Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines now share one loyalty program — Atmos Rewards — and its mid-tier personal credit card, the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature issued by Bank of America, is quietly one of the better-value airline cards around. Right now it's carrying a welcome offer worth a look: up to 80,000 bonus points plus a $99 companion fare, all for a $95 annual fee.
Here's how the bonus breaks down. Spend $3,000 in the first 90 days and you get 60,000 points plus the companion fare; push total spending to $5,000 in that same window and you pick up another 20,000 points. Valuing Atmos points at roughly 1.5 cents each, that's around $1,200 in points before you even count the companion ticket.
The companion fare is arguably the card's standout feature. After $6,000 of spending per card year you earn a $99 companion fare (taxes and fees from $23), valid on all Alaska and Hawaiian economy fares within the Americas — Hawaii included. Unlike many airline companion certificates, it works for one-ways or round trips, and your companion still earns points and remains upgrade-eligible. For anyone who regularly travels with a partner or family member, that alone can cover the annual fee.
Everyday perks are solid without being flashy. Cardholders and up to six guests on the same reservation get a free first checked bag (normally $30-45 each way) and preferred boarding on Alaska and Hawaiian — and authorized users, who are free to add, get both perks too. That makes it genuinely useful for families whose members don't always travel together. There's also 20% back on inflight food, drinks and Wi-Fi purchases, $100 off an Alaska Lounge+ membership (usually $795), and no foreign transaction fees.
Earning rates are 3x points on Alaska and Hawaiian purchases, 2x on gas, EV charging, cable, streaming and local transit including rideshare, and 1x elsewhere. Every $3 spent also earns one status point toward Atmos elite status, uncapped — though heavy spenders chasing status would do better with the premium Summit card, which earns a status point per $2. Bank of America customers with a qualifying checking or savings account get a further 10% bonus on base points.
The honest downsides: there's no lounge access, no meaningful travel protections like trip cancellation or baggage delay coverage, and 1x on everyday spending won't excite anyone. Approval is on the easier side among issuers, though Bank of America typically caps approvals at two cards per two months, three per 12 months, and four per 24 months; a credit score of 700-plus helps.
Who's this for? Occasional Alaska or Hawaiian flyers who check bags and travel in pairs. If that's you, the combination of a generous welcome offer, a flexible companion fare and free bags for the whole booking makes the Ascent card an easy call. Points themselves are versatile too — both airlines sit in oneworld, and Atmos has a distance-based award chart with some sweet spots, like one-way economy within the Americas from 4,500 points on short hops.
Review via One Mile at a Time
