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Alaska Airlines has some pretty valuable airline points and a bunch of low-cost redemptions on flights with Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Oneworld alliance airlines and other partners. But because Alaska's loyalty program, Atmos Rewards, is only a transfer partner of one major transferable currency (Bilt Rewards), it's not super easy to transfer points to Alaska Airlines.
Travelers who want to earn Atmos points through credit card spending have three different co-branded credit card options: two consumer cards and one business card.
Let’s compare the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card, Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card and the Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business card across welcome bonuses, annual fees and provided benefits.
» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now
A closer look at Alaska credit card offers
Annual fee
The Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card is the most expensive card in the airline's portfolio with a $395 annual fee, and the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card charges a $95 annual fee.
The Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business card operates a little differently. Its base annual fee is $70 for the company and $25 per card. This means that if you've got just one card, you'll pay $95 per year. However, if you end up with a few of these for your employees, you may need to pay substantially more.
Welcome bonus
Sign-up bonuses change, but generally, you'll get a higher sign-up bonus on the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card than its lower-annual-fee siblings. Right now, you can earn this sign-up bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award with this offer. To qualify, spend $4,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Here's what the other two cards are offering:
The Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card is offering: Get 70,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, spend $3,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Meanwhile, the Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business card is offering: Get 70,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $4,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Earning structure
All three Atmos cards earn 3 Atmos points per dollar spent on all Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines purchases, including airfare.
But the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card and Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business card have additional spending categories that the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card doesn't.
Eligible spending on gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services and local transit (including rideshares) using the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card earns 2 points per dollar. The business card also offers 2 points per dollar on on eligible gas, EV charging station, shipping and local transit including rideshare purchases.
All other purchases will earn 1 point per dollar spent.
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🤓 Nerdy Tip
It's relatively simple to qualify for a business credit card. If you walk dogs on the side, sell things occasionally on eBay or enjoy house sitting for folks, you may be eligible for one of these cards. Annual companion pass
The Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card comes with an annual 25,000-point Global Companion Award for a travel companion on the same itinerary when you book travel using rewards. After spending $60,000 or more in an anniversary year, you'll receive an additional 100,000-point companion award.
The Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card and the Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business card also come with a companion pass, but it works a little differently. Instead of purchasing two reward flights for the price of one, you'll get a discounted ticket for a guest of your choice. It can cost as little as $122 for a flight: $99 for the fare, plus taxes and fees starting at $23. Keep in mind that these taxes can change depending on where you're going, so you may end up paying more than $122.
These companion fares are awarded to you each year on your account anniversary. Existing Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card cardholders prior to Jan. 18, 2023, still earn a Companion Fare regardless of spend, whereas new cardholders must meet a $6,000 minimum spend annually to be eligible for the perk.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
The Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card also comes with a couple of benefits the lower-annual-fee cards don't: Cardholders receive a $50 voucher for Alaska Airlines flight cancellations or delays over two hours. You can also cover the cost of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry when you pay for it with your card. Free checked bag
Alaska charges $35 for your first checked bag on a flight. On a round-trip booking, this comes to $70 worth of fees you'll need to pay.
However, the personal and business versions of Alaska's credit cards offer a free checked bag for you and up to six guests traveling on the same reservation on an Alaska-operated or Hawaiian Airlines-operated flight, saving you and your traveling party money.
Access to Alaska lounges
Alaska Airlines has several lounge locations spread across the continental U.S. You can purchase a day pass for $65 per person to access these lounges.
But the airline's credit cards can help you save money on your day pass. The Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card comes with eight free day passes to Alaska lounges, while the other two cards give you a $100 discount on an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership, which includes access to not only Alaska lounges and Hawaiian Airlines' Plumeria Lounge, but also nearly 90 partner lounges.
» Learn more: What to know about Alaska Airlines lounges
In-flight purchase discount
If you're someone who enjoys a nice drink in economy, all of the Alaska credit cards may be a good option for you. This is because both cards provide a 20% discount on all in-flight purchases that you make.
» Learn more: What's the value of Atmos points?
Which airlines are partnered with Alaska Airlines?
Alaska has forged various lucrative airline partnerships, both within and outside of the Oneworld alliance. Now, Alaska flyers have even more choices regarding earning and redeeming their points.
Alaska Airlines transfer partners
- Aleutian Airways (earn miles only).
- Aer Lingus.
- Air Tahiti Nui.
- American Airlines.
- Bahamasair (earn miles only).
- British Airways.
- Cape Air (earn miles only).
- Cathay Pacific.
- Condor.
- Contour Airlines (earn miles only).
- Fiji Airways.
- Finnair.
- Hainan Airlines.
- Iberia.
- Icelandair.
- Japan Airlines.
- Kenmore Air (earn miles only).
- Korean Air.
- LATAM Airlines.
- Malaysia Airlines.
- Mokulele Airlines (earn miles only).
- Oman Air.
- Porter Airlines.
- Qantas.
- Qatar Airways.
- Royal Air Maroc.
- Royal Jordanian.
- Singapore Airlines.
- Southern Airways Express (earn miles only).
- SriLankan Airlines.
- Starlux Airlines.
As you can see, you'll find representation here from all Oneworld members, in addition to a few non-affiliated airlines and even options from Star Alliance.
Be aware that Alaska has some limited contact with these airlines; you'll want to double-check that you can both earn and redeem Atmos points for flights before booking.
» Learn more: Award sweet spots using Atmos points
Choose the best Alaska credit card offer for you
Alaska has three co-branded credit cards. But it shouldn't be too difficult to pick which one's the best for you. Hardcore Alaska loyalists could do well with the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card, while casual fliers who still want some Alaska benefits should consider the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card or Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business card.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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