If you’re about to book an Alaska Airlines flight, you may be wondering which credit card will help you earn the most rewards and enjoy benefits like free checked bags.
Alaska Airlines is part of the Atmos Rewards loyalty program, along with Hawaiian Airlines. It offers three Bank of America credit cards — two personal cards and one business card. And right now, these cards are offering elevated bonuses:
- Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card:Earn 70,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $2,500 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. Based on TPG’s September 2026 valuations, the points-only part of this offer is worth $1,085.
- Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card: Earn 80,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. This bonus is worth up to $1,628 when you include the value of the 25,000-point Global Companion Award, according to TPG’s valuations.
- Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card: Earn 70,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. The points in this bonus are worth $1,085, per TPG’s valuations.
Even though these current offers are solid, the cobranded cards aren’t your only options. In fact, other transferable rewardscards can provide strong earning rates on Alaska Airlines flights and may be a better fit if you don’t need airline-specific benefits.
We’ve compiled a list of the best credit cards to use for booking Alaska flights.
Here’s a breakdown of the top options.
Comparing the best credit cards for Alaska Airlines flights
The right card depends on whether you prioritize Alaska-specific benefits or earning flexible rewards.
| Card name | Earning rate on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| <strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/6951?pid=6951&name=Atmos%E2%84%A2%20Rewards%20Ascent%20Visa%20Signature%C2%AE%20credit%20card&issuer=Bank%20of%20America” target=”_blank”>Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature credit card</a> </strong>($95 annual fee) | 3 points per dollar spent | Best for Alaska perks for a low annual fee |
| <strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/10987?pid=10987&name=Atmos%E2%84%A2%20Rewards%20Summit%20Visa%20Infinite%C2%AE%20credit%20card&issuer=Bank%20of%20America” target=”_blank”>Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite credit card</a> </strong>($395 annual fee) | 3 points per dollar spent | Best for frequent Alaska flyers who can maximize premium perks |
| <strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/6338?pid=6338&name=Atmos%E2%84%A2%20Rewards%20Visa%20Signature%C2%AE%20Business%20Card&issuer=Bank%20of%20America” target=”_blank”>Atmos Rewards Visa Signature Business Card</a> </strong>($70 annual fee for the company and $25 each year for each card issued) | 3 points per dollar spent | Best for small businesses that frequently fly Alaska |
| <a target=”_blank” href=”https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/reviews/hawaiian-airlines-world-elite-mastercard-review/”><strong>Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®</strong></a> ($99 annual fee) | 3 points per dollar spent | Best for frequent Hawaiian Airlines flyers |
| <a target=”_blank” href=”https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/reviews/hawaiian-airlines-business-card-review/”><strong>Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Business Mastercard®</strong></a> ($99 annual fee) | 3 points per dollar spent | Best for small businesses that frequently fly Hawaiian |
| <strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/22504813?pid=22504813&name=American%20Express%20Platinum%20Card%C2%AE&issuer=American%20Express” target=”_blank”>American Express Platinum Card®</a> </strong>($895 annual fee; see <a href=”/tc/22504813?pid=22504813&name=American%20Express%20Platinum%20Card%C2%AE&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>) | <span style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>5 points per dollar spent (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)</span> | Best for travelers who often book flights with cash |
| <strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/221211836?pid=221211836&name=Chase%20Sapphire%20Reserve%C2%AE&issuer=Chase” target=”_blank”>Chase Sapphire Reserve®</a> </strong>($795 annual fee; see <a href=”/tc/221211836?pid=221211836&name=Chase%20Sapphire%20Reserve%C2%AE&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>) <p> </p> |
4 points per dollar spent (or 8 points per dollar spent if booked through <a target=”_blank” href=”https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/ultimate-rewards-travel-portal/”>Chase Travel℠</a>) | Best for flexible travel benefits |
| <strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/10652?pid=10652&name=Citi%20Strata%20Premier%C2%AE%20Card&issuer=Citi” target=”_blank”>Citi Strata Premier® Card</a> </strong>($95 annual fee; see <a href=”/tc/10652?pid=10652&name=Citi%20Strata%20Premier%C2%AE%20Card&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>) | 3 points per dollar spent | Best for Alaska flyers who also redeem with American Airlines |
| <strong><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/capital-one-venture-x-rewards-credit-card/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card</a> </strong>($395 annual fee) | 2 miles per dollar spent (or 5 miles per dollar spent if booked in the <a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/capital-one-travel-portal/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Capital One Travel</a> portal) | Best for simple transferable rewards and premium travel perks |
The information for the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite and Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
What benefits do these cards offer on Alaska Airlines flights?
The biggest difference comes down to the type of card you carry: Co-branded cards offer benefits specifically for Alaska and Hawaiian flyers, while transferable-rewards cards prioritize flexibility.
Atmos and Hawaiian Airlines card benefits
If perks like free checked bags, preferred boarding and companion benefits matter to you, the Atmos and Hawaiian Airlines cards have the advantage.
| Card | Alaska- and Hawaiian-related benefits from the card |
|---|---|
| <strong>Atmos Ascent</strong> | <ul> <li>Annual Companion Fare ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $6,000 on purchases within the prior anniversary year</li> <li>First checked bag free for you and up to six companions on the same reservation*</li> <li>Preferred boarding for Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines*</li> <li>20% back on inflight purchases*</li> <li>$100 off an Alaska Lounge+ membership</li> </ul> |
| <strong>Atmos Summit</strong> | <ul> <li>Annual Global Companion Award with the ability to earn another after meeting a spending requirement</li> <li>Eight annual Alaska Lounge passes and eight annual Wi-Fi passes (two of each per quarter)</li> <li>First checked bag free for you and up to six companions on the same reservation*</li> <li>Preferred boarding for Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines*</li> <li>20% back on inflight purchases*</li> </ul> |
| <strong>Atmos Business</strong> | <ul> <li>Annual Companion Fare ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $6,000 on purchases within the prior anniversary year</li> <li>First checked bag free for you and up to six companions on the same reservation*</li> <li>Preferred boarding for Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines*</li> <li>20% back on inflight purchases*</li> <li>$100 off an Alaska Lounge+ membership</li> </ul> |
| <strong>Hawaiian World Elite</strong> | <ul> <li>One-time 50%-off companion discount</li> <li>Two free checked bags*</li> </ul> |
| <strong>Hawaiian Business</strong> | <ul> <li>One-time 50%-off companion discount</li> </ul> |
*Must pay with the card to receive benefits.
Transferable-rewards card benefits
Transferable-rewards cards generally don’t offer the same airline-specific perks, but some include travel credits that can help offset eligible Alaska or Hawaiian purchases.
| Card | Relevant Benefits |
|---|---|
| <strong>Amex Platinum</strong> | You can choose Alaska Airlines as your preferred airline to cover up to $200 per calendar year in <a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/choosing-your-amex-platinum-200-airline-fee-credit/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>airline incidental statement credits</a> for things like checked baggage or preferred-seat fees (enrollment required) |
| <strong>Chase Sapphire Reserve</strong> | You can use your $300 in <a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/chase-sapphire-reserve-annual-travel-credit/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>annual travel credits</a> offered on the card toward eligible Alaska or Hawaiian travel purchases |
| <strong>Citi Strata Premier</strong> | No Alaska-specific benefits |
| <strong>Capital One Venture X Rewards</strong> | You can apply your $300 <a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/capital-one-venture-x-travel-credit/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>annual travel </a><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/capital-one-venture-x-travel-credit/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>credit</a> toward eligible Alaska or Hawaiian flights booked through the Capital One Travel portal. |
Should I choose an Atmos card or a transferable rewards card?
If bonus perks are what you’re looking for, the Atmos Rewards cobranded cards are your best bet. This is because you’ll receive a free checked bag, preferred boarding and a discount on inflight purchases when flying with Alaska and using one of these cards.
Note that you also get two free checked bags on Alaska flights when using the personal Hawaiian Airlines card.
Now, if you never check a bag with Alaska and don’t prioritize priority boarding, you’ll generally earn more rewards with a transferable rewards card that earns bonus points on airfare.
The same sentiment holds true if you hold elite status on Alaska, American Airlines or another Oneworld carrier. With elite status, you’ll receive free checked bags and priority boarding (along with other perks, depending on your tier of status), regardless of the card you buy your ticket with.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 4 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with an airline. Cards that earn transferable points may also offer more comprehensive travel protections than Atmos Rewards cards.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether you value Alaska-specific perks or flexible rewards more.
Bottom line
For Alaska flyers who regularly check bags and value airline-specific perks, an Atmos Rewards card will often provide the most immediate value. The Ascent offers many of those benefits for a lower annual fee, while the Summit provides a more premium set of perks for frequent flyers.
The current elevated welcome offers on the Atmos cards can make them even more compelling if you’re considering adding one to your wallet.
But if you already receive those benefits through elite status or care more about earning transferable rewards, one of the other cards in this comparison may be a better fit.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Source: thepointsguy.com
