Alaska Airlines has quietly become a bigger deal in the loyalty world since it merged forces with Hawaiian Airlines under the Atmos Rewards program, and the credit card options around it have grown with it. There are now three Bank of America cobranded Atmos cards — two personal, one business — and all three are running elevated welcome bonuses right now.
The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature ($95 annual fee) is the sweet spot for most flyers: 70,000 bonus points plus a $99 Companion Fare (taxes and fees from $23) after spending $2,500 in the first 90 days, which values out around $1,085 on the points alone. The premium Summit Visa Infinite ($395) offers 80,000 points plus a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after $4,000 in spend — worth up to $1,628 — while the business version matches the Ascent bonus with a $4,000 spend requirement.
Why pick a cobranded card at all? Perks. All three Atmos cards earn 3 points per dollar on Alaska and Hawaiian flights, and they throw in a free first checked bag for you and up to six travel companions on the same reservation, preferred boarding, and 20% back on inflight purchases. The Ascent adds an annual $99 Companion Fare after $6,000 in yearly spend, while the Summit goes further with eight Alaska Lounge passes, eight Wi-Fi passes, and an annual Global Companion Award you can re-earn through spending. Hawaiian's own World Elite Mastercards earn at the same 3x rate, and the personal version gets you two free checked bags.
That said, cobranded cards aren't automatically the best play. Premium flexible-rewards cards can out-earn them on airfare: the Amex Platinum earns 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines (up to $500,000 per year, though its annual fee is now $895), and the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 4x on direct airline bookings, or 8x through Chase Travel. Both come with travel credits — $200 with Amex if you set Alaska as your preferred airline (covering bags and seat fees), and $300 with Chase toward any travel including Alaska tickets. The Capital One Venture X earns 5 miles per dollar through its portal, and the Citi Strata Premier is a niche pick if you also redeem with American Airlines.
The real decision hinges on your situation. If you check bags, board early, and fly Alaska regularly, an Atmos card pays for itself quickly — the Ascent especially, given the low fee. But if you hold elite status with Alaska, American or another Oneworld carrier, you already get free bags and priority boarding without a card, so a transferable-rewards card will usually earn you more, plus offer stronger travel protections.
For holiday planners, the takeaway is simple: match the card to how you actually fly. Occasional Alaska flyers who value flexibility should look at the premium travel cards; loyal Alaska or Hawaiian passengers will get far more mileage — literally — from the Atmos program and its current elevated bonuses.