Alaska Airlines has always been a traveler favorite for its generous award program, comfortable planes, and the legendary companion fare. With the 2025 merger with Hawaiian Airlines and the rebrand to Atmos Rewards, the credit card lineup got even better.
Whether you’re a casual flyer eyeing that free companion ticket or a frequent traveler maximizing elite status, this guide breaks down every Alaska Airlines credit card to help you pick the right one.
Key Takeaways
- The Atmos Summit card ($195/year) includes a $99 companion fare + free bags — best for families and couples
- The Atmos Ascent card ($95/year) offers the companion fare at $129 — great mid-tier option
- Business cards earn 3x on Alaska/Hawaiian purchases with the companion fare
- All cards earn toward MVP elite status qualification
- New in 2026: Hawaiian Airlines flights now count toward companion fare qualification
The Alaska/Atmos Credit Card Lineup
Since the Atmos Rewards rebrand, Bank of America issues three main credit cards for Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines:
| Card | Annual Fee | Companion Fare | Sign-Up Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atmos Rewards Summit Visa | $195 | $99 + taxes | 80,000 miles |
| Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa | $95 | $129 + taxes | 60,000 miles |
| Atmos Business Visa | $75 | $99 + taxes | 85,000 miles |
All cards are issued by Bank of America and feature no foreign transaction fees, making them solid travel companions.
Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Signature® — The Premium Pick
The Summit card is Alaska’s premium personal offering, competing directly with cards like the Delta Reserve and United Club Infinite.
Current Sign-Up Bonus (March 2026)
- 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
- That’s worth approximately $1,440 based on our 1.8 cpp Alaska miles valuation
Annual Fee Breakdown
The $195 annual fee sounds high, but the benefits easily offset it:
| Benefit | Value |
|---|---|
| Companion fare ($99 + taxes) | $200-600+ savings |
| First checked bag free (cardholder + up to 6 guests) | $120-350/year |
| $50 Alaska Lounge+ membership discount | $50 |
| 20% inflight purchase discount | $20-50/year |
| Total potential value | $400-1,000+ |
Earning Structure
| Category | Miles per Dollar |
|---|---|
| Alaska & Hawaiian flights | 3x |
| Eligible grocery stores | 2x |
| Eligible gas stations | 2x |
| Everything else | 1x |
The Companion Fare: Why It’s the Killer Benefit
Here’s what makes Alaska cards special: the companion fare lets you buy one ticket and get a second for just $99 + taxes (roughly $121 total for most domestic routes).
How it works:
- Spend $6,000 on your card in a calendar year
- Earn a companion fare code valid for 12 months
- Book any Alaska or Hawaiian flight (except basic economy)
- Add a companion for $99 + taxes/fees
Real Example: Book Seattle to Maui for $498 round-trip → your companion pays just $121 → that’s $377 saved on a single trip.
For couples or families, this single benefit can return 2-3x the annual fee.
Who Should Get the Summit Card?
✅ Get it if:
- You travel with a partner or family (companion fare is gold)
- You check bags regularly (free bags for 7 people!)
- You fly Alaska or Hawaiian 4+ times per year
- You want the premium lounge discount
❌ Skip it if:
- You usually travel solo
- You never check bags
- You rarely fly the West Coast or Hawaii
Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® — The Sweet Spot
The Ascent card offers most of the Summit’s benefits at nearly half the fee. For many travelers, this is the sweet spot.
Current Sign-Up Bonus
- 60,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- Worth approximately $1,080 based on our valuation
Annual Fee: $95
Key Differences from Summit
| Feature | Summit ($195) | Ascent ($95) |
|---|---|---|
| Companion fare cost | $99 + taxes | $129 + taxes |
| First checked bag | Free for 7 | Free for 1 |
| Lounge membership discount | $50 off | None |
| Grocery/gas bonus | 2x | 2x |
| Alaska/Hawaiian bonus | 3x | 3x |
The $100 fee difference between cards mainly buys you:
- A $30 cheaper companion fare
- Free bags for 6 additional guests
- Lounge membership discount
Who Should Get the Ascent Card?
✅ Get it if:
- You want the companion fare but want a lower fee
- You usually travel solo or with one person
- You have carry-on only or just need one free bag
- You’re testing Alaska’s ecosystem before committing
Atmos Rewards Business Visa — For the Self-Employed
The Business card offers the best sign-up bonus and a lower fee than the Summit, but requires a business (even a side hustle counts).
Current Sign-Up Bonus
- 85,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
- Worth approximately $1,530 based on our valuation
- Highest bonus of any Alaska card!
Annual Fee: $75
Earning Structure
| Category | Miles per Dollar |
|---|---|
| Alaska & Hawaiian purchases | 3x |
| Office supplies | 2x |
| Advertising | 2x |
| Everything else | 1x |
Business Card Benefits
- $99 companion fare (same as Summit!)
- First checked bag free for cardholder + guest
- 10% bonus on miles if you have a BoA business checking account
- Employee cards at no additional cost
Who Should Get the Business Card?
✅ Get it if:
- You have any business (LLC, sole prop, freelance, eBay seller)
- You want the $99 companion fare at a $75 fee
- You want the highest sign-up bonus
- Your business spends on advertising/office supplies
How the Companion Fare Actually Works
The companion fare is the reason most people get Alaska cards. Here’s exactly how to use it:
Qualification Requirements
- Spend $6,000 on your Alaska card in a calendar year
- The code arrives within 2 billing cycles after hitting the spend threshold
- Code is valid for 12 months from issue date
- Can be used on Alaska OR Hawaiian flights (new for 2026!)
Booking Rules
- ✅ Main cabin, premium class, and first class eligible
- ✅ Award tickets eligible (pay miles for one, companion fare for the second)
- ✅ Round-trips and one-ways both work
- ❌ Basic economy (“Saver”) fares NOT eligible
- ❌ Cannot be combined with other discounts/codes
Maximizing Value
The companion fare saves the most on:
- Hawaii routes — Round-trips often run $500-800+ per person
- Last-minute bookings — When cash prices spike
- First class — Your companion gets the same cabin at $99+taxes
- Peak travel dates — Holiday and summer premium pricing
Pro tip: If you’re booking first class to Hawaii at $1,200+ per person, your companion gets that same first class seat for just ~$121. That’s over $1,000 in savings from a single companion fare.
Companion Fare vs. Other Airline Perks
| Airline Card | Companion Benefit | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Summit | $99 + taxes | Spend $6K first |
| Alaska Ascent | $129 + taxes | Spend $6K first |
| Southwest Companion Pass | Free! | Earn 125K points or 100 flights |
| Delta companion certificate | $0-$99 varies | Limited routes, fare classes |
Alaska’s companion fare is much easier to earn than Southwest’s Companion Pass, which requires 125,000 points in a year. The $6,000 spend threshold is achievable for most households.
Earning Elite Status with Alaska Cards
All Alaska/Atmos credit cards help you earn MVP elite status faster:
Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) from Card Spend
- Earn 1 EQM per $10 spent on your Alaska card
- Capped at 15,000 bonus EQMs per calendar year
- Stacks with EQMs earned from flying
Status Tier Requirements
| Status | EQMs Needed | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| MVP | 20,000 | 50% bonus miles, preferred boarding |
| MVP Gold | 40,000 | 100% bonus miles, upgrades, lounge discount |
| MVP Gold 75K | 75,000 | 125% bonus miles, 4 upgrades, complimentary lounge passes |
Example: You fly 15,000 EQMs and spend $50,000 on your card → You’d earn 15,000 + 5,000 = 20,000 EQMs → MVP status achieved without flying 20,000 miles.
For a deeper dive on the program, see our Alaska Mileage Plan Complete Guide.
Alaska vs. Other Airline Credit Cards
How do Alaska cards stack up against the competition?
vs. Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards
| Feature | Alaska Summit | Delta Platinum | Delta Reserve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $195 | $350 | $650 |
| Companion benefit | $99 fare | $0 cert (restrictions) | $0 cert |
| Free bags | Yes (7 people) | Yes (1 person) | Yes (1 person) |
| Lounge access | Discount only | No | Delta Sky Club |
| Miles value | 1.8 cpp | 1.2 cpp | 1.2 cpp |
Verdict: Alaska offers better value for couples/families. Delta Reserve wins for Sky Club access but costs $455 more.
vs. Southwest Credit Cards
| Feature | Alaska Summit | SW Rapid Rewards Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $195 | $149 |
| Companion benefit | $99 fare (spend $6K) | Companion Pass (125K points) |
| Network | Alaska, Hawaiian, partners | Southwest only |
| International flights | Yes (partners) | Limited (Mexico, Caribbean) |
| Seat selection | Yes | Open seating |
Verdict: Alaska is better for Hawaii and international. Southwest wins for domestic flexibility if you can earn the full Companion Pass.
vs. United and American Cards
| Feature | Alaska Summit | United Quest | Citi AA Executive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $195 | $250 | $595 |
| Companion benefit | $99 fare | None | 10K bonus miles |
| Lounge access | Discount | $100 credit | Admirals Club |
| Network size | Smaller | Large (Star Alliance) | Large (oneworld) |
Verdict: Alaska’s companion fare beats United’s lack of one. AA Executive only makes sense if you value Admirals Club access.
Card Pairing Strategies
Best Wallet Combo for Alaska Flyers
Option 1: Alaska + Everyday Spend
- Atmos Summit → Alaska flights, companion fare
- Chase Sapphire Reserve → Dining 3x, travel 3x, transfer to Korean Air for partner awards
- American Express Gold → Groceries 4x, restaurants 4x
Option 2: All-Alaska Household
- Atmos Summit (primary cardholder) → Companion fare for family travel
- Atmos Ascent (spouse) → Second companion fare!
- Yes, you can stack companion fares from two cards
The Double Companion Fare Hack
Each cardholder can earn their own companion fare. For couples:
- Both partners get an Alaska card
- Both spend $6,000 to earn companion fares
- Book 4 people to Hawaii: 2 paid fares + 2 companion fares
- Total savings: $750+
This works because companion fares are tied to the cardmember, not the account. Learn more about this approach in our Two Player Mode guide.
Application Tips
Bank of America Approval Factors
BoA considers:
- Credit score: 700+ recommended
- Existing BoA relationship: Helps significantly
- Recent inquiries: More lenient than Chase
- Income: Self-reported
The 2/3/4 Rule
Bank of America has an informal rule limiting approvals:
- 2 cards in the past 2 months
- 3 cards in the past 12 months
- 4 cards in the past 24 months
If you’re over these thresholds, consider waiting or reducing velocity. For more on timing applications, check our credit card application strategy guide.
Referral Bonuses
Existing cardholders can refer friends for bonus miles. Check your BoA account for current referral offers before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have multiple Alaska cards?
Yes! Many people hold both a personal card (Summit or Ascent) AND the business card. Each can earn a separate companion fare.
Does the companion fare work on Hawaiian flights?
Yes! Since the Atmos Rewards merger, companion fares work on both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights.
When does my companion fare code arrive?
Typically within 2 billing cycles after hitting $6,000 spend. Most people receive it in the same month they qualify.
Can I use the companion fare on award tickets?
Yes — book an award ticket for yourself using miles, then add your companion for $99 + taxes. This is an incredible value hack. If you’re new to booking awards, see our step-by-step award booking guide.
Is the annual fee worth it if I only fly Alaska once per year?
Probably not for the Summit. Consider the Ascent ($95) or skipping the card entirely. The companion fare saves the most for people taking 2+ Alaska trips per year.
Do Alaska cards have foreign transaction fees?
No. All Alaska/Atmos credit cards have no foreign transaction fees, making them usable internationally.
The Bottom Line
Alaska Airlines credit cards offer one of the best companion benefits in the industry — and with the Hawaiian Airlines merger, that benefit now covers more routes than ever.
Our recommendation by traveler type:
| Traveler Type | Recommended Card |
|---|---|
| Couples flying Hawaii | Atmos Summit (best companion value) |
| Occasional Alaska flyer | Atmos Ascent (lower fee, still get companion) |
| Business owners | Atmos Business (highest bonus, lowest fee w/ $99 fare) |
| Solo travelers | Consider skipping Alaska cards entirely |
The current sign-up bonuses are strong — especially the Business card at 85,000 miles. If you’re planning Hawaii travel or frequently fly the West Coast, now is a great time to apply.
For more on Alaska’s award program, check out our Alaska Mileage Plan Complete Guide and learn about Atmos Rewards earning without flying.
💬 Comments
Have questions or thoughts? Join the discussion below!