Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature card review: Earn valuable airline points
Editor's Note
Quick summary
Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature Credit Card overview
The Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Credit Card is one of the best cards for earning Atmos Rewards points. These points are valuable since you can use them to book flights on Oneworld partner airlines, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines and Qantas. You'll also get a free checked bag with Alaska and Hawaiian if you use the card to pay for your flight. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The combined Alaska-Hawaiian loyalty program called Atmos Rewards has launched. With it comes a rebranding of this card and the business card as well as the launch of a new premium card. Applying for one of the Atmos cards is your main option for easily earning a big chunk of Atmos Rewards points.
Previously known as the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® (no longer available), the Atmos Rewards Ascent is the entry-level Atmos Rewards card.
These points can be hard to earn given that they only partner with two rewards currencies — just Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards. Therefore, if you're loyal to Alaska-Hawaiian or you have a good reason to accrue Atmos Rewards points for travel on their partners, this card is worth considering.
The recommended credit score for this product is 670 or above, and it has a $95 annual fee.
So, let's see if this card is a good fit for you.
The information for the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Atmos Rewards Ascent pros and cons
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Atmos Rewards Ascent welcome offer
New applicants for the Atmos Rewards Ascent can earn 80,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $4,000 or more on purchases within the first 120 days from account opening.
TPG's August 2025 valuations deem this offer to be worth $1,160 in points (if Atmos Rewards points hold the same value as Alaska miles) plus the value of the Companion Fare.
This is one of the best offers that the Atmos Rewards Ascent has ever had, so we recommend applying now if this card is on your radar and you know you can take advantage of that companion certificate.
Atmos Rewards Ascent benefits
The Atmos Rewards Ascent offers several benefits that make it a great choice if you frequently fly Alaska or Hawaiian. With a $95 annual fee, this card provides elitelike perks.
You'll get one piece of free checked luggage for yourself and up to six other passengers on the same reservation when flying Alaska or Hawaiian and paying with the card, saving $35 per person each way on checked bags.
You'll also get preferred boarding on Alaska (available now) and Hawaiian (coming this fall).
Suppose you fly Alaska with a friend or family member on paid fares at least once a year. In that case, this card's most lucrative ongoing benefit is likely to be the annual $99 companion fare (plus taxes and fees from $23), which you'll earn every year on your account anniversary if you've spent $6,000 or more within the prior anniversary year — though you'll also get one as part of the current welcome bonus.
Related: How to save hundreds on flights with the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare
You'll earn 1 status point (formerly elite qualifying miles) per $3 spent, up to 30,000 points per year (through end of 2025) and then no cap from 2026.
You can also receive 20% back on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines inflight purchases.
In addition, you can get $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership when you pay with this card. Alaska lounges are some of the best domestic lounges and are known for their fluffy and golden brown pancakes.
This card also has no foreign transaction fees, so you can use the card anywhere around the globe without incurring extra charges.
Earning points on the Atmos Rewards Ascent
With the Atmos Rewards Ascent, you'll earn:
- 3 points per dollar on eligible Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- 2 points per dollar at electric vehicle charging and gas stations, on local transit, and with cable, ride-hailing and select streaming services
- 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases
According to TPG's August 2025 valuations, this is a 4.4%, 2.9% and 1.5% return on spending, respectively.
In addition, if you have an eligible Bank of America account, you'll enjoy a 10% bonus on all points earned — boosting your effective earning rates on these purchases even higher.
If you frequently travel on Alaska or Hawaiian for work or pleasure and want to build up your points balance, this card is an obvious choice for airfare purchases.
You should likely use another travel credit card for non-flight purchases since you can do better than the card's earning rates on all other purchases.
However, if you really want to rack up Atmos Rewards points for partner award flights, then that advice may not apply since Atmos Rewards points are valuable and challenging to get otherwise without flying Alaska or Hawaiian.
Related: Capitalize on the Alaska-Hawaiian merger
Redeeming points on the Atmos Rewards Ascent
Short-haul awards (such as Seattle to San Francisco) start at just 4,500 Atmos Rewards points each way. Many longer flights (such as Seattle to New York City) are 12,500 points in economy.
If you want first class, it's often 30,000 points on longer domestic flights but can start as low as 15,000 points each way on shorter flights. If you want to head to Hawaii, those awards start at 15,000 points each way in economy and 40,000 each way in first class.
Atmos' partners will also cover your travels across much of the globe. Those partners include British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas. You can build some great itineraries by taking advantage of Alaska's allowance of one free stopover on one-way award tickets.
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 from 75,000 points one-way and Fiji Airways from the U.S. to Fiji one-way in business class from 75,000 points.
You could even fly to Australia on Fiji Airways and add in a free stopover in Fiji for the same 75,000 points in business class. But you don't have to lap the planet to maximize Atmos points. Booking awards around the U.S. and Canada from just 10,000 points each way is also a pretty great deal.
Which cards compete with the Atmos Rewards Ascent?
The biggest drawback of the Atmos Rewards Ascent is that the points are locked into a specific airline loyalty program. Here are some alternatives (including the program's premium card):
- If you want Alaska lounge access and premium perks: Choose the new Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card. For a higher $395 annual fee, you'll get Alaska lounge passes, a 25,000-point Global Companion Award every year and unrivaled earnings on foreign purchases. To learn more, read our full review of the Atmos Rewards Summit.
- 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℠ (see your rewards program agreement for full details). 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.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel credit cards.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Is the Atmos Rewards Ascent worth it?
The Atmos Rewards Ascent is a great choice if you're an Alaska or Hawaiian loyalist or want to diversify your points and miles portfolio with valuable Atmos Rewards points. Thanks to a decent earning rate for Alaska and Hawaiian purchases and the valuable annual companion ticket, the card's low $95 annual fee pales in comparison to the benefits.
Bottom line
If you're a dedicated Alaska or Hawaiian customer or are looking to broaden your points and miles collection, the Atmos Rewards Ascent is an excellent option. Even those who don't frequently fly the airlines or its partners can get solid value from the annual companion ticket, which is why we definitely recommend considering this card.
Apply here: Atmos Rewards Ascent