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 some great bonuses:
- Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card: Earn 80,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 120 days from account opening. Plus, receive a 50% flight discount code for a qualifying future flight after opening your new account. Based on TPG’s April 2026 valuations, the points-only part of this offer is worth $1,120.
- Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card: Earn 100,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $6,500 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. Plus, receive a 50% flight discount code for a qualifying future flight after opening your new account. This bonus is worth up to $1,750 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 80,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. The points in this bonus are worth $1,120, 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 could provide stellar earnings on Alaska Airlines flights.
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
Here is a quick overview of the best cards for Alaska Airlines flights, along with their earning rates and benefits.
| Card name | Earning rate on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights | Value of the rewards earned* | Alaska- and Hawaiian-related benefits from the card | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 points per dollar spent |
4.2 cents |
|
$95 |
|
|
3 points per dollar spent |
4.2 cents |
|
$395 |
|
|
3 points per dollar spent |
4.2 cents |
|
$70 for the company and $25 for each card issued |
|
|
3 points per dollar spent |
4.2 cents |
|
$99 |
|
|
3 points per dollar spent |
4.2 cents |
One-time 50%-off companion discount |
$99 |
|
|
5 points per dollar spent (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent) |
10 cents |
None, but you can choose Alaska Airlines as your preferred airline to cover up to $200 per year in airline incidental statement credits for things like checked baggage or preferred-seat fees (enrollment required)
|
||
|
4 points per dollar spent (or 8 points per dollar spent if booked through Chase Travel℠)
|
8.2 cents (or 16.4 cents) |
$795 |
||
|
3 points per dollar spent |
5.7 cents |
None |
$95 |
|
|
3 points per dollar spent |
6 cents |
None |
$150 |
|
|
2 miles per dollar spent (or 5 miles per dollar spent if booked in the Capital One Travel portal)
|
3.7 cents (or 9.3 cents if booked through Capital One Travel) |
None, but you can offset some of your purchases with the $300 annual travel credit available when booking through Capital One Travel
|
$395 |
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated with TPG’s valuations and not by the card issuer.
**Must pay with the card to receive benefits.
The information for the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite, Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business and American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
Related: Atmos Rewards Ascent vs. Business: Which $95 Alaska-Hawaiian card should you get?
Which card should you use for Alaska Airlines flights?
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.
And, right now, the Atmos Rewards cobranded cards are offering solid bonuses, including a 50% flight discount code on the two personal cards (for a qualifying future flight on Alaska or Hawaiian purchased with cash).
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.
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.
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.
A card with these perks wouldn’t be as impactful for status holders.
Related: Your complete guide to Oneworld alliance benefits
Bottom line
An Atmos Rewards card is likely the best option for frequent Alaska flyers. That’s because you’ll get a free checked bag, inflight discounts and access to preferred boarding that can help outweigh the card’s annual fees.
Plus, these cards are currently offering stellar bonuses that could deliver even more value to Alaska flyers.
But if you have Alaska elite status and would rather earn transferable points, one of the other cards we listed here may be a better choice.
Related: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
