Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature review: Valuable points and solid perks for Alaska and Hawaiian flyers
Editor's Note
The Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Credit Card is an entry-level card option in the Atmos Rewards ecosystem.
The card earns valuable Atmos Rewards points that can be used to book free flights with Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and other Oneworld partners, such as American Airlines, Japan Airlines and Qantas. This card packs a punch and offers solid perks when flying with either airline, including a free checked bag and preferred boarding.
Even if you don't frequently fly on Alaska or Hawaiian, there are many reasons for award-savvy travelers to consider adding this cobranded card to their wallets. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Atmos Rewards Ascent: The basics
The Atmos Rewards Ascent is a cobranded airline card within Atmos Rewards, the joint loyalty program between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.
For a $95 annual fee, the card earns valuable Atmos Rewards points and provides a few added benefits.
Some of the best ways to maximize these points include redeeming for premium cabins with Oneworld partners, such as Cathay Pacific or Fiji Airways. However, Atmos Rewards points are also solid for short-haul domestic routes on Alaska Airlines or American Airlines.
One of the card's standout perks is its annual $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23), which is earned upon each account anniversary as long as you've spent $6,000 or more within the prior anniversary year.
Generally, it's a solid option for Alaska or Hawaiian frequent flyers, thanks to the perks they can enjoy when flying with either airline, such as free checked bags and preferred boarding.
However, if you're looking for more premium perks, such as lounge access, this card won't meet your needs.
Related: Which credit card should you use for Alaska Airlines flights?
Atmos Rewards Ascent pros and cons
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Atmos Rewards Ascent benefits
The Atmos Rewards Ascent offers fewer added benefits compared to other cobranded airline cards. However, for a $95 annual fee, you can still expect a few perks.
Perks when flying Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines
Cardholders receive one piece of free checked luggage for themselves and up to six other passengers on the same reservation when flying Alaska or Hawaiian and paying with the Atmos Rewards Ascent. This saves $35 per person each way for checked bags, which is a significant savings if you plan to fly with either airline frequently.
Cardholders also get preferred boarding on Alaska and Hawaiian, and they'll receive 20% back on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines inflight purchases when they use the card.
If you're working toward Atmos Rewards status, you can earn by using the card. You can expect to earn 1 status point for every $3 spent (up to a maximum of 30,000 points per year through the end of 2025). From 2026, there's no cap on status points you can earn through spending.
Companion Fare
As mentioned above, one of the best benefits of the Atmos Rewards Ascent is the $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23). This can be unlocked after spending $6,000 or more on the card within the prior anniversary year.
You'll get value from this perk as long as you fly Alaska Airlines with a friend or family member on paid fares at least once a year.
Carly Helfand, TPG's director of points, miles and credit card content, used the Ascent's Companion Fare to take a last-minute trip to Chicago with her husband. The round-trip flights from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) cost $542.60 per person, but she paid $679.63 for both tickets with the Companion Fare.
Alaska Lounge+ membership discount
While the Atmos Rewards Ascent doesn't provide outright lounge access, you can get $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership when you pay with this card. A membership costs $795 per year.
This benefit alone offsets the card's $95 annual fee. However, given how expensive membership is, this perk isn't as useful unless you were already going to pay for an Alaska Lounge+ membership.
Other considerations
It's worth noting that this card doesn't provide basic travel protections such as baggage delay insurance, lost luggage insurance, purchase protection and trip cancellation/interruption coverage. If these perks are important to you, you may want to consider an alternative option.
Finally, this is a good card to take abroad since it doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
Related: The 4 best airline credit cards with annual fees under $100
How to earn and use Atmos Rewards points
The Atmos Rewards Ascent earns Atmos Rewards points on purchases. These points are often best used for flight purchases. Let's dive into what to know.
Earning Atmos Rewards points
With this card, you'll earn:
- 3 points per dollar spent on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- 2 points per dollar spent on cable, at electric vehicle charging and gas stations, on local transit and ride-hailing services, and on select streaming services
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
Plus, cardholders with an eligible Bank of America account will also receive a 10% bonus on all points earned.
TPG's December 2025 valuations estimate Atmos Rewards points are worth 1.45 cents apiece.
This card may not be the best option for spending categories outside of Alaska and Hawaiian purchases. However, if you're all-in on earning Atmos Rewards points, swiping this card becomes more attractive.
Redeeming Atmos Rewards points
Atmos Rewards provides stellar redemption rates on domestic travel. Short-haul economy tickets start at just 4,500 points one-way.
One of my favorite ways to redeem Atmos Rewards points is to book short-haul American Airlines flights, such as Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in Kentucky, at this 4,500 points rate.
It's still a good detail to redeem for longer domestic flights, as a flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) would cost just 12,500 points for a one-way economy ticket.
Premium cabins can start as low as 15,000 points one-way on shorter flights and 30,000 points on longer U.S. routes. For trips to Hawaii, those awards typically start at 15,000 points each way in economy and 40,000 points each way in first class.
Atmos Rewards is part of the Oneworld alliance, which means you can book partner flights with airlines such as British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas.
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 for 75,000 points one-way and Fiji Airways business class from the U.S. to Fiji for 75,000 points one-way.
Related: 10 best ways to redeem 100,000 Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points
Where the Atmos Rewards Ascent falls short
While there are multiple pros to holding the $95-annual-fee Atmos Rewards Ascent, there are a couple of reasons why you may not want to apply.
- The card does not include travel protections.
- The card's earning rates aren't exceptionally high, and many other travel cards provide a better return for your spending.
- You have to spend $6,000 on the card in an account anniversary year to earn the Companion Fare.
- You must fly on Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines to receive a free checked bag or preferred boarding.
Atmos Rewards Ascent vs. Atmos Rewards Summit
If you are ready to go all-in on Atmos Rewards, consider its premium sibling: the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card.
For a higher $395 annual fee, the card provides Alaska Lounge passes, a 25,000-point Global Companion Award every year and a high earning rate on foreign purchases.
Related: How to reach Alaska Airlines elite status with just 1 card
Is the Atmos Rewards Ascent worth it?
The Atmos Rewards Ascent is a great way to collect valuable Atmos Rewards points. If you value that currency highly, this card is a fantastic starting point.
However, if you find the earning rates restrictive and the benefits underwhelming, another option may be the best choice.
Related: Atmos Rewards Ascent vs. Business: Which $95 Alaska-Hawaiian card should you get?
When to apply for the Atmos Rewards Ascent
New Atmos Rewards Ascent cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening, plus receive a 30% global flight discount code for a qualifying future flight after opening their new account.
TPG's valuations deem the points in this offer to be worth $870.
This card's offer history is limited, as we've only seen this bonus and its launch bonus. But with that in mind, we generally recommend applying when the bonus provides more than 60,000 points and includes a Companion Fare.
Related: Last-minute strategies for earning Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards elite status
Other cards to consider if you don't want the Atmos Rewards Ascent
If you aren't certain about the Atmos Rewards Ascent, here are some alternatives worth considering:
- 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.
- If you'd consider a business card: The Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card has comparable benefits to the Atmos Rewards Ascent and is a solid option for business owners who frequently fly Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines. To learn more, read our full review of the Atmos Rewards Business.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel credit cards.
Bottom line
Atmos Rewards points you'll earn on the Atmos Rewards Ascent unlock fantastic redemption rates on domestic flights, as well as international routes through its Oneworld partners.
Award-savvy travelers know you don't have to be an Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines loyalist to enjoy the rewards you earn with this card. However, some of the card's perks may go unused if you don't at least occasionally fly with one of its primary airlines.
Consider what matters most to you in exchange for a $95 annual fee, and you'll be on your way to hitting the skies.
Apply here: Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature Credit Card