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At first glance, it’s obvious the is positioned as the premium card for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines loyalists.
Look beneath the surface, however, and there’s a trove of rewards for multiple types of travelers to enjoy with this card and the Atmos Rewards program — especially if you frequently fly with Oneworld alliance members such as American Airlines, British Airways and Qantas.
Take it from me: I live in the southeastern U.S. (about as far from the Pacific Northwest as you can get), but I highly value Atmos Rewards points because I can use them to book tickets on American, the airline I fly most often, at an excellent value.
Of course, the Atmos Rewards Summit is a stellar option for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flyers and those based in the Pacific Northwest. But even if you’re based outside of that footprint, there’s a lot to love here. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Atmos Rewards Summit: The basics
The is a cobranded airline card for Atmos Rewards members. Atmos Rewards is the joint loyalty program for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. The card earns Atmos Rewards points, which TPG’s July 2026 valuations place at 1.55 cents apiece (one of the highest airline currency valuations).
The card charges an annual fee of $395.
The Atmos Rewards Summit provides a solid suite of airline-specific benefits when you fly Alaska or Hawaiian, including your first checked bag free and preferred boarding when you purchase airfare with your card. Cardholders also receive an annual 25,000-point Global Companion Award.
Cardholders also have a faster path to Atmos Rewards elite status, as they earn 1 status point for every $2 spent (with no spending cap) and receive an anniversary status points boost.
One of my favorite card perks is the Atmos Rewards Summit’s standout earning rates, which are especially impressive compared to other airline cobranded cards. A top highlight is that cardholders earn 3 points per dollar spent on all foreign transactions, an unusual (and potentially quite lucrative) bonus category.
The best way to redeem the Atmos Rewards points you’ll earn on the Atmos Rewards Summit is for flights on Alaska, Hawaiian, Oneworld airlines and other partner airlines. Since Atmos Rewards retained Alaska Airlines’ advantageous partner award chart, there are multiple sweet-spot redemption options.
Related: 10 best ways to redeem 100,000 Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points
Atmos Rewards Summit pros and cons
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Related: Why this is the most rewarding airline card for international travelers
Atmos Rewards Summit benefits
The provides multiple benefits when you fly Alaska and Hawaiian, but there are perks to enjoy in other parts of the travel journey as well.
Airline-specific benefits
These three benefits kick in when you purchase a fare on Alaska or Hawaiian with your Atmos Rewards Summit:
- Free checked bag: The cardholder and up to six guests on the same reservation get their first checked bag free.
- Free points sharing: Cardholders can send and receive Atmos Rewards points to and from up to 10 other Atmos Rewards members for no additional charge.
- Preferred boarding: The cardholder and up to six guests on the same reservation receive preferred boarding.
The following perks are exclusive to Alaska Airlines flights, though they are expected to eventually be extended to Hawaiian Airlines flights as well:
- Departure delay voucher: Travelers will receive a $50 voucher if their Alaska Airlines flight is canceled or delayed more than two hours.
- No change fees: You won’t pay a change fee for same-day changes with Alaska.
Annual companion award
The Atmos Rewards Summit provides an annual 25,000-point Global Companion Award that offers a discount on a second award ticket on Alaska, Hawaiian or a partner airline in any cabin class. When factoring in TPG’s valuations, this perk is worth $388.
High-spenders who put $60,000 or more on their Atmos Rewards Summit can earn a second 100,000-point Global Companion Award. This is worth $1,550, per TPG’s valuations.
Elite status boost
- Anniversary status points: Receive 10,000 status points every card anniversary. This points boost puts you halfway to earning Atmos Rewards Silver status.
- Faster path to elite status: Earn 1 status point for every $2 spent, with no spending cap. By spending $20,000 with the Summit card, you’ll earn Atmos Rewards Silver status (which includes Oneworld Ruby status). If you spend $60,000 with the card, you’ll earn Atmos Rewards Gold status (equivalent to Oneworld Sapphire status).
Lounge passes
Cardholders receive eight total Alaska Lounge passes each calendar year, earned as two passes each quarter. These passes can be shared with friends and family if you already have an Alaska Lounge membership.
You must be traveling on a same-day ticketed flight on Alaska, Hawaiian, Oneworld or a partner airline to receive access with your lounge pass. A standard day pass costs $65 per person.
Other benefits
Other key perks include:
While these perks certainly help offset the Atmos Rewards Summit’s $395 annual fee, it’s worth noting that this card doesn’t offer a full Alaska Lounge membership or statement credits. This could be a downside for cardholders who want more benefits from a premium card.
However, if you use the Global Companion Award and check one free bag each year, you’ll come out ahead on the card’s annual fee.
Related: Is the Atmos Rewards Summit worth the annual fee?
How to earn and use Atmos Rewards points
Earning points
cardholders earn:
- 3 points per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- 3 points per dollar spent on eligible dining purchases and foreign transactions
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Cardholders who have an eligible Bank of America account also earn a 10% rewards bonus on all points earned from card purchases.
The Atmos Rewards Summit’s bonus category for all foreign transactions will be attractive to many travelers who frequently take international trips, making this a standout card for a wide range of spenders. The earning rate for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases is standard for an airline cobranded card.
Redeeming points
There are many ways to redeem Atmos Rewards points. The best choice is to redeem for free flights on Alaska, Hawaiian, Oneworld airlines or partner airlines.
I frequently redeem Atmos Rewards points for short-haul domestic American Airlines flights, starting at 4,500 points one-way. I’ve flown from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to visit friends for 4,500 Atmos Rewards points on multiple occasions.
If an international flight in luxury is more your speed, you can fly from the West Coast to Tokyo in Japan Airlines’ business class or to Taipei, Taiwan, in Starlux Airlines’ ultramodern, swanky business class from 75,000 points.
Transferring points
The Atmos Rewards Summit offers a unique benefit in the world of cobranded airline cards, as you can transfer the Atmos Rewards points earned on this card to certain hotel partners. These are:
However, you may not want to use your points this way unless you have a specific hotel redemption you’re ready to book and need to top off your balance. Otherwise, your best use of Atmos Rewards points is to book award tickets for flights.
Related: Beginners guide to finding award space with ExpertFlyer
Where the Atmos Rewards Summit falls short
The may not be the best fit for all types of travelers. Here are some downsides to consider:
- Some benefits, such as free checked bags and preferred boarding, are only usable on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights; that could be a deterrent if you aren’t frequently flying with these carriers.
- The card does not provide broad lounge access and grants only two Alaska Lounge passes per quarter.
- You have to pay a high annual fee.
- Your rewards are limited to Atmos Rewards points, which have fewer redemption options than transferable credit card rewards.
Atmos Rewards Summit vs. Atmos Rewards Ascent
If you’re interested in an Atmos Rewards card but don’t want to pay a $395 annual fee for premium perks, I recommend considering the instead.
The Atmos Rewards Ascent charges a $95 annual fee and offers perks similar to those of the Atmos Rewards Summit when flying on Alaska or Hawaiian, including free checked bags and preferred boarding.
Atmos Rewards Ascent cardholders can earn an annual $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) upon each account anniversary after spending $6,000 or more within the prior anniversary year.
The Atmos Rewards Summit doesn’t include this perk, and it may be more enticing to certain travelers. However, it’s worth noting that the Atmos Rewards Summit’s 25,000-point Global Companion Award is a comparable benefit and is valued at a much higher $350, per TPG’s valuations.
To learn more, read our showdown of the Atmos Rewards Ascent versus the Atmos Rewards Summit.
When to apply for the Atmos Rewards Summit
The currently offers new cardholders the chance to 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.
Per TPG’s valuations, the points and the Global Companion Award included in this bonus are worth $1,628.
In terms of points awarded, this isn’t the best offer we’ve ever seen in the Atmos Rewards Summit’s offer history, but it meets our threshold of when to apply.
Since Bank of America issues the Atmos Rewards Summit, you’ll most likely be subject to the 2/3/4 rule. This means you can only get approved for two new Bank of America cards in a 30-day period, three cards in a 12-month period and four cards in a 24-month period.
In addition, datapoints suggest Bank of America is inquiry-sensitive, so it may be worth waiting several months from your last hard inquiry before applying.
TPG staffers have also found that Bank of America strongly prefers prospective cardholders to have an existing relationship with the bank, so it’s likely worth opening and using a checking or savings account with it for a few months before applying.
Related: Best welcome offers of this month
Other cards to consider instead of the Atmos Rewards Summit
If the isn’t the card for you, one of these competitors may be a better fit:
- If you prefer to earn transferable rewards: The (see rates and fees) earns transferable Bilt Points that can be moved to Atmos Rewards. It provides Priority Pass lounge access* and several perks for those ready to dive into Bilt’s ecosystem. To learn more, read our full review of the Bilt Palladium.
- If you’re considering another card in the Oneworld alliance: The (see rates and fees) is a premium airline card that earns American Airlines AAdvantage miles to redeem with American Airlines, one of Atmos Rewards’ Oneworld partners. It provides an Admirals Club membership for those interested in airport lounge access. To learn more, read our full review of the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite.
- If you own a small business: The is an excellent choice for small-business owners who want to earn Atmos Rewards points. It earns a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after you spend $6,000 in the previous account anniversary year and charges a modest $95 annual fee ($70 for your company and $25 per card). To learn more, read our full review of the Atmos Rewards Business.
For additional options, see our list of the best airline credit cards.
*A maximum benefit amount and certain restrictions and limitations apply. Please review the Mastercard Guide to Benefits for more details.
Related: Why I’m considering a Citi credit card as an Alaska Airlines fan
Bottom line
The Atmos Rewards Summit provides fantastic value for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flyers ready to go all in on their joint loyalty program. The card’s 25,000-point Global Companion Award, Alaska Lounge passes and high earning rate on foreign transactions are unique benefits that new cardholders should consider.
However, if you’re more of a casual traveler and aren’t chasing Atmos Rewards elite status, you may be better off with its sister card, the mid-tier .
Overall, Atmos Rewards points are a standout currency that can unlock redemptions across the Oneworld alliance, so the Atmos Rewards Summit is worth a look regardless of where you’re flying from.
Apply for the chance to 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:
