Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have folded their loyalty schemes into one program called Atmos Rewards, and its US co-branded credit cards — issued by Bank of America — are now carrying some of the more generous welcome offers around. If you fly either airline, or you're sitting on an old Alaska or Hawaiian card wondering what happened to it, here's the rundown.
There are three cards. The premium pick is the Summit Card at $395 a year, currently offering 100,000 bonus points plus a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $6,000 in the first 90 days. It earns 3x points on all foreign transactions and dining, throws in a 10,000-point annual status boost, and hands cardholders up to eight Alaska Lounge passes and eight Wi-Fi passes a year, plus a free first checked bag and waived award booking fees.
The Ascent Card is the mid-tier personal option at $95 annually. Its offer is 60,000 points and a $99 Companion Fare after $3,000 of spend, with an extra 20,000 points if you hit $5,000 within the same window. Bonus categories are more limited — airline purchases at 3x, then 2x on gas, EV charging, transit and streaming — but you still get the checked bag, preferred boarding and 20% off inflight purchases. The Business Card rounds out the trio, also starting at $95, with 70,000 points plus a $99 Companion Fare after $4,000 of spend.
The good news on eligibility: each card is assessed separately, so holding the Ascent doesn't block you from the Summit, and business cards are independent too. Old Hawaiian Barclays cards don't affect anything either way. Former Alaska Visa Signature and Visa Business cards have been converted into the Ascent and Business Card respectively, so if you hold one of those you've likely missed its bonus — but you can still earn on the others. Bank of America has no formal once-per-lifetime rule; convention is that you wait 24 months after closing a card before earning its bonus again.
Two issuer-wide quirks matter. The 2/3/4 rule caps personal card openings at two per two months, three per 12 months and four per 24 months (business cards are exempt). The fuzzier 3/12 rule can see applications declined if you've opened three or more cards with any issuer in the past year — though enforcement seems inconsistent, and a Bank of America banking relationship may help, not least because it unlocks a 10% bonus on points. Approval odds are generally friendly, with no published credit score cutoff, though 700-plus is a sensible target.
If you're choosing, the source's take is that these cards work better as complements than rivals: the Summit is the one worth its fee if you're engaged with the program, the Ascent covers budget-conscious flyers, and adding the Business Card alongside a personal application maximises approval odds while stacking a second welcome bonus. Points and Companion Awards can be shared with up to 10 other members on the Summit, which is handy for families flying Alaska or Hawaiian together.
Story via One Mile at a Time.
