For Great Cards
- If you often travel with Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines.
- You might appreciate benefits like a free checked bag and priority boarding.
- The annual companion fare certificate can be a useful tool.
If Not
- If you rarely fly Alaska or Hawaiian.
- You might need a card that offers transferable rewards.
Atmos Rewards Ascent Card – Is It Worth It?
If you fly a lot with Alaska or Hawaiian, the ATMOS™ Ascension Visa® Card, previously linked to Alaska Airlines, could be beneficial. With this card, you earn 3x points on flights with these airlines and 1x points on things like gas, EV charging, streaming services, local transport, and just about everything else, netting more Atmos points than you typically would.
Plus, if you hold a qualifying Bank of America account, you’ll snag a 10% bonus on all points earned through card purchases. So, for instance, if you accumulate 30,000 points in a year, you’d get an additional 3,000 points as a bonus.
The Atmos Rewards Ascent Card also provides several other appealing perks, including a free checked bag, priority boarding, a 20% discount on in-flight purchases, and an annual companion certificate after spending $6,000 on your card.
Top Perks and Benefits of the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card
Let’s break down the specific advantages of the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card.
Annual Companion Certificate
The annual companion certificate allows you to book companion flights for only $122, with additional fees ranging from $23 to $99.
These companion fares are valid for round-trip economy tickets on Alaska or Hawaiian flights booked directly through the airline.
Of course, depending on your travel plans, the market price for a companion ticket can exceed the $122 price you pay. To qualify for a companion certificate, you must spend $6,000 on this card in the previous calendar year.
Free Checked Bags and Priority Boarding
Checked bag fees can really add up, especially for larger groups. However, with the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card, you can get a free checked bag for yourself and up to six guests when they book their flights with the card. This can lead to substantial savings when traveling with friends or family.
A full party of up to six passengers also enjoys priority boarding, meaning they can board earlier and secure overhead space for carry-ons.
Discounts on In-Flight Purchases
If you’re someone who frequently buys items like Wi-Fi on Alaska or Hawaiian flights, the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card offers savings here as well. You’ll receive a 20% rebate on purchases such as food and beverages during your flight.
Alaska Lounge Membership Discount
If you often fly Alaska Airlines, you might be interested in the Alaska Lounge at your local airport. The Atmos Rewards Ascent Card provides a $100 discount on the annual membership fee, giving you access to these lounges throughout your travels.
Best Ways to Earn and Redeem Alaska Atmos Reward Points
The simplest way to accumulate more Alaska Airlines Atmos points is to use your card for daily expenses and pay your balance in full each month. This way, you can earn between 1 to 3x points depending on the purchase category.
For frequent Alaska Airlines flyers, it’s no surprise that the airline offers a highly valuable loyalty program. Collecting points is straightforward, and there are plenty of great ways to redeem them thanks to solid awards charts.
Alternative Cards to the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card
Bilt MasterCard
When it comes to earning transferable rewards, the Bilt Rewards program stands out as a unique 1:1 transfer partner for Alaska Airlines.
The Bilt MasterCard allows you to earn 3x points at restaurants and 2x points on direct travel bookings with airlines, hotels, and car rental services. You can earn 1x points on your rent, with no transaction fees and up to 100,000 points per calendar year. Just keep in mind that you need to make at least five transactions each statement period to earn Bilt points.
Additionally, the Bilt card comes with perks like mobile phone insurance, travel delay insurance, and coverage for car rentals.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
If you’re looking to earn transferable rewards without being locked into Alaska Airlines’ loyalty program, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is worth your consideration.
This card allows you to earn 5x points on travel purchases made through Chase, 3x points on dining, online grocery shopping, and select streaming services. You’ll also get 2x points on all other travel purchases and 1x points on everything else. Plus, there’s a 10% annual bonus on all points earned.
On top of that, you’ll enjoy benefits like a $50 credit for hotel bookings through Chase Travel, travel and purchase protection, free access to a Dashpass membership for food delivery, and the ability to transfer points to various partners.
We’ve also compared the Atmos Rewards Ascent Card with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
