The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
Atmos Ascent vs. Atmos Summit: The Summit is better—but not for everyone
Becky Pokora is an avid traveler with a particular love for the outdoors. She's always looking for new ways to make travel easier, more memorable, and more affordable. You'll find stories, tips, and inspiration here and on her travel blog, sightDOING.
October 30, 2026 • 15 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
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.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Related stories
Quick summary
Two travel rewards cards tied to a major airline loyalty program offer different benefits and annual fees, catering to both occasional and frequent flyers.
The lower-fee card provides core airline perks such as a companion fare, free checked bags and preferred boarding, making it suitable for those who travel less often.
The premium card offers additional features like lounge access, faster status earning, a global companion award and fee waivers, appealing to frequent travelers seeking enhanced benefits.
Both cards earn the same points on eligible airline purchases, but differ in bonus categories and access to hotel transfer partners.
What to consider
The premium card grants lounge passes, annual status points and fee waivers, while the lower-fee option focuses on everyday spending categories and a companion fare for paid flights.
Points can be redeemed for flights on multiple partner airlines, with the premium card also allowing transfers to select hotel loyalty programs.
There are no restrictions on holding both cards, but most travelers will find one sufficient based on their travel habits and willingness to pay higher fees.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of benefits, redemption strategies and which traveler profiles are best matched to each card.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Atmos Rewards has Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines in its DNA, but its points can take you all over the world. Better yet, its two personal credit cards make it easier than ever to earn points and unlock travel perks.
The $95 Ascent includes competitive airline perks for Alaska and Hawaiian flyers, while the $395 Summit adds lounge passes, faster progress toward elite status and a Global Companion Award. Both are genuine solutions for travelers, so the question boils down to whether the extra benefits justify an added upcharge in Summit's annual fee.
For frequent Alaska and Hawaiian flyers, the answer is yes.
Earn up to 80,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare: Earn 60,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. Earn an additional 20,000 bonus points after spending a total of $5,000 on purchases, also in the first 90 days from account opening.
Earn 100,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening.
Quick picks by traveler type
Best for
Card
Occasional flyers who want core benefits for a lower annual fee
Ascent
Frequent flyers who use airport lounges
Summit
Serious Atmos-status seekers
Summit
Travelers who prefer a companion discount on paid fares rather than award flights
New applicants for the Atmos Ascent can earn up to 80,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare: Earn 60,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. Earn an additional 20,000 bonus points after spending a total of $5,000 on purchases, also in the first 90 days from account opening.
Per TPG's October 2026 valuations, the points in the current Ascent offer are worth up to $1,240. That figure does not include any potential savings from the Companion Fare.
HALFPOINT IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
Meanwhile, the Atmos Summit is offering new cardholders the ability to earn 100,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening.
That makes the Summit offer worth up to $1,938 when you combine the value of the base points and the Global Companion Award, according to TPG's valuations.
Winner: Atmos Summit. Its bonus is worth more than the Atmos Ascent.
Atmos Ascent vs. Atmos Summit: Benefits
Standout benefit
Atmos Ascent
Atmos Summit
Annual companion benefit
$99 Companion Fare after $6,000 in anniversary-year spending
25,000-point Global Companion Award each anniversary; 100,000-point award after $60,000 in anniversary-year spending
Flight perks
One free checked bag for the cardholder and up to six other passengers on the same reservation when you book with your card
Preferred boarding
20% back on inflight purchases paid for with the card
One free checked bag for the cardholder and up to six other passengers on the same reservation when you pay with your card
Preferred boarding
20% back on inflight purchases paid for with the card
Two inflight Wi-Fi passes on Alaska flights per quarter
$50 voucher for Alaska Airlines flight cancellations or departure delays of two or more hours
Lounge benefit
$100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership
Two Alaska Lounge passes per quarter
Status earning
1 status point per $3 spent
1 status point per $2 spent, plus 10,000 anniversary status points
Fee waivers
N/A
Waived partner award fees; waived same-day change fees when flying Alaska
Point sharing
N/A
Free points sharing with up to 10 other Atmos Rewards members
Airport security credits
N/A
Up to $120 in statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years
Atmos Ascent cardholders instead receive an annual $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after spending at least $6,000 on the card in the prior anniversary year.
Main cabin on a Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
The Summit's Global Companion Award effectively serves as a discount on award tickets on Alaska, Hawaiian and participating partner airlines worldwide. It can be used in any cabin, subject to award availability.
By contrast, the Ascent benefit only applies to paid Main Cabin travel within North America on flights operated by Alaska or Hawaiian, but it can still deliver significant savings. TPG director Carly Helfand saved over $400 by using the Ascent’s Companion Fare for a last-minute round trip from Portland, Oregon, to Chicago with her husband.
Lounge benefits
The Atmos Summit grants two Alaska Lounge passes per quarter. If purchased separately at $65 each, this is a $520 value. To use the pass, you must be flying on a same-day ticketed flight on an Alaska, Hawaiian, or eligible partner airline.
The Alaska Lounge in the N Concourse at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Meanwhile, Atmos Ascent cardholders receive $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership, which costs $795 per year and includes access to all Alaska Lounges and nearly 90 partner lounges.
These benefits feel somewhat mismatched: The Atmos Ascent is aimed at less frequent travelers who likely have no need for an annual Lounge+ membership. Meanwhile, someone flying often enough to want (and pay for) a Lounge+ membership is probably a better fit for the full premium perks package on the Summit card.
Regardless of which card you're leaning toward, keep in mind that the Ascent cardholder discount is not stackable with discounts available to elite members. If you already receive the same discount through Atmos status or a milestone benefit, the Ascent perk is redundant.
Summit-exclusive perks
The Atmos Summit comes with several additional benefits that may look like fine print but can make a meaningful difference. For example, Summit cardholders receive a $50 voucher for Alaska Airlines flights canceled or delayed by 2 or more hours.
While that won’t rescue your trip’s logistics, at least it takes some of the sting out of the disruption.
Lastly, the points-sharing benefit is understated but potentially useful: Instead of paying to move points to another member account, Summit cardholders can designate up to 10 Atmos members to transfer points back and forth, with no transfer fees. That's a helpful way to reach the necessary points balance for an award faster.
Winner: Atmos Summit. Its companion award, lounge passes and faster path to status make it the clear winner, while smaller perks like fee-free points sharing add even more value.
How to earn and redeem rewards with the Atmos Ascent vs. the Atmos Summit
The cards earn points at the following rates:
Spending category
Atmos Ascent
Atmos Summit
Eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
3 points per dollar spent
3 points per dollar spent
Dining
1 point per dollar spent
3 points per dollar spent
Foreign transactions
1 point per dollar spent
3 points per dollar spent
Eligible gas, electric vehicle charging and local transit
Plus, both cards earn a 10% rewards bonus on all points earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America account.
HINTERHAUS PRODUCTIONS/GETTY IMAGES
The cards earn drastically differently in non-airline spending, though. The Summit favors dining and spending abroad, while the Ascent rewards several everyday categories, especially transportation and streaming.
The Atmos Summit's bonus earnings on foreign transactions are unique in the rewards card space, making the product a fantastic option if you make many purchases outside the U.S. Meanwhile, the Ascent may be more rewarding for commuters and households with significant gas, transit, cable or streaming expenses.
Status points
In addition to redeemable award points, both cards earn points toward Atmos status with no spending caps. Atmos Summit cardholders earn 1 status point for every $2 spent on the card, while Ascent cardholders earn 1 status point for every $3 spent.
The Summit card also provides a lump sum of 10,000 status points each year on their account anniversary, putting Summit cardholders halfway to Atmos Silver before accounting for any additional flying or card spending.
Winner: Atmos Ascent. It's easy to get sidetracked by the Summit's higher earning rates, but most cardholders won't spend enough to justify an extra $300 in fees to earn a few extra points.
Redeeming points
You can redeem Atmos Rewards points earned on the Atmos Summit or Atmos Ascent in the same ways. Our favorite redemption options are for flights on Alaska, Hawaiian, Oneworld or a nonalliance partner airline.
Atmos Rewards offers outsize value thanks to its popular award chart, which is filled with redemption sweet spots to maximize. For instance, TPG lead loyalty programs writer Katie Genter recently redeemed 55,000 points to fly Condor business class from Frankfurt to Punta Cana, a ticket that ordinarily costs more than $1,500 one-way.
That represents a value of about 2.36 cents per point, even after accounting for $208 in taxes — a big step up from TPG's estimated value of Atmos Rewards points.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
However, you can find great values with economy redemptions, too. Katie also redeemed just 30,000 Atmos Rewards points to fly on Alaska Airlines' inaugural flight to Europe. This route, from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO), often sells for well over $700 one-way in high season. Another popular redemption is using Atmos Rewards points to book short-haul American Airlines flights for as few as 4,500 points.
Winner: Summit. Both cards share the same redemption options, but the Summit gets a slight edge because it waives partner award booking fees.
Transferring points with the Atmos Ascent vs. the Atmos Summit
If you have the Atmos Summit, you can transfer your Atmos Rewards points to several hotel partners shown below. The Atmos Ascent does not have this feature.
We generally don't recommend transferring your Atmos Rewards points to hotel partners, since award flights can be more valuable. However, if you have a specific redemption in mind and need just a few more points to reach it, the ability to transfer points can be an added benefit.
Winner: Atmos Summit, since it provides access to transfer partners while the Ascent does not.
Can I have both the Atmos Ascent and Atmos Summit?
Holding both could make sense if you value the Ascent's $99 Companion Fare and everyday bonus categories alongside the Summit's Global Companion Award, lounge passes and status boost. However, given the cost of the annual fees, most travelers will find one card or the other adequate for their needs.
Not everyone needs an Atmos credit card, though. Even though Atmos Rewards are fabulous for partner travel as well, a big reason to get one of these cards is for the perks when flying Alaska and Hawaiian. If they're not part of your regular travel, a general travel rewards card will offer more flexibility.
Should I get the Atmos Ascent or the Atmos Summit?
Get the Atmos Summit if you fly Alaska or Hawaiian regularly and will use its Global Companion Award, lounge passes and faster path to status. Its premium perks make it the clear choice for travelers who are deeply invested in Atmos Rewards.
Get the Atmos Ascent if you mainly want a free checked bag, preferred boarding and a lower annual fee. It delivers the basics most occasional Alaska and Hawaiian flyers need without the premium annual fee upfront.
Upgrading or downgrading between the Atmos Summit and Ascent
If you're hoping to upgrade from the Atmos Ascent to the more premium Atmos Summit, you can reach out to Bank of America and request a product change.
However, if you opt for an upgrade instead of applying, you may miss out on the Atmos Summit's welcome bonus. So, consider your options before you make a decision.
If you hold the Atmos Summit and want to downgrade to the Atmos Ascent, you can also contact Bank of America to make that product change.
There's no question the Summit has a better all-around package, but there’s no reason to pay extra if you'll leave perks untouched.
Because both cards earn the same 3 points per dollar spent on Alaska and Hawaiian purchases, the Atmos Summit doesn’t improve your return when booking flights. The extra cost in annual fees buys access, flexibility and a head start on status.
For travelers who simply fly Alaska and Hawaiian from time to time, the Atmos Ascent is a smarter fit.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
