Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines now share a loyalty program called Atmos Rewards, and the entry-level credit card tied to it — the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature — is turning out to be more useful than most starter airline cards. The Points Guy gave it a four-star review, largely because the points are genuinely valuable and the sign-up bonus is one of the biggest the card has ever offered.
The card costs $95 a year and comes with the practical perks frequent flyers actually use: a free checked bag for you and up to six companions on the same reservation (worth at least $30 per person each way), preferred boarding on both airlines, and 20% back on inflight purchases. The headline perk is the $99 Companion Fare, earned each account anniversary after spending $6,000 in a year — taxes and fees start at $23. In one example, a traveller paid $679 for two round-trip tickets between Portland and Chicago that would have cost over $1,085 otherwise.
The real appeal, though, is what the points can do. Atmos Rewards is part of Oneworld, so points stretch well beyond Alaska's own network. Short-haul domestic economy awards start at just 4,500 points one-way — including on partner American Airlines — while a West Coast-to-Hawaii economy seat starts at 12,500 points each way. For bigger trips, business class on Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines or Fiji Airways from the US can be booked for 75,000 points one-way. TPG values Atmos points at 1.55 cents apiece, which is strong for an airline currency.
Earning rates are modest: 3 points per dollar on Alaska and Hawaiian purchases, 2 points on gas, EV charging, transit, ride-hailing, cable and select streaming, and 1 point on everything else. Bank of America customers get a 10% bonus on points earned. There's also no cap on status points earned through spending — 1 per $3 spent — which helps if you're chasing elite status.
The new cardholder offer is notable: 60,000 bonus points plus a Companion Fare after spending $3,000 in 90 days, and an extra 20,000 points for hitting $5,000 total — up to 80,000 points, valued at roughly $1,240.
Know the gaps before applying. The card has no lounge access (only a $100 discount on a $795 Alaska Lounge+ membership) and, unusually for a travel card, no travel protections at all — no trip cancellation, baggage delay or purchase coverage. If those matter, a general travel card may serve you better. On the plus side, there are no foreign transaction fees.
Who's this for? Anyone who flies Alaska or Hawaiian even a couple of times a year will easily recoup the fee through bag fees and the Companion Fare. But you don't need to be loyal to either airline to get value from the points — the Oneworld redemptions are the draw. If you want lounge access and richer perks, the pricier $395 Summit card is the step-up option.
Thanks to The Points Guy for the original review.
