Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa: The Rebranded Alaska Airlines Signature Card That Changes the Game

PointsCrowd is a community-supported platform. When you apply for a credit card, make an order, or otherwise interact with the advertisers through the links on this page we may earn an affiliate commission. This helps us maintain and develop the platform further at no cost to you.

A New Chapter for Alaska’s Signature Card

Ever wondered what happens when a classic airline card gets a complete makeover? The trusted Alaska Airlines Visa Signature has now been reborn as the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa—and it’s more than just a name change.

For years, Alaska loyalists loved the card for its famous Companion Fare, but often wished for broader rewards and flexibility. Now, with the launch of Atmos Rewards, travelers have a chance to earn points in a way that fits today’s global travel style.

We’ll give you all the info you need about switching your current Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card to the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to get the most out of your new Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa card for flights, hotels, and more.

What Is the Atmos Rewards Program?

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines launched Atmos Rewards, a new combined loyalty program that offers members more ways to earn points and new perks, including free inflight Wi-Fi and flexible point-earning options. This isn’t just a cosmetic change—it’s a complete reimagining of how these airlines reward their most loyal customers.

The program officially launches in 2026, but the credit card transformation is happening right now. Starting in 2026, members will have a choice in how they earn points and status, giving travelers unprecedented flexibility in their reward strategy.

Here’s what makes Atmos Rewards different from traditional airline programs:

  • Two Airlines, One Program: Combines Alaska + Hawaiian Airlines into a single loyalty system.
  • Flexible Elite Status Earning (2026): Choose to earn status by miles, spend, or flight segments.
  • Global Companion Award: Usable on both domestic and international flights—rare at $95 card level.
  • 30+ Airline Redemption Partners: Includes oneworld alliance + independents like Singapore Airlines and STARLUX.
  • Point Sharing for Families: Premium cardholders can share points with up to 10 people, free.
  • Free Wi-Fi for All Members (2026): Includes Starlink internet, not just for elites.
  • Hotel Point Transfers (for Premium Card): Transfer Atmos points to Marriott, IHG, Wyndham, and more.

You can find out all the details of the program in our article Atmos Rewards Loyalty Program: Your Guide to the New Era.

The Alaska Airlines Atmos Card Transformation Explained

Remember when you got that email from Bank of America about your Alaska Airlines Visa card? If you’re like most cardholders, you probably skimmed it and moved on. But that email contained news about one of the most significant credit card transformations in recent memory.

The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card and Alaska Airlines Visa Business card are being rebranded to Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature card and Atmos Rewards Visa Business card. For existing cardholders, this transformation is completely seamless—no new applications, no credit checks, and no interruption to your benefits.

Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature card
Screenshot from the Bank of America website

But wait—there’s more good news. For existing cardholders, there’s no action to take, and benefits – including our $99 Companion Fare benefit ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23), now valid for all Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights within North America – will continue without interruption.

The renaming to Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature has not affected the annual fee, which remains at $95.

What Changes for Existing Cardholders

The transformation brings several immediate improvements:

Enhanced Companion Fare Coverage: Your beloved $99 Companion Fare now works on Hawaiian Airlines flights too. Planning that dream trip to Maui? Your companion can join you for just $99 plus taxes and fees.

Expanded Earning Opportunities: The card helps you earn far more Atmos Rewards points than you would otherwise earn, with 3x points on Alaska and Hawaiian flights, 2x points on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services, and local transit purchases, and 1x points on all other purchases.

Improved In-Flight Benefits: The Atmos Rewards Ascent Card offers 20% savings on Alaska and Hawaiian inflight purchases, including for food, premium beverages, and Wi-Fi.

The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature was long known for:

  • Annual Companion Fare (from $99 + taxes/fees)
  • Free checked bag for the cardholder + companions
  • Earn 3x on Alaska purchases, 1x everywhere else

But here’s the thing—its biggest limitation was being tied too closely to Alaska-only spending.

Now, the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa transforms the card into a flexible travel powerhouse:

  • Broader earning: earn Atmos Rewards points across categories, not just Alaska flights.
  • Transfer power: access to Atmos rewards transfer partners (airlines + hotels).
  • Enhanced perks: better earning abroad and faster status progression.

Comparison Snapshot

BenefitOld Alaska Airlines Visa SignatureNew Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa
Companion FareAnnual Companion Fare (Alaska-only, from $99 + taxes/fees)Global Companion Award valid on both domestic & international routes
Status BoostNone10,000 status points credited each cardmember year
Upgrade PriorityNoneHigher position on upgrade waitlists for cardholders
Earning Rates3x Alaska flights, 1x all other purchases3x Alaska flights, 2x dining & groceries, 1x everywhere else
Transfer PartnersLocked to Alaska Mileage Plan miles onlyAtmos Rewards transfer partners: airlines, hotels (Hyatt, Marriott, more)
Free Checked Bags1 free bag for cardholder + 6 companionsSame benefit retained
Lounge AccessNone8 lounge passes per year (2 per quarter)
Wi-Fi & Security CreditsNone$100 TSA PreCheck / Global Entry, $189 CLEAR Plus, and 8 Wi-Fi passes/year
Travel ProtectionsBasic purchase protectionTrip delay coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, extended warranty
Foreign Transaction Fees3%No foreign transaction fees
Welcome Bonus40,000–60,000 miles (varied)100,000 points + 25K Companion Award after $6K spend
“Alaska Trifecta” StrategyNot possibleWorks with the Atmos ecosystem + Summit card to stack perks

Key Benefits of the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa

The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature (annual fee $95) is essentially the mid-tier personal card for Alaska/Hawaiian flyers, replacing the old Alaska Visa Signature. It retains the same core features as its predecessor while adding a few enhancements under the new branding.

Here are its notable benefits and rewards:

Authorized User Benefits: You can add authorized users (e.g. family members) to your Ascent Visa at no extra fee, and they receive the same travel perks – their tickets (when purchased on their card) will get a free first bag, priority boarding, and 20% in-flight savings too, even if they travel without you. This is a generous feature not all airline cards offer to AUs. It means your spouse or family member with a card can independently enjoy the benefits on their trips, effectively extending the card’s value to the whole household.

Big Welcome Bonus: For a limited time, new Ascent cardholders can earn 80,000 Atmos Rewards bonus points + a $99 Companion Fare certificate after spending $4,000 in the first 120 days. This is a very high sign-up offer – 80k points are worth around $1,160–$1,200 based on valuations, and the companion fare can save hundreds more on a second ticket.

Everyday Rewards – 3x & 2x Categories: The Ascent card earns 3 points per $1 on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases, 2 points per $1 on useful everyday categories (including gas stations, electric vehicle charging, local transit and rideshare, cable TV, and select streaming services), and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. This is a solid earning structure for an airline card, making it easier to rack up Atmos points through daily spending.

  • 3x on Alaska Airlines flights
  • 2x on dining & groceries
  • 1x everywhere else

Example: using the card for commuting, gas, and streaming bills yields double points, on top of triple points for any Alaska/Hawaiian airfare.

Annual $99 Companion Fare: Perhaps the signature perk of this card is the annual Companion Fare certificate (now valid on both Alaska and Hawaiian flights within North America). Each cardmember anniversary, you can receive a companion ticket for $99 + taxes (starting at $23) when booking a round-trip or one-way fare for yourself. This effectively lets a companion fly with you at a deep discount.

For new applicants, the Companion Fare is earned after spending $6,000 in a year on the card. This spend requirement applies after the first year for new cardholders – by contrast, long-time existing cardholders have historically received the companion ticket each year just by renewing the card (many are “grandfathered” with no spend requirement). Even with the $6k spend threshold, the Companion Fare is extremely valuable – it can easily save $300–$500 (or more) on a second ticket, depending on route, making it “one of the most flexible companion fares out there” for any airline.

Uniquely, even Alaska’s new premium Summit card does not include an annual companion certificate, which is one reason many travelers will want to keep the Ascent card.

Free Checked Bags on Alaska & Hawaiian: The card includes a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to 6 companions on the same reservation when flying Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines. To get the benefit, you simply pay for the flights with the Ascent card, and the baggage fees (usually $35–$40 per bag each way) are waived at the airport. For a family or group trip, this perk alone can save up to $70 per person on a roundtrip – potentially hundreds in savings for a full travel party.

Priority Boarding: Cardholders and up to 6 companions also get preferred boarding on Alaska Airlines flights (you board in an earlier group to snag overhead bin space). This will extend to Hawaiian Airlines flights by late 2025 as well (Hawaiian priority boarding for cardholders is slated to begin once technical integrations are in place). Just use your card to purchase the tickets, and you’ll be able to board ahead of general economy boarding. This perk makes the travel experience smoother, especially for those with carry-ons.

20% Back on In-Flight Purchases: The Ascent Visa gives 20% rebate (as a statement credit) on Alaska and Hawaiian in-flight purchases, including food, beverages, and Wi-Fi charges. This discount applies automatically when you use the card onboard. Frequent flyers can appreciate that this essentially gives you airline prices closer to street prices (and free onboard messaging or Wi-Fi at a discount), adding a nice little annual savings if you fly often.

$100 off Alaska Lounge+ Membership: While the Ascent card does not come with free lounge access, it does offer a $100 discount on an Alaska Lounge+ annual membership fee for those who want to purchase it. Alaska Lounge+ (the top-tier lounge membership) normally costs $550/year; with the card, you’d pay $450. This perk was previously limited to the business version of the Alaska card, but with Atmos Rewards it’s available to Ascent personal cardholders as well. If you frequent Alaska’s lounges, this discount is a welcome benefit (and note: the new Summit Visa Infinite card instead provides 8 free lounge passes per year rather than a membership discount).

Bank of America Customer Bonus: If you’re a Bank of America banking client with an eligible account or status (e.g. Preferred Rewards program), you get a 10% rewards bonus on all points earned with the card. For example, if you earn 20,000 points in a year from spending, BofA will tack on an extra 2,000 points. This effectively raises the earning rates to 3.3x on Alaska/Hawaiian purchases and 2.2x on the bonus categories for those who qualify. It’s a small but nice boost for banking loyalty.

No Foreign Transaction Fees: As expected of a travel card, the Atmos Ascent Visa has no foreign transaction fees on overseas purchases. You can use it abroad or for foreign currency transactions without the typical 3% surcharge – useful since Alaska’s network and partners can take you around the globe.

Earn Elite Status via Spend: New with Atmos Rewards, cardholders can also earn elite status points through credit card spending. The Ascent card grants 1 Atmos status point for every $3 spent, up to 30,000 status points in 2025 (the cap is removed from 2026 onward). This can meaningfully contribute to earning status tiers in the Atmos program.

For example, Atmos Silver status is reached at 20,000 status points – that could be achieved with $60k spend on the Ascent card, or mix of flying and spending. While $3 per status point is a slower earn rate than the premium Summit card’s $2 per point, it’s a new pathway for those who might not fly enough miles but have significant card spend.

Pro Tips to Maximize the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa

To get the most value from your Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature card, you’ll want to combine smart spending, strategic redemptions, and a few underrated perks. Here’s a simple but powerful strategy to earn more Atmos points and unlock the card’s full potential:

1. Maximize Bonus Categories First

Use the card for the categories that earn 2x or 3x points instead of 1x:

CategoryEarning Rate
Alaska & Hawaiian Airlines purchases3x points
Gas, EV charging, rideshare, transit2x points
Cable, select streaming services2x points
All other purchases1x point

Strategy:

  • Pay for all Alaska or Hawaiian airfare directly with this card.
  • Use it for commuting costs, gas, or streaming services each month.
  • Set up recurring bills (like internet or Hulu) to earn 2x automatically.

2. Always Redeem the Companion Fare Wisely

You get an annual $99 Companion Fare (after $6,000 annual spend for new cardholders).
Use it on high-value routes like:

  • Seattle → Hawaii
  • West Coast → East Coast
  • Or even last-minute bookings, which tend to be expensive

Pro Tip: Book during peak travel dates (holidays, school breaks) to maximize savings—this can save $300–$600 per year.

3. Put at Least $6,000/Year on the Card (If You’re New)

New cardholders must spend $6,000 per calendar year to earn the Companion Fare after year one.

Strategy:

  • Set recurring bills, groceries, streaming, and gas on the card to hit the mark steadily.
  • Don’t wait until December—track spend throughout the year.

4. Use the Travel Perks Often

You get free checked bags and priority boarding for you + 6 companions on both Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines.

Value Tip: Even just 2 round-trip flights/year for a family of four could save you $280–$480 in bag fees alone.

5. Add an Authorized User (Free Perks for Them Too)

You can add authorized users for free, and they’ll get:

  • Free checked bag
  • Priority boarding
  • 20% in-flight savings

Use this to extend card perks to your spouse, teen traveler, or parent—especially if they travel solo.

6. Pair It with Atmos Summit or Alaska Status

Unlock more value by combining:

  • The Ascent Visa (Companion Fare + 3x earning)
  • Alaska or Hawaiian elite status (for upgrades and bonus points)
  • (Optional) the Summit Visa Infinite (8x on travel, hotel transfers, etc.)

Strategy:
Put airfare and daily transit spend on the Ascent card, then use Summit for hotels or luxury travel. All points go into the same Atmos Rewards pool.

7. Redeem on High-Value Partners

Atmos points can be redeemed for flights on award partners, here are some of them:

  • Japan Airlines (luxury awards)
  • Qantas (Australia)
  • Fiji Airways (South Pacific)
  • American Airlines (domestic)

Tip: Search partner flights on Alaska’s website for the best deals. Look for business/first-class sweet spots—e.g., JAL biz class to Tokyo from 60K–70K points.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Only using the card for Alaska flights → You’re missing bonus categories and transfer power.
  • Forgetting to use the Companion Award → This is often worth $500+ each year.
  • Hoarding points too long → Atmos points shine when transferred during bonus promos.

What Transfer Partners Are Available with the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa?

The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature card does not offer any points transfer partners.

Only the Summit card offers the ability to transfer points to hotels (such as Marriott, IHG, Wyndham, etc.), but this feature is not available to Ascent cardholders.

FAQs About the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa

What happened to the old Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card?

It was rebranded into the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa with broader rewards and benefits.

Does the Atmos Ascent card still include the Alaska Companion Fare?

Yes, but it’s now expanded into a Global Companion Award with more flexibility.

Are my Alaska miles safe after the rebrand?

Yes—your existing Alaska miles stay intact. Atmos points are a new, flexible addition.

Is the annual fee higher now?

The annual fee remains unchanged at $95.

Conclusion: Why the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Is Worth It

The Atmos Rewards Ascend Visa isn’t just a shiny new name—it’s a serious upgrade. With global companion perks, transfer partners, and elite boosts, it’s one of the most valuable cards for frequent flyers and everyday travelers alike.

If you’ve been holding the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature, now’s the perfect time to lean into its rebrand. And if you’re new to Alaska and Atmos Rewards? This is your entry point into a program.

Ready to level up your rewards? The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa could be your passport to smarter, more flexible travel.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *