Final August, after months of anticipation, Alaska Airways unveiled the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card — and its debut set the bank card world abuzz.
Sure, it had among the perks you’d look forward to finding on any premium cobranded airline credit card, resembling a free checked bag for you and as much as six friends on the identical reservation while you pay in your flight together with your card, most popular boarding and a level of lounge entry. However it additionally had a slate of progressive advantages that made it our runaway choose for Finest New Private Credit score Card on the 2026 TPG Awards.
As a Portland, Oregon, resident and frequent Alaska Airways flyer, I used to be fast so as to add the cardboard to my very own rotation. However you need not stay close to Alaska’s Pacific Northwest hubs and even usually fly the airline to reap substantial worth. In actual fact, loads of my fellow TPG staffers scattered throughout the nation, together with a number of primarily based in New York and Florida — that are nearly as far-off as you will get within the Decrease 48 — utilized.
Here is a have a look at the options that set this card aside from the competitors final 12 months and made including it to our wallets a no brainer.
Associated: I’ve never flown Alaska Airlines before — here’s why I want its new premium credit card
Incomes charges
The Atmos Rewards Summit has some sturdy incomes charges, together with a standout multiplier on worldwide purchases that rapidly caught the attention of many TPG staffers. Cardholders earn:
- 3 factors per greenback spent on Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways purchases
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible eating purchases
- 3 factors per greenback spent on international transactions
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
You will additionally earn a ten% rewards bonus on all factors earned from card purchases you probably have an eligible Financial institution of America account.
The international transaction charge makes the cardboard the very best choose for purchases overseas, and when you spend a major period of time (or cash) exterior the nation, it is a purpose to use in its personal proper. Shortly after taking out the cardboard, I took my household to Portugal and racked up tons of factors on purchases that sometimes solely earn 1 level per greenback, together with child provides, boat tour tickets and memento bottles of port.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
The three factors per greenback spent on eligible eating purchases is one other good characteristic, contemplating how worthwhile Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards factors are — and the way tough they’ve beforehand been to earn by bank card spending. TPG values them at 1.5 cents per level, per our February 2026 valuations, which means you will get a 4.5% return on every eating greenback spent.
International Companion Awards
On the advantages aspect, the cardboard’s International Companion Awards steal the highlight. Every anniversary, cardholders obtain a 25,000-point award, and so they can earn a second award value 100,000 factors after spending $60,000 or extra on purchases every anniversary 12 months.
The annual perk reductions the award worth for a second particular person touring on an itinerary with Alaska Airways, Hawaiian Airways or a companion airline, and so they apply to tickets in any cabin class. For instance, if you wish to journey one-way from Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) in enterprise class with fellow Oneworld alliance member American Airways, a ticket prices 55,000 Atmos Rewards factors. The first traveler would pay that sum, whereas the companion’s flight, after making use of the 25,000-point award, would price 30,000 factors for a complete of 85,000 factors (plus taxes and costs) for a one-way flight.
In financial system, the place a ticket for the first traveler solely prices 27,500 factors, the grand complete for 2 tickets could be simply 30,000 factors (plus taxes and costs).
Associated: Alaska Trifecta: Why I signed up for the new premium Atmos Rewards Summit credit card
Elite standing boosts
If securing elite standing is in your imaginative and prescient board this 12 months, you’ll be able to’t do higher than the Atmos Rewards Summit. The cardboard not solely affords 10,000 standing factors for each card anniversary — a tally that may put you midway to incomes Atmos Rewards Silver standing — however it features a spending-based standing fast-track, too.
Cardholders earn an uncapped 1 standing level for each $2 spent on the cardboard, marking the quickest path to standing accessible on any airline bank card. By placing $20,000 on the Summit, you will lock in Atmos Rewards Silver standing (equal to Oneworld Ruby standing), and by spending $60,000, you will earn Atmos Rewards Gold standing (equal to Oneworld Sapphire standing).
Different journey advantages (for an affordable payment)
Like different premium journey playing cards, the Atmos Rewards Summit sports activities a bunch of extra advantages that assist offset its $395 annual payment — which, by right this moment’s requirements, is on the decrease aspect for a premium product.
Lots of these might help make the journey expertise smoother and extra snug, together with:
- Eight Alaska Airways lounge passes per 12 months (two per calendar quarter)
- A free checked bag for you and as much as six friends on the identical reservation while you pay in your flight together with your card
- Most well-liked boarding
- Free factors sharing
- Waived same-day confirmed charges
- An on the spot $50 voucher for cancelations or 2+ hour departure delay
- Waived reserving charges on companion award redemptions
These waived companion award reserving charges on their very own can actually add up, with charges beginning at $12.50 per particular person one-way. When reserving round-trip companion award flights for a household of three like mine, I am going to save at the very least $75.
Backside line
Alaska Airways shook up the airline card market in the absolute best approach with the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa. The cardboard’s distinctive international transactions bonus class and its slate of progressive advantages differentiated it from different premium playing cards and airline cobranded playing cards available on the market — and scored it the Finest New Private Credit score Card win on the TPG Awards alongside the best way.
To be taught extra in regards to the card, learn our full review of the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa.
Apply right here: Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite Credit Card
Trending Merchandise
