The Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Credit Card is an entry-level card possibility within the Atmos Rewards ecosystem.
The cardboard earns precious Atmos Rewards factors that can be utilized to e-book free flights with Alaska Airways, Hawaiian Airways and different Oneworld companions, comparable to American Airways, Japan Airways and Qantas. This card packs a punch and gives strong perks when flying with both airline, together with a free checked bag and preferred boarding.
Even if you happen to do not regularly fly on Alaska or Hawaiian, there are many reasons for award-savvy vacationers to contemplate including this cobranded card to their wallets. Card score*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
Atmos Rewards Ascent: The fundamentals
The Atmos Rewards Ascent is a cobranded airline card inside Atmos Rewards, the joint loyalty program between Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways.
For a $95 annual charge, the cardboard earns precious Atmos Rewards factors and offers just a few added advantages.
A few of the finest methods to maximise these factors embrace redeeming for premium cabins with Oneworld companions, comparable to Cathay Pacific or Fiji Airways. Nevertheless, Atmos Rewards factors are additionally strong for short-haul home routes on Alaska Airways or American Airways.
One of many card’s standout perks is its annual $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and costs from $23), which is earned upon every account anniversary so long as you’ve got spent $6,000 or extra inside the prior anniversary 12 months.
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Typically, it is a strong possibility for Alaska or Hawaiian frequent flyers, due to the perks they’ll take pleasure in when flying with both airline, comparable to free checked baggage and most popular boarding.
Nevertheless, if you happen to’re searching for extra premium perks, comparable to lounge access, this card will not meet your wants.
Associated: Which credit card should you use for Alaska Airlines flights?
Atmos Rewards Ascent execs and cons
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Atmos Rewards Ascent advantages
The Atmos Rewards Ascent gives fewer added advantages in comparison with different cobranded airline playing cards. Nevertheless, for a $95 annual charge, you may nonetheless count on just a few perks.
Perks when flying Alaska Airways or Hawaiian Airways
Cardholders obtain one piece of free checked luggage for themselves and as much as six different passengers on the identical reservation when flying Alaska or Hawaiian and paying with the Atmos Rewards Ascent. This protects $35 per individual every means for checked baggage, which is a big financial savings if you happen to plan to fly with both airline regularly.
Cardholders additionally get most popular boarding on Alaska and Hawaiian, they usually’ll obtain 20% again on Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways inflight purchases after they use the cardboard.
For those who’re working towards Atmos Rewards status, you may earn through the use of the cardboard. You possibly can count on to earn 1 standing level for each $3 spent (as much as a most of 30,000 factors per 12 months by way of the tip of 2025). From 2026, there is no cap on standing factors you may earn by way of spending.
Companion Fare
As talked about above, among the finest advantages of the Atmos Rewards Ascent is the $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and costs from $23). This may be unlocked after spending $6,000 or extra on the cardboard inside the prior anniversary 12 months.
You may get value from this perk so long as you fly Alaska Airways with a good friend or member of the family on paid fares a minimum of every year.
Carly Helfand, TPG’s director of factors, miles and bank card content material, used the Ascent’s Companion Fare to take a last-minute journey to Chicago along with her husband. The round-trip flights from Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) to Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD) value $542.60 per individual, however she paid $679.63 for each tickets with the Companion Fare.
Alaska Lounge+ membership low cost
Whereas the Atmos Rewards Ascent does not present outright lounge entry, you may get $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership if you pay with this card. A membership prices $795 per 12 months.
This profit alone offsets the cardboard’s $95 annual charge. Nevertheless, given how costly membership is, this perk is not as helpful except you have been already going to pay for an Alaska Lounge+ membership.
Different concerns
It is value noting that this card does not present fundamental journey protections comparable to baggage delay insurance, lost luggage insurance, purchase protection and trip cancellation/interruption coverage. If these perks are essential to you, chances are you’ll wish to think about another possibility.
Lastly, it is a good card to take overseas because it does not cost international transaction charges.
Associated: The 4 best airline credit cards with annual fees under $100
Easy methods to earn and use Atmos Rewards factors
The Atmos Rewards Ascent earns Atmos Rewards factors on purchases. These factors are sometimes finest used for flight purchases. Let’s dive into what to know.
Incomes Atmos Rewards factors
With this card, you will earn:
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways purchases
- 2 factors per greenback spent on cable, at electrical car charging and gasoline stations, on native transit and ride-hailing providers, and on choose streaming providers
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases
Plus, cardholders with an eligible Financial institution of America account may even obtain a ten% bonus on all factors earned.
TPG’s December 2025 valuations estimate Atmos Rewards factors are value 1.45 cents apiece.
This card will not be the best choice for spending classes outdoors of Alaska and Hawaiian purchases. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re all-in on incomes Atmos Rewards factors, swiping this card turns into extra engaging.
Redeeming Atmos Rewards factors
Atmos Rewards offers stellar redemption charges on home journey. Quick-haul economic system tickets begin at simply 4,500 factors one-way.
Certainly one of my favourite methods to redeem Atmos Rewards factors is to book short-haul American Airlines flights, comparable to Charlotte Douglas Worldwide Airport (CLT) to Louisville Muhammad Ali Worldwide Airport (SDF) in Kentucky, at this 4,500 factors fee.
It is nonetheless a very good element to redeem for longer home flights, as a flight from Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) to New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) would value simply 12,500 factors for a one-way economic system ticket.
Premium cabins can begin as little as 15,000 factors one-way on shorter flights and 30,000 factors on longer U.S. routes. For journeys to Hawaii, these awards usually begin at 15,000 factors every means in economic system and 40,000 factors every means in top quality.
Atmos Rewards is a part of the Oneworld alliance, which implies you may e-book companion flights with airways comparable to British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas.
TPG Director of Journey Content material Eric Rosen‘s favourite methods to maximise Atmos Rewards redemptions embrace reserving Cathay Pacific or Japan Airways enterprise class from the U.S. to Asia for 75,000 factors one-way and Fiji Airways enterprise class from the U.S. to Fiji for 75,000 factors one-way.
Associated: 10 best ways to redeem 100,000 Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points
The place the Atmos Rewards Ascent falls quick
Whereas there are a number of execs to holding the $95-annual-fee Atmos Rewards Ascent, there are a few the reason why chances are you’ll not wish to apply.
- The cardboard doesn’t embrace travel protections.
- The cardboard’s incomes charges aren’t exceptionally excessive, and plenty of different journey playing cards present a greater return to your spending.
- It’s important to spend $6,000 on the cardboard in an account anniversary 12 months to earn the Companion Fare.
- You could fly on Alaska Airways or Hawaiian Airways to obtain a free checked bag or most popular boarding.
Atmos Rewards Ascent vs. Atmos Rewards Summit
If you’re able to go all-in on Atmos Rewards, think about its premium sibling: the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card.
For the next $395 annual charge, the cardboard offers Alaska Lounge passes, a 25,000-point World Companion Award yearly and a excessive incomes fee on international purchases.
Associated: How to reach Alaska Airlines elite status with just 1 card
Is the Atmos Rewards Ascent value it?
The Atmos Rewards Ascent is a good way to gather precious Atmos Rewards factors. For those who worth that forex extremely, this card is a unbelievable place to begin.
Nevertheless, if you happen to discover the incomes charges restrictive and the advantages underwhelming, another choice could also be your best option.
Associated: Atmos Rewards Ascent vs. Business: Which $95 Alaska-Hawaiian card should you get?
When to use for the Atmos Rewards Ascent
New Atmos Rewards Ascent cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus factors and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and costs from $23) after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days from account opening, plus obtain a 30% international flight low cost code for a qualifying future flight after opening their new account.
TPG’s valuations deem the factors on this provide to be value $870.
This card’s offer history is restricted, as we have solely seen this bonus and its launch bonus. However with that in thoughts, we usually advocate making use of when the bonus offers greater than 60,000 factors and features a Companion Fare.
Associated: Last-minute strategies for earning Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards elite status
Different playing cards to contemplate if you don’t need the Atmos Rewards Ascent
For those who aren’t sure concerning the Atmos Rewards Ascent, listed below are some alternate options value contemplating:
For extra choices, try our full record of the best travel credit cards.
Backside line
Atmos Rewards factors you will earn on the Atmos Rewards Ascent unlock unbelievable redemption charges on home flights, in addition to worldwide routes by way of its Oneworld companions.
Award-savvy vacationers know you do not have to be an Alaska Airways or Hawaiian Airways loyalist to benefit from the rewards you earn with this card. Nevertheless, a few of the card’s perks could go unused if you happen to do not a minimum of sometimes fly with one among its main airways.
Think about what issues most to you in alternate for a $95 annual charge, and you will be in your technique to hitting the skies.
Apply right here: Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature Credit Card
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