Atmos Rewards Ascent Card Review: A Budget-Friendly Option for Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Loyalists

Atmos Rewards Ascent Card Benefits

Welcome Bonus

New cardholders can earn a valuable welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 120 days after account opening.

This is an excellent offer, especially considering the Companion Fare can be worth hundreds of dollars, depending on how you use it.

Generous Earning Rates

With this card, you’ll earn Atmos Rewards points, which you can redeem for travel on Alaska Airlines and its partners, including other Oneworld members such as American Airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific. Hawaiian Airlines’ loyalty program will merge into Atmos Rewards on Oct. 1, 2025.

The card earns at the following rates:

• 3x points on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases, including airfare and in-flight purchases
• 2x points at gas and EV charging stations
• 2x points on local transit
• 2x points on cable and select streaming services
• 1x points on all other purchases

Some airline credit cards only award bonus points on purchases made with the airline, so having the opportunity to earn extra rewards in useful bonus categories makes the card a decent option for everyday spending.

Free Checked Bags

As an Atmos Rewards Ascent cardholder, you’ll receive the first checked bag free on Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines flights for yourself and up to six companions on the same reservation. But to receive the benefit, you’ll need to use your card to pay for your ticket.

Alaska Airlines charges regular passengers $35 for the first checked bag, while Hawaiian charges $30 or $40 on domestic flights, depending on the route. This means you could save up to $80 per person on a round-trip itinerary, up to a maximum savings of $560 per round-trip if you have six companions on the same reservation.

For frequent travelers or families who take multiple trips per year, this benefit alone can easily justify the card’s annual fee.

Preferred Boarding

You’ll also receive preferred boarding for yourself and up to six companions on the same reservation when you use your Atmos Rewards Ascent Card to pay for your fare. However, this perk only applies to flights on Alaska Airlines and its subsidiaries, Horizon Air and SkyWest.

With this perk, you’ll get on the plane before general boarding but after elite status members, first and premium class passengers, and pre-boarding groups. Earlier boarding gives you extra time to find space in the overhead bin and get settled into your seat, which is especially handy for families.

Companion Fare With Annual Spending

If you diligently use your Atmos Rewards Ascent credit card to earn points on every purchase, you can earn your way to a Companion Fare after spending $6,000 on the card in a year (measured from your card anniversary).

This Companion Fare allows you to bring a travel buddy on a one-way or round-trip main cabin or saver fare on flights operated by Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines within North America for just $99, plus taxes and fees from $23. You’ll need to book your and your companion’s ticket with your card through AlaskaAir.com using the Companion Fare code you receive after your anniversary, and the code must be redeemed within 12 months of the date of issue.

This benefit is most valuable when you use it toward flights to expensive destinations like Hawaii, which can cost hundreds of dollars during peak times.

Earn Status Points From Spending

For every $3 you spend on your card, you’ll earn 1 status point toward Atmos Rewards elite status. In 2025, you can earn a maximum of 30,000 status points from spending, but starting in 2026 there’s no limit.

This perk could be the boost you need to reach the next status tier, although you’d have to be a very big spender to earn status exclusively from credit card spending. For reference, here are the Atmos Rewards elite tiers and annual status points requirements to earn them in 2025:

• Atmos Silver: 20,000 status points
• Atmos Gold: 40,000 status points
• Atmos Platinum: 75,000 status points
• Atmos Titanium: 100,000 status points

For example, if you spent $60,000 on your card in a year, you’d earn enough status points to qualify for Atmos Silver, the lowest elite tier in the program.

Lounge Membership Discount

When you use your card to pay for an Alaska Lounge+ membership, you’ll receive a $100 discount. Alaska Lounge+ members receive access to all Alaska lounges, plus The Plumeria Lounge in Honolulu (HNL) and nearly 90 partner lounges. As a member, you can bring along your immediate family (spouse/domestic partner and children under age 21) or up to two guests at no charge.

Alaska Lounge+ membership doesn’t come cheap; at $795 per year, it may only make sense for the most loyal Alaska flyers, even with the discount. Keep in mind, too, that to access Alaska lounges, you’ll need to have a same-day boarding pass for a flight on Alaska, Hawaiian, other Oneworld airlines, or with one of Alaska’s eligible partners. Access to The Plumeria Lounge is limited to those who are flying Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines that day.

In-Flight Purchase Discount

Use your Atmos Rewards Ascent Card to pay for in-flight purchases on Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines, and you’ll receive 20% back as a statement credit. On Alaska and Hawaiian, food and beverage purchases qualify, and Wi-Fi also qualifies on Alaska flights.

Bank of America Relationship Bonus

The Atmos Rewards Ascent is a Bank of America credit card. If you have a qualifying account with Bank of America or Merrill, such as a consumer checking, savings or investment account, you’ll receive a 10% bonus on the points earned with your card.

Atmos Rewards Ascent Card Drawbacks

Annual Fee

The Atmos Rewards Ascent Card has an annual fee of $95 that isn’t waived for first-year cardholders. While this amount isn’t unreasonable, it’s an added expense to factor into your budget, and may cost more than you want to spend if you don’t regularly fly with Alaska and Hawaiian or rarely check bags.

Limited Travel Reach

Atmos Rewards points can get you anywhere in the world if you book travel through Oneworld alliance partner airlines. However, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines themselves only operate in a relatively limited number of airports throughout the West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii and some popular destinations throughout the US, Caribbean, South Pacific and Asia. That said, Alaska recently announced that Rome, Italy (FCO) will be added as the airline’s first European destination in May 2026.

Most Benefits Are Limited to Alaska and Hawaiian

The free checked bag benefit only applies on flights operated by Hawaiian, Alaska or its partners such as Horizon Air and SkyWest, which may make this card less valuable if you frequently travel on other airlines. Similarly, preferred boarding is only available on Alaska, Horizon and SkyWest flights.

Annual Companion Fare Requires Spending

The Companion Fare offers a great deal of value, but only if you are able to earn this benefit by spending $6,000 a year on your card. It isn’t difficult to use the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card for everyday expenses like transit and gas in addition to flights, but some cardholders may prefer spending on credit cards that earn better returns on everyday expenses like groceries.

Who Is the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card Best For?

The Atmos Rewards Ascent Card is best for frequent Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines travelers, particularly those based in Alaska, Hawaii or on the West Coast. It’s an even better deal if you frequently fly with family or companions and can take advantage of perks like preferred boarding and free checked bags.

Cardholders who get the most value out of the card use it to pay for everyday expenses like gas or EV charging, cable, streaming services and local transit expenses in addition to flights on Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines.

The card’s most unique benefit is its Companion Fare, which allows you to bring a travel buddy on an eligible flight for just $99 (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $6,000 in a year.

Is It the Right Card for You?

The Atmos Rewards Ascent Card can be one of the best travel rewards credit cards for you if you travel with family or friends and can maximize its unique benefits.

• Helpful for couples, families and business partners: The card comes with generous benefits for preferred boarding and checked bags, plus the opportunity to earn discounted airfare for a travel companion after meeting an annual spending threshold.
• Great for frequent Alaska or Hawaiian flyers: Cardholders earn 3 points per dollar on Alaska and Hawaiian purchases.
• Solid everyday earning categories: Cardholders also earn 2 points per dollar on gas/EV charging, streaming services/cable and local transit expenses.
• Generous welcome bonus: New cardholders can earn after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 120 days after account opening.

Alternatives to the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card

If your travel needs and preferences aren’t fully met by the Atmos Rewards Ascent credit card, here are two alternative airline credit cards you may want to consider at a similar price point:

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® (an advertising partner): This card is ideal for travelers who prefer American Airlines or want more domestic and international travel options. Cardholders earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases. The card also offers a free first checked bag for you and up to four companions traveling on the same domestic American Airlines itinerary. The annual fee is $99, waived for first 12 months.
• The New United℠ Explorer Card: United Airlines is another mainstream carrier that offers broader reach than Alaska and Hawaiian’s limited network, making it ideal for travelers who need extensive domestic and international route options. This card also offers a free first checked bag and priority boarding on United flights, along with two United Club one-time passes each year and more than $400 in combined annual credits toward rideshares, select hotels booked through United and more. There’s a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150.