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Is the Atmos Rewards Summit worth the annual fee?

Oct. 08, 2025
9 min read
Planes at San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
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Editor's Note

TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser.

The Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card is getting a lot of hype ... and for good reason.

This premium Alaska Airlines card has long been anticipated for years and was launched in August with the introduction of the merged Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines loyalty program, Atmos Rewards. The Atmos Rewards family of cobranded cards issued by Bank of America now consists of three cards.

The card offers a unique value proposition for frequent and infrequent Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines flyers.

But with a $395 annual fee, you may ask, is the Atmos Summit worth it?

Let's jump into the details you need to know to answer this question.

Welcome bonus

New Atmos Rewards Summit applicants can earn 100,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $6,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.

This offer is worth up to $1,875 based on TPG's October 2025 valuations.

alaska airlines boeing 737 sea
An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 in Seattle. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

The value of the welcome offer alone covers almost five times the annual fee, but let's look at the other benefits the card offers that will help you determine if you should keep the card year after year.

It's important to note that Bank of America does have a 2/3/4 application rule, which means you can only be approved for:

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  • Two new cards in a 30-day period
  • Three new cards in a 12-month period
  • Four new cards in a 24-month period

Related: 10 best ways to redeem 100,000 Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points

Unique earning potential

The Atmos Rewards Summit has a unique earning structure, including an innovative earning structure on foreign purchases.

You'll earn Atmos Rewards points, some of the most valuable airline rewards based on our October 2025 valuations, in the following categories:

  • 3 points per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases (4.5% return)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on eligible dining purchases (4.5% return)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on foreign transactions (4.5% return)
  • 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases (1.5% return)
Using a mobile wallet to pay
JLCO-JULIA AMARAL/GETTY IMAGES

Arguably, the best part about this card is its ability to earn an unlimited 3 points per dollar spent on foreign transactions. While many cards may cover you on foreign purchases that fall into bonus categories like travel and dining, with the Atmos Summit, you won't have to worry about remembering bonus categories, as any eligible purchases abroad will net you 3 points per dollar spent.

Plus, you'll earn a respectable 3 points per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases, a fairly typical earning rate for a cobranded airline card. It also offers a solid 3 points per dollar spent on dining.

Earning Atmos Rewards points can unlock numerous flight redemption possibilities, especially with many sweet spot redemptions.

Related: Which credit card should you use for Alaska Airlines flights?

Global Companion Awards

Atmos Rewards Summit cardholders receive:

  • One 25,000-point Global Companion Award with the welcome offer
  • One 25,000-point Global Companion Award every account anniversary
  • The ability to earn a 100,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $60,000 or more on your card in a calendar year

This companion award essentially functions as a discount on two award tickets.

For example, let's say you want to book two business-class seats on Hawaiian Airlines' newly launched route from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Seoul, South Korea's Incheon International Airport (ICN) and each seat costs 75,000 points. Normally, two seats would cost you 150,000 points, but with the 25,000-point Global Companion Award, you'd only need 125,000 points for both seats.

It's important to note that these companion awards cannot be stacked and expire one year after they're issued. However, you can book a flight that takes place after the expiration date, as long as you make the booking before the award expires. Any unused value will be forfeited.

Seoul, South Korea Skyline
USCHOOLS/GETTY IMAGES

And if you mustered up enough spending to earn the 100,000-point award, it would only cost you 50,000 points for two business-class seats.

However, the real value in these certificates is that they can be used on Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines or any of Alaska's partners.

And remember, Alaska still uses a fixed award chart, so you could use these awards on carriers like Starlux Airlines or get an absolute steal on American Airlines, which offers business-class options to Tokyo for as few as 55,000 points, so you could book two seats for 85,000 points with the 25,000-point Global Companion Award.

I wouldn't go out of my way to spend $60,000 in order to earn the 100,000-point Global Companion Award, but if you can meet the spending requirement organically, this is a nice benefit that can save you a boatload of points.

Related: Why American Airlines flyers should pay attention to Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards

Elite status boosts

The Atmos Rewards Summit offers two elite status boosts, helping you get closer to Atmos Rewards status. Cardholders receive:

  • 10,000 status points every card anniversary
  • 1 status point for every $2 spent, with no spending cap

The 10,000 status points earned every card anniversary put you halfway toward Atmos Rewards Silver status. You'd only need to spend $20,000 on your card to reach Atmos Rewards Silver status (which nets you Oneworld Ruby status) or $60,000 to qualify for Atmos Rewards Gold status (which gets you Oneworld Sapphire status). Remember, if you're able to spend $60,000, you'll also get a 100,000-point Global Companion Award.

If you're looking to earn airline status without flying, the Atmos Rewards Summit is the card for you.

Related: Atmos Rewards reveal: 5 under-the-radar perks, from upgrades to lounge access

Lounge passes

The Atmos Rewards Summit gives cardholders eight lounge passes per year (two per calendar quarter). Alaska lounge day passes cost $60 per person, but I personally value them at about $35.

These passes can be gifted to friends and family if you already have an Alaska lounge membership. Plus, cardholders receive access to an elevated bar experience at lounges that includes a selection of cardholder-exclusive premium drinks, such as The Summit Sunset, a Woodford Reserve bourbon-based cocktail.

Summit Sunset cocktail available at the Alaska Lounge.
JOE NICHOLSON/ALASKA AIRLINES

If you fly Alaska frequently, you'll likely use these passes pretty easily. This is a nice benefit that can help offset some of the annual fee costs.

Related: 9 domestic lounges that are worth going out of your way for

Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines perks

Like most cobranded airline cards, you receive a slew of typical benefits, such as priority boarding and a free checked bag.

Free checked bag

Cardholders and up to eight companions traveling with them receive a free checked bag on Alaska- and Hawaiian-operated flights.

Checked bags on the conbeyor belt at Singapore Airport

Priority boarding

Cardholders and up to eight companions traveling with them will receive Group 5 priority boarding on Alaska Airlines flights. Priority boarding on Hawaiian Airlines flights will follow later in the fall.

Alaska Airlines-specific benefits

Cardholders also receive no same-day change fees on Alaska-operated flights and a $50 departure delay voucher for flights delayed over two hours. Plus, you can share your points for free with up to 10 Atmos Rewards members. This is similar to JetBlue's family pooling.

Other perks

Cardholders receive other perks like:

Related: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?

Is the Atmos Summit Card worth it?

If you're a frequent Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines flyer or a frequent international traveler who values Atmos Rewards points, the Atmos Rewards Summit is worth the annual fee. Additionally, if you're looking to fast-track your way to status, this card is the way to go.

Even if you don't fly Alaska or Hawaiian as frequently or travel abroad regularly, the annual fee is worth it if you're looking to get started with the Atmos Rewards ecosystem.

Why you may be suited for another card

If you don't want to pay a high annual fee or rarely travel internationally but still want to earn Atmos Rewards points, you may want to try the Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Credit Card, which earns 3 points per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases.

Or, you could try a travel rewards card like the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees), which earns bonus points in a handful of everyday spending categories (use the card five times each statement period to earn points), and the points earned on this card can be transferred to Atmos Rewards.

Related: Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature card review: Earn valuable airline points

Bottom line

The Atmos Rewards Summit is an excellent option for frequent or infrequent Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines flyers. With unmatched earnings on foreign purchases, Global Companion Awards and a handful of useful benefits when flying Alaska or Hawaiian, the card certainly seems like it will live up to the hype and be worth the annual fee year after year.

To learn more, read our full review of the Atmos Summit.


Apply here: Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card


For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.

Featured image by ANDALOU/GETTY IMAGES
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.