Card guide · Atmos Rewards miles
Bank of America Atmos Rewards Ascent
Card guide overview
An Alaska Airlines co-brand card with a strong 70K + Companion Fare welcome offer, 3X on Alaska/Hawaiian purchases, a free checked bag, and priority boarding—best for regular Alaska flyers.
Key card attributes
| Issuing bank | Reward currency | Currency type | Network | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of America | Atmos Rewards | Airline Miles | Visa Signature | $95 |
Closest alternatives
At a glance
The card in three decisions.
The Bank of America Atmos Rewards Ascent is the Alaska Airlines co-brand card at a $95 annual fee. It earns 3X miles on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases, 2X on gas, EV charging, cable/streaming, and local transit including rideshare, and 1X elsewhere. The welcome offer is 70,000 bonus points plus a $99 Companion Fare after $2,500 in purchases within the first 90 days.
The Ascent includes a free checked bag and priority boarding for the cardholder and up to six guests on the same reservation. The Companion Fare is an annual benefit—each cardmember anniversary, you receive a Companion Fare code valid for a companion ticket from $99 (taxes and fees from $23). For Alaska flyers who check bags and travel with companions, the ongoing benefits can more than offset the $95 fee.
Compared with the $99 Barclays Hawaiian Airlines World Elite card, the Ascent costs $4 less and offers its annual $99 Companion Fare, priority boarding, and a first checked bag for the cardholder plus up to six guests. The Barclays card instead gives the primary cardmember two free checked bags and a one-time 50% companion discount plus a $100 anniversary companion discount, both restricted to qualifying roundtrip main-cabin travel between Hawaii and North America. Both cards earn 3X on direct Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines purchases, but the Ascent has 2X categories for gas, EV charging, cable/streaming, and local transit while the Barclays card uses gas, grocery, and dining.
Best fit
Regular Alaska Airlines flyers who want bag, boarding, and Companion Fare perks
If you fly Alaska at least once or twice a year and check bags, the bag savings plus the annual Companion Fare can return well over the $95 annual fee.
Current timing
70K + Companion Fare is below the tracked maximum
The current 70,000 bonus points plus a $99 Companion Fare has a lower spending requirement than the tracked 80K and 85K versions. Apply when you have planned Alaska or Hawaiian spend, or wait if the bonus matters more than the card benefits.
Main watchout
Atmos Rewards is a new program from the Alaska/Hawaiian merger
Alaska and Hawaiian merged, creating the Atmos Rewards program. The card offerings and partner network are still evolving as the two airlines integrate their operations.
Current & historical offer
70K is standard; 85K is the tracked maximum.
We compare public offers with public offers. Independent tracking records both an 80K elevated version and an 85K higher version, while the current issuer page shows 70K.
Timing assessment
70K + Companion Fare is solid, but below the tracked maximum.
The 70,000-point offer plus Companion Fare is useful for a $95-fee airline card, but independent tracking records 80K and 85K versions. Apply now if the lower spend requirement and current travel plans matter more than waiting for a larger bonus.
Why someone may wait
The 85K maximum may return.
The higher versions were limited or channel-specific. If you can wait and do not need the card benefits now, the 85K maximum may return; if you rarely fly Alaska or Hawaiian, a general travel card may be a better fit.
Card benefits
Free checked bag, Companion Fare, and strong Alaska/Hawaiian earning at $95/year.
The tiers are a Points Brief editorial assessment of decision importance and rarity among entry-level airline cards—not labels supplied by Bank of America or Alaska Airlines.
Tier 1 · Rare differentiators
Benefits that provide the primary value.
Annual Companion Fare
Each cardmember anniversary, receive a Companion Fare code that allows a companion to fly for $99 (taxes and fees from $23) on eligible Alaska or Hawaiian routes when you book a qualifying paid ticket.
- Companion flies from $99 plus taxes and fees (from $23).
- Issued each year on your cardmember anniversary.
- Valid on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines routes.
Know the limits: A round-trip with a companion using this fare can save hundreds of dollars on West Coast, Alaska, or Hawaii routes. The Companion Fare alone can justify the $95 annual fee.
Tier 2 · Incremental value
Useful airline-specific perks that are available on some comparable entry-level cards.
Free Free first checked bag
Cardholder and up to six guests on the same reservation each receive a free first checked bag on Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines flights when you pay for the flight with the card. Savings of up to $35 per bag each way.
Priority Priority boarding
Receive preferred boarding on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights when you pay for the flight with the card.
No FTF No foreign transaction fees
No Bank of America fee on international purchases.
20% back 20% back on inflight purchases
Receive 20% back as a statement credit on eligible Alaska Airlines inflight food and beverage purchases when paid with your card.
Tier 3 · Expected card basics
Standard protections and features.
Atmos Rewards miles do not expire Program
Miles remain active with qualifying activity in the Atmos Rewards program.
Visa Signature travel protections Standard
Includes auto rental coverage, travel assistance services, and Visa Signature Concierge.
Unified Alaska + Hawaiian program Merger
Atmos Rewards combines Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles into one program.
Comparison method: Entry-level airline co-branded cards including Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold ($150), Chase United Explorer ($95 intro then $150), and Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select ($99); official public pages reviewed in July 2026.
Earning rates
3X on Alaska/Hawaiian, 2X on gas, transit, streaming, and phone plans.
Miles are earned per dollar on eligible purchases. The 2X categories cover six common spending areas with no annual caps.
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines
Eligible purchases on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines earn 3X miles per dollar.
Gas and EV charging
2X miles at eligible gas stations and on EV charging purchases.
Local transit and rideshare
2X on eligible local transit, including rideshare, taxicabs, mass transit, and tolls.
Cable and streaming
2X on eligible cable, streaming, and live TV purchases.
Rent paid through Bilt
3X miles on rent payments made through the Bilt app, on up to $50,000 per year (1X after). A 3% transaction fee applies.
All other purchases
One mile per dollar on purchases not eligible for a higher rate.
Credit interaction: Atmos Rewards miles are estimated at approximately 1.8–2.0 cents each for domestic redemptions on Alaska Airlines. The 3X Alaska/Hawaiian rate earns roughly 5–6% back in flight value on eligible airline purchases. Rent via Bilt: the 3% fee is largely offset by the 3X earning, making this one of the few non-Bilt cards that profitably earns on rent. Partner redemptions on oneworld alliance carriers are available through the Alaska Airlines partnership network.
Atmos Rewards program
The unified loyalty program of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines.
Atmos Rewards is the combined loyalty program created from the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger. Miles can be redeemed for flights on Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and partner airlines across the oneworld alliance. The program is still evolving as the two airlines integrate their operations.
Key benefit
1:1mile earning
Atmos Rewards miles pool with miles from flying Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines.
Miles earned on the Ascent card are standard Atmos Rewards miles that pool with miles from flying Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and partner flights. They can be redeemed for award flights on both airlines and oneworld partners. The program is still in its early stages as the two airlines integrate, and partner availability and award pricing may evolve.
Alaska Airlines hubs
Where Alaska Airlines operates the most flights.
- Seattle/Tacoma (SEA)
- Portland (PDX)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Anchorage (ANC)
- San Diego (SAN)
Hawaiian Airlines hubs
Where Hawaiian Airlines operates the most flights.
- Honolulu (HNL)
- Kahului/Maui (OGG)
- Kona (KOA)
- Lihue/Kauai (LIH)
Atmos Rewards card family
How the Ascent compares to the Summit.
- Atmos Ascent: $95 fee, 3X Alaska/Hawaiian, free bag, Companion Fare
- Atmos Summit: $395 fee, premium benefits, enhanced earning—premium tier
- Both earn Atmos Rewards miles that pool with flight earnings
- Program still evolving as Alaska/Hawaiian integration continues
Sources and methodology
Sources for this page
- Last checked: August 1, 2026
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