Augusta Stone is a credit cards writer for TPG. She joined the TPG team in 2023 and is excited to take points and miles beginners with her on a journey toward maximizing rewards.
Olivia Mittak is a credit cards editor at TPG. She specializes in maximizing earn for points and miles, finding the best welcome bonuses and choosing the right credit cards for your wallet.
also contributed to this story
September 13, 2026 • 9 min read
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Quick summary
The article compares the best credit cards for booking Alaska Airlines flights, focusing on maximizing rewards and accessing airline-specific perks.
Co-branded cards tied to Alaska Airlines and its loyalty program offer benefits like free checked bags, preferred boarding and companion fares.
Transferable rewards cards may provide higher earning potential at airlines and broader travel protections but lack Alaska-specific perks.
Choosing the right card depends on whether you value airline benefits or prefer flexible rewards for broader travel needs.
What to consider
Co-branded cards require you to pay with the card to access perks such as free checked bags and boarding privileges.
Some cards offer annual travel credits that can offset eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, but these may require booking through specific travel portals.
Elite status with Alaska or Oneworld carriers can provide similar benefits, making airline-specific card perks less valuable for some travelers.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of card perks, including which options best fit different types of Alaska Airlines travelers.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
If you're about to book an Alaska Airlines flight, you may be wondering which credit card will help you earn the most rewards and enjoy benefits like free checked bags.
Alaska Airlines is part of the Atmos Rewards loyalty program, along with Hawaiian Airlines. It offers three Bank of America credit cards — two personal cards and one business card. And right now, these cards are offering elevated bonuses:
: Earn up to 80,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare: Earn 60,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days from account opening. Earn an additional 20,000 bonus points after spending a total of $5,000 on purchases, also in the first 90 days from account opening. Based on TPG's September 2026 valuations, the points-only part of this offer is worth up to $1,240.
: Earn 100,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. This bonus is worth $1,938 when you include the value of the 25,000-point Global Companion Award, according to TPG's valuations.
: Earn 70,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. The points in this bonus are worth $1,085, per TPG's valuations.
Even though these current offers are substantial, the cobranded cards aren't your only options. In fact, other transferable rewards cards can provide strong earning rates on Alaska Airlines flights and may be a better fit if you don't need airline-specific benefits.
We've compiled a list of the best credit cards to use for booking Alaska flights.
Here's a breakdown of the top options.
Comparing the best credit cards for Alaska Airlines flights
The right card depends on whether you prioritize Alaska-specific benefits or earning flexible rewards.
Card name
Earning rate on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights
Best for
($95 annual fee)
3 points per dollar spent
Best for Alaska perks for a low annual fee
($395 annual fee)
3 points per dollar spent
Best for frequent Alaska flyers who can maximize premium perks
($70 annual fee for the company and $25 each year for each card issued)
3 points per dollar spent
Best for small businesses that frequently fly Alaska
2 miles per dollar spent (or 5 miles per dollar spent if booked in the Capital One Travel portal)
Best for simple transferable rewards and premium travel perks
The information for the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite and Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
What benefits do these cards offer on Alaska Airlines flights?
The biggest difference comes down to the type of card you carry: Co-branded cards offer benefits specifically for Alaska and Hawaiian flyers, while transferable-rewards cards prioritize flexibility.
Atmos and Hawaiian Airlines card benefits
If perks like free checked bags, preferred boarding and companion benefits matter to you, the Atmos and Hawaiian Airlines cards have the advantage.
Card
Alaska- and Hawaiian-related benefits from the card
Atmos Ascent
Annual Companion Fare ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $6,000 on purchases within the prior anniversary year
First checked bag free for you and up to six companions on the same reservation*
Preferred boarding for Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines*
20% back on inflight purchases*
$100 off an Alaska Lounge+ membership
Atmos Summit
Annual Global Companion Award with the ability to earn another after meeting a spending requirement
Eight annual Alaska Lounge passes and eight annual Wi-Fi passes (two of each per quarter)
First checked bag free for you and up to six companions on the same reservation*
Preferred boarding for Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines*
20% back on inflight purchases*
Atmos Business
Annual Companion Fare ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $6,000 on purchases within the prior anniversary year
First checked bag free for you and up to six companions on the same reservation*
Preferred boarding for Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines*
20% back on inflight purchases*
$100 off an Alaska Lounge+ membership
Hawaiian World Elite
One-time 50%-off companion discount
Two free checked bags*
Hawaiian Business
One-time 50%-off companion discount
*Must pay with the card to receive benefits.
Transferable-rewards card benefits
Transferable-rewards cards generally don't offer the same airline-specific perks, but some include travel credits that can help offset eligible Alaska or Hawaiian purchases.
Card
Relevant Benefits
Amex Platinum
You can choose Alaska Airlines as your preferred airline to cover up to $200 per calendar year in airline incidental statement credits for things like checked baggage or preferred-seat fees (enrollment required)
Chase Sapphire Reserve
You can use your $300 in annual travel credits offered on the card toward eligible Alaska or Hawaiian travel purchases
Citi Strata Premier
No Alaska-specific benefits
Capital One Venture X Rewards
You can apply your $300 annual travel credit toward eligible Alaska or Hawaiian flights booked through the Capital One Travel portal.
Should I choose an Atmos card or a transferable rewards card?
If bonus perks are what you're looking for, the Atmos Rewards cobranded cards are your best bet. This is because you'll receive a free checked bag, preferred boarding and a discount on inflight purchases when flying with Alaska and using one of these cards.
Note that you also get two free checked bags on Alaska flights when using the personal Hawaiian Airlines card.
Now, if you never check a bag with Alaska and don't prioritize priority boarding, you'll generally earn more rewards with a transferable rewards card that earns bonus points on airfare.
ALASKA AIRLINES
The same sentiment holds true if you hold elite status on Alaska, American Airlines or another Oneworld carrier. With elite status, you'll receive free checked bags and priority boarding (along with other perks, depending on your tier of status), regardless of the card you buy your ticket with.
For example, the earns 4 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with an airline. Cards that earn transferable points may also offer more comprehensive travel protections than Atmos Rewards cards.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether you value Alaska-specific perks or flexible rewards more.
For Alaska flyers who regularly check bags and value airline-specific perks, an Atmos Rewards card will often provide the most immediate value. The Ascent offers many of those benefits for a lower annual fee, while the Summit provides a more premium set of perks for frequent flyers.
But if you already receive those benefits through elite status or care more about earning transferable rewards, one of the other cards in this comparison may be a better fit.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
