Atmos Rewards program is incredibly useful, as there are lots of great uses of these points. The redemption possibilities are endless, including for travel on carriers like Condor, Fiji Airways, Japan Airlines, Starlux Airlines, etc.
Ability to earn $99 companion fare annually
One incentive to actually put spending on the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card is that you can earn an annual $99 Alaska & Hawaiian companion fare when you spend at least $6,000 per anniversary year on the card, valid for flights within North America.
For many people, this could be well worth it, especially given the size of the Alaska and Hawaiian network in North America. This could save you hundreds of dollars on the cost of a ticket, and is one of the most flexible companion fares out there. Interestingly, this is a perk that isn’t available on the more premium version of the card, so it’s a reason that many people will continue to want to hold onto this card.
A lucrative rewards structure, up to 3x points
Atmos Rewards points can be hard to come by, as the program doesn’t partner with any major transferable points currencies, with the exception of Bilt Rewards. That’s why it’s worth noting the rewards structure of the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card.
The card offers 3x points on Alaska and Hawaiian purchases, and 2x points on gas, EV charging stations, local transit (including ride share), cable, and select streaming services. Keep in mind you can get even more value if you have an eligible Bank of America account, as you can receive a 10% relationship bonus in terms of the points earned.
This is a great way to generate Atmos Rewards points with your credit card spending.
Spend your way to Atmos Rewards elite status
The Atmos Rewards Ascent Card can help you earn elite status. You can earn one Atmos Rewards status point per $3 spent on the card, up to 30,000 status points for 2025. In 2026 and beyond, there’s no cap to how many status points you can earn with the card.
If you are going to get serious about earning elite status with Atmos Rewards, you’ll want to go for the more premium card, the Atmos Rewards Summit Card, which offers one status point per $2 spent, so that will rack up status points quite a bit faster.
Preferred boarding on Alaska flights
Those with the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card can receive preferred boarding for themselves and up to six companions on the same reservation when flying on Alaska. In order to use this perk, you need to charge the cost of the ticket to your card.
Preferred boarding can be valuable for ensuring that there’s overhead bin space for your carry-on bags, since that can otherwise be a challenge nowadays if you end up in one of the last boarding groups.
First checked bag free on Alaska & Hawaiian flights
Those with the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card can receive a free first checked bag on Alaska and Hawaiian flights. You must purchase the airfare with your card, and this also applies for up to six travelers on the same reservation. Alaska and Hawaiian ordinarily charge $35-40 for a checked bag, so the savings there are substantial.
20% back on Alaska & Hawaiian inflight purchases
The Atmos Rewards Ascent Card offers 20% savings on Alaska and Hawaiian inflight purchases, including for food, premium beverages, and Wi-Fi. If you fly Alaska or Hawaiian with any frequency, those savings can add up quickly.
Valuable authorized user perks
The Atmos Rewards Ascent Card allows you to add authorized users at no extra cost. Not only can the spending of authorized users help you accumulate more Atmos Rewards points (admittedly you have to foot the bill, though), but there are further perks that authorized users get.
Specifically, they receive the same preferred boarding, first checked bag free, and 20% savings on inflight purchases, as the primary cardmember. For example, it’s awesome to be able to add family, and have them get the same valuable perks that you get, even when they’re not flying with you.
Since a checked bag ordinarily costs $35 one-way, this benefit offers savings of up to $70 roundtrip per person, or potentially up to $490 per group roundtrip (if you were traveling with six companions).
Bottom line
The Atmos Rewards Ascent Card is currently offering a very nice limited time welcome bonus, which could earn you 80,000 Atmos Rewards points, plus a companion fare. Beyond that, the card offers significant value in the long run for those who fly Alaska or Hawaiian with any frequency. If you’re eligible for this card and haven’t yet applied, I’d consider doing so.
If you have the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card, what has your experience been with the card?
