Assessing the Value of the Atmos Ascent Card's Annually Charged Fee

AtmosTM Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Credit Card: Maximising Value for West Coast and Hawaii Travel

The AtmosTM Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card offers a unique set of benefits for travellers, particularly those looking to maximise value on flights between the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii. The card's companion fare benefit stands out, allowing a companion ticket for just $99 plus taxes on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights to popular destinations like Honolulu.

Alaska Airlines, the primary carrier for the card, operates extensively within North America, Hawaii, and Costa Rica throughout the year. This makes it an ideal choice for those frequently travelling within these regions.

One of the key advantages of the Atmos Rewards programme, which Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines share, is the ability to book short hops of less than 700 miles for just 5,000 points each way.

The AtmosTM Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card earns 3 points per $1 spent on Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services, and local transit including ride share purchases, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

The card also offers a fee waiver for the first checked bag for the cardholder and up to six people travelling on a reservation with Alaska Airlines, saving up to $70 per round-trip flight.

The primary feature that makes the annual fee worth it beyond the first year is the Companion Fare offer, if you can meet the minimum $6,000 annual spend as a new cardholder. However, after the first year, receiving the annual Companion Fare doesn't require a minimum purchase.

It's important to note that the AtmosTM Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card is not mentioned in the list of best travel credit cards of 2025 provided in the article.

The card may not be the best choice for frequent Alaska Airlines flyers as their primary travel card, but it can be worth it if you'd otherwise be paying a lot of baggage fees on Alaska.

The current welcome bonus for the AtmosTM Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card is 80,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23). To qualify for the welcome bonus, spend $4,000 or more on purchases within the first 120 days of opening the account.

NerdWallet values Atmos points at 1.2 cents each, making the current welcome bonus worth approximately $960 in travel. The Companion Fare for the AtmosTM Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card is $99 and can be used to bring a travel companion for $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23). To get at least the value equal to the annual fee out of the card, you would have to book a ticket for a companion that costs more than $217 ($95 + $99 + $23 for taxes and fees).

In conclusion, the AtmosTM Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card offers significant benefits for travellers looking to maximise value on flights to and from the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii. However, it's crucial to plan out the trip you want to take before choosing a card to ensure it aligns with your travel needs and habits.