I’ve never flown Alaska Airlines before — here’s why I want their new premium credit card
I've never flown Alaska Airlines, and I don't live in a city where the airline currently operates.
Yet the new Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card has jumped to the top of my rewards wish list even though I have no plans to step on an Alaska Airlines jet.
It's one of the most exciting new premium rewards cards I've seen launch this year. Here's why.
Why this Alaska Airlines card caught my eye
It's not every day that a new premium airline credit card enters the market.
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines recently launched their new combined loyalty program, Atmos Rewards, to much fanfare. They also announced a new credit card with unique rewards and benefits that have piqued my interest.
Huge, multi-feature welcome offer
The welcome offer of the Atmos Rewards Summit Card is the first head‑turner. You can earn 80,000 bonus points and a 25,000‑point Global Companion Award after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening.
TPG values Atmos Rewards points at 1.5 cents each in our October 2025 valuations, making the 80,000 points alone worth $1,200 before factoring in the Global Companion Award.
The card's annual fee is $395, which is comparable to other airlines' premium consumer cards and much lower than some premium travel card refreshes that have also been announced recently.
While large welcome bonuses on airline credit cards are not unusual, this card offers a generous haul of one of the most valuable airline currencies you can collect, as well as the new and intriguing Global Companion Award.
Related: Who's eligible for the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card?
Uniquely generous earning rates
This card has the following earning rates:
- 3 points per dollar spent on eligible dining, foreign, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
When I first read the earning structure and saw 3 points on dining and direct airline purchases, this seemed like a pretty standard airline credit card.
But I did a double-take when I saw the card also offered 3 points per dollar on foreign purchases.
That's not just foreign dining purchases or foreign spending with select airlines; it's 3 points per dollar on every purchase, regardless of category, made in a foreign currency (or dollars if the transaction is made or processed outside the U.S.).
If you frequently travel outside the U.S., like I do, that multiplier can become your most valuable everyday earning rate on a travel card.
This almost sounds too good to be true. I can't think of any other card that offers such a high points earning rate on all foreign purchases.
Industry-leading redemption rates
I haven't been a member of the Atmos Rewards loyalty program (or its predecessor, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan) in the past because I've never visited Alaska or set foot on an Alaska Airlines aircraft.
Historically, the currency has proved difficult to earn since it isn't a transfer partner of most major credit card currencies, Bilt Rewards being the exception. (Note that the American Express loophole via Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles has now closed.)
But I have longed for a healthy balance of Atmos Rewards points because of how low the starting redemption rates are, including from:
- 4,500 points: Fly American Airlines on routes up to 700 miles.
- 10,000 points: Fly Hawaiian Airlines from the West Coast to Hawaii in economy class.
- 45,000 points: Aer Lingus business-class seats to Ireland — an incredible value for a transatlantic lie-flat experience.
- 75,000 points: Book Japan Airlines business class from the West Coast to Japan.
- 75,000 points: Fly Fiji Airways to Fiji in business class.
Related: What it's like flying Aer Lingus' new Airbus A321XLR to Ireland
The Global Companion Award is more generous than you might realize
Atmos Rewards Summit cardholders receive a 25,000-point Global Companion Award in the first year after spending $4,000 or more in the first 90 days from account opening, as well as each year on the card anniversary (with no spending requirement), plus a second 100,000-point Global Companion Award after $60,000 in annual spending.
This differs from existing cards' companion fare and offers a discount of 25,000 points (or 100,000 points after $60,000 in annual spending) on the second passenger when you book two people traveling together with Atmos Rewards points.
While some companion vouchers, like the British Airways Travel Together Ticket, have complex rules and restrictions, the Summit's award is as generous as it is simple to use.
That's because it's valid for travel on Alaska Airlines and all of its airline redemption partners, both in and outside of the Oneworld alliance, in any cabin, including Hawaiian Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Iberia, Icelandair, Korean Air and many more. Applicable fees and taxes still apply.
If you're like me and don't live in a city Alaska Airlines operates to, you can still use this benefit to save points when you redeem for two people, whether you want to fly across the country or to Europe, Asia, Oceania and more. This can make the Atmos Rewards redemption rates even cheaper when I travel with someone else.
The card also offers waived award fees on partner flights, which will save me up to $12.50 per person one-way when using points to book partner award tickets.
Benefits I probably won't use
The Atmos Rewards Summit has some other interesting additional benefits, including (but not limited to):
- Anniversary status points: Receive 10,000 status points each card anniversary, which is halfway to Atmos Rewards Silver status
- Pathway to elite status: Earn 1 status point per $2 spent on purchases, earning Atmos Silver status (equivalent to Oneworld Ruby status) after $20,000 in spending and Atmos Rewards Gold status (equivalent to Oneworld Sapphire status) after $60,000 in spending
- Free points sharing: You can share points with up to 10 other Atmos Rewards members at no charge
- Free checked bag: When paying with the Atmos Rewards Summit, you and up to six guests on the same reservation receive a free checked bag on Alaska and Hawaiian flights
- No change fees: Pay no change fee when making same-day changes on Alaska Airlines flights
- Lounge access: Receive eight Alaska Lounge passes per year (two per calendar quarter, partner lounges excluded), and an elevated premium bar experience
- Departure delay voucher: Cardholders receive a $50 voucher for Alaska Airlines flights delayed two or more hours or cancelled within 24 hours, regardless of the reason (voucher valid 48 hours; one per calendar day)
- Priority airport screening: Up to a $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every four years
While these benefits are undoubtedly useful to anyone who flies regularly with Alaska or Hawaiian (or is considering switching to the airline if they live in a city the airline operates to), I still don't have any plans to fly with either, so these perks are of limited use to me — especially as I already have elite status with British Airways Club.
Related: Is the Atmos Rewards Summit worth the annual fee?
Bottom line
I still haven't flown Alaska Airlines, but I want the Atmos Rewards Summit Credit Card because its perks are as unique as they are rewarding: a huge welcome bonus that can nearly fund a round‑trip business‑class ticket to Europe on a partner airline like Aer Lingus, and a Global Companion Award that repeats every year and can be used on so many different partner airlines.
There's also that unusually generous 3‑points‑per‑dollar earn rate on all foreign transactions.
It's a premium airline card that makes sense even if you never set foot on the airline itself.
To learn more, read our full review of the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa.
Related reading:
- 10 best ways to redeem Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points
- Alaska Airlines airport lounges: How to get access to this VIP space
- Flying Starlux and Japan Airlines in business class: How I used Alaska Airlines points to make it happen
- Atmos Rewards Ascent vs. Atmos Rewards Summit: Which card is best for points and perks for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines?
Updated 10/29/2025