Which credit card should you use for Alaska Airlines flights?

Which credit card should you use for Alaska Airlines flights?also contributed to this storySept. 13, 2026•9 min readThe 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.Editor's NoteThis is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.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 elevated bonuses:Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card: Earn 70,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $2,500 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. Based on TPG's September 2026 valuations, the points-only part of this offer is worth $1,085.Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card: Earn 80,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. This bonus is worth up to $1,628 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 70,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. The points in this bonus are worth $1,085, 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 can provide strong earning rates on Alaska Airlines flights and may be a better fit if you don't need airline-specific benefits.We've compiled a list of the best credit cards to use for booking Alaska flights.Here's a breakdown of the top options.The right card depends on whether you prioritize Alaska-specific benefits or earning flexible rewards.The information for the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite and Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.Related: Atmos Rewards Ascent vs. Business: Which $95 Alaska-Hawaiian card should you get?Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletterJoin over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s expertsBy signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.What benefits do these cards offer on Alaska Airlines flights?The biggest difference comes down to the type of card you carry: Co-branded cards offer benefits specifically for Alaska and Hawaiian flyers, while transferable-rewards cards prioritize flexibility.Atmos and Hawaiian Airlines card benefitsIf perks like free checked bags, preferred boarding and companion benefits matter to you, the Atmos and Hawaiian Airlines cards have the advantage.CardAlaska- and Hawaiian-related benefits from the cardAtmos Ascent Annual Companion Fare ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $6,000 on purchases within the prior anniversary year First checked bag free for you and up to six companions on the same reservation* Preferred boarding for Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines* 20% back on inflight purchases* $100 off an Alaska Lounge+ membership Atmos Summit Annual Global Companion Award with the ability to earn another after meeting a spending requirement Eight annual Alaska Lounge passes and eight annual Wi-Fi passes (two of each per quarter) First checked bag free for you and up to six companions on the same reservation* Preferred boarding for Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines* 20% back on inflight purchases* Atmos Business Annual Companion Fare ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $6,000 on purchases within the prior anniversary year First checked bag free for you and up to six companions on the same reservation* Preferred boarding for Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines* 20% back on inflight purchases* $100 off an Alaska Lounge+ membership Hawaiian World Elite One-time 50%-off companion discount Two free checked bags* Hawaiian Business One-time 50%-off companion discount *Must pay with the card to receive benefits.Transferable-rewards card benefitsTransferable-rewards cards generally don't offer the same airline-specific perks, but some include travel credits that can help offset eligible Alaska or Hawaiian purchases.CardRelevant BenefitsAmex PlatinumYou can choose Alaska Airlines as your preferred airline to cover up to $200 per calendar year in airline incidental statement credits for things like checked baggage or preferred-seat fees (enrollment required)Chase Sapphire ReserveYou can use your $300 in annual travel credits offered on the card toward eligible Alaska or Hawaiian travel purchasesCiti Strata PremierNo Alaska-specific benefitsCapital One Venture X RewardsYou can apply your $300 annual travel credit toward eligible Alaska or Hawaiian flights booked through the Capital One Travel portal.Related: The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparisonShould I choose an Atmos card or a transferable rewards card?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.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.ALASKA AIRLINESThe 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.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.Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether you value Alaska-specific perks or flexible rewards more.Related: Your complete guide to Oneworld alliance benefitsBottom lineFor Alaska flyers who regularly check bags and value airline-specific perks, an Atmos Rewards card will often provide the most immediate value. The Ascent offers many of those benefits for a lower annual fee, while the Summit provides a more premium set of perks for frequent flyers.The current elevated welcome offers on the Atmos cards can make them even more compelling if you're considering adding one to your wallet.But if you already receive those benefits through elite status or care more about earning transferable rewards, one of the other cards in this comparison may be a better fit.Related: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.Featured image by ALASKA AIRLINESEditorial 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.