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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 rewards cards 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.
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.
Related: Atmos Rewards Ascent vs. Business: Which $95 Alaska-Hawaiian card should you get?
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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 |
|---|---|
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*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 |
|---|---|
You can choose Alaska Airlines as your preferred airline to cover up to $200 per calendar year in airline incidental statement credits for things like checked baggage or preferred-seat fees (enrollment required) | |
You can use your $300 in annual travel credits offered on the card toward eligible Alaska or Hawaiian travel purchases | |
No Alaska-specific benefits | |
Capital One Venture X Rewards | You can apply your $300 annual travel credit toward eligible Alaska or Hawaiian flights booked through the Capital One Travel portal. |
Related: The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison
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.
Related: Your complete guide to Oneworld alliance benefits
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.
Related: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.
