The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature is the mid-tier personal card in the Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines lineup, issued by Bank of America. At just $95 per year, it's the sweet spot of the Atmos card family — delivering the core airline perks (free bags, companion fare, bonus earning) without the $395 premium of the Summit.

This is the card that most Alaska/Hawaiian flyers should start with. The annual $99 Companion Fare alone can save you $200-$500 on a single domestic round trip, and you get free checked bags, 3X on airline purchases, and 2X on everyday categories like gas, streaming, and transit. It's a practical, no-nonsense airline card that pays for itself almost immediately.

If you're trying to decide between this and the Summit, the question is simple: do you need lounge access and the Global Companion Award for partner premium cabins? If yes, Summit. If you just want a killer companion fare and solid everyday earning for $95, this is your card.

• $99 Companion Fare — earn a $99 companion fare (plus taxes/fees from $23) each anniversary year when you spend $6,000+ in the prior year. Valid on Alaska and Hawaiian flights within North America.
• Free first checked bag for you and up to 6 companions on the same reservation when purchased with the card.
• 20% back on inflight purchases — food, drinks, and Wi-Fi on Alaska and Hawaiian flights.
• $100 off Alaska Lounge+ annual membership when purchased with the card.
• 3 status points per $1 spent on all card purchases with no cap — a faster path to Atmos elite status than the Summit's 1 per $2.
• Priority boarding on Alaska and Hawaiian flights.
• No foreign transaction fees

Annual Fee: $95 per year.

Foreign Transaction Fees: None.

The value math is simple:

• $95 annual fee
• Minus the $99 Companion Fare (saves $200-$500+ on a domestic round trip — you just need to spend $6K on the card first)
• Minus free checked bags ($35 each way = $70 per round trip for one person)
• Minus 20% inflight savings

One companion fare trip and a couple of checked bag savings, and you're already in the black. This is one of the easiest airline card fees to justify in the entire market.

Current offer: Earn 70,000 bonus Atmos Rewards points plus a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes/fees from $23) after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days.

At roughly 1.5 cents per point, those 70,000 points are worth around $1,050 in flights. Add the companion fare on top and you're looking at $1,200+ in first-year value from a card with a $95 fee. That's an exceptional return.

The $3,000 spend requirement is very reasonable — most people can hit that with normal spending in 90 days without trying to manufacture anything.

3X points per $1 on:

• Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases

2X points per $1 on:

• Gas stations and EV charging
• Streaming services and cable
• Local transit (ride-hailing, trains, tolls, ferries)

1X point per $1 on all other purchases.

Bank of America bonus: Eligible BofA checking/savings holders get a 10% boost on all earnings, turning 3X into 3.3X, 2X into 2.2X, etc.

Status points: 3 status points per $1 spent on all purchases with no cap — actually a better status-earning rate than the Summit's 1 per $2.

The 2X bonus categories are thoughtfully chosen for everyday spending. Gas, streaming, and transit are expenses most households already have, so you're earning bonus points without changing behavior.

Atmos Rewards points redeem for flights on Alaska, Hawaiian, and the Oneworld alliance, plus additional airline partners.

• Best value: Partner business and first class — same access as the Summit card. Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qantas, and other Oneworld partners offer premium cabin redemptions worth 3-5+ cents per point.
• Good value: Alaska/Hawaiian domestic flights at roughly 1.5-2 cents per point.
• Companion Fare: Your annual $99 companion fare works on Alaska and Hawaiian flights within North America — great for domestic and Hawaii trips.

The key difference from the Summit: you get a $99 Companion Fare (domestic only) instead of the 25,000-point Global Companion Award (any cabin, any partner). For most people flying domestically, the companion fare is arguably more practical and guaranteed to save real money.

• $99 Companion Fare annually (after $6K spend) — valid on Alaska and Hawaiian flights in North America.
• Free first checked bag for cardholder + up to 6 guests on the same booking.
• Priority boarding on Alaska and Hawaiian.
• 20% back on inflight purchases — food, beverages, Wi-Fi.
• $100 off Alaska Lounge+ annual membership — not free access, but a nice discount if you're considering it.
• No foreign transaction fees
• Visa Signature benefits: Travel and purchase protections, auto rental collision damage waiver, extended warranty.

You don't get lounge passes like the Summit, but every other core travel perk is here. The companion fare is genuinely the anchor benefit — if you fly with a partner or friend even once a year, it pays the annual fee and then some.

The Ascent competes with other mid-tier airline cards in the $95-$99 range:

At $95 with a 70K bonus and an annual companion fare, the Ascent is the value leader in this tier. The Delta Platinum costs $255 more and offers a less generous companion cert. The United Explorer matches on fee but has a weaker bonus and no companion benefit. The Ascent punches well above its weight.

• The practical Alaska/Hawaiian flyer who wants maximum value without a premium annual fee.
• Couples and travel partners — the $99 Companion Fare is one of the best companion benefits at any price point.
• Everyday earners who want 2X on gas, streaming, and transit without carrying a separate card for those categories.
• Status seekers — 3 status points per $1 with no cap is actually a faster path to Atmos elite status than the Summit card.
• First-time airline cardholders — the $95 fee and $3K spend requirement are low barriers, and the rewards are disproportionately generous.

Skip this card if you don't fly Alaska or Hawaiian at least a couple of times per year, or if you want lounge access and global companion awards (get the Summit instead).