Alaska Airlines is widening its loyalty ecosystem again. Days after revealing plans for a points-earning debit card, the carrier confirmed a no-annual-fee credit card is on the way for members of Atmos Rewards, the shared loyalty program of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines. No launch date or name has been announced, but the card is expected to let members earn both redeemable points and status points — the two currencies that drive the program.
Once it lands, Atmos will have a three-tier consumer card lineup: the free entry-level card, the $95-per-year Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature (which includes an annual Companion Fare and a free checked bag), and the $395 Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite, which comes with Global Companion Awards and up to eight Alaska Lounge passes a year. Add the new debit card and a business card refresh promised before the end of 2025, and Alaska is clearly building out options for every kind of spender.
Why does this matter? Atmos points consistently rank among the most valuable airline currencies in the U.S., so a card with no annual fee is a low-risk way for casual flyers to start accumulating them. The trade-off, as with any free card, is fewer perks — don't expect complimentary checked bags or lounge access. Still, it fits a broader industry trend of airlines and hotels stacking cobranded cards at multiple price points.
There's also news for anyone who credits Atmos points when flying American Airlines. Starting Thursday, members can choose how they earn: by miles flown, flights taken, or dollars spent — and that earning choice now applies to American flights too, as long as your Atmos number is attached to the booking. One catch: you won't simultaneously earn American AAdvantage miles on those flights, so pick your program per trip.
On transfers, Alaska recently added Bank of America as its second Atmos transfer partner alongside Bilt, but don't hold your breath for more U.S. banks. Brett Catlin, Alaska's senior vice president of network, partnerships and loyalty, told The Points Guy that any additional partners will likely be banks outside the U.S. — he name-checked Australia and the U.K. as possibilities. Details on Bank of America transfer eligibility and rates are still to come, though Catlin expects the ratio to be "competitive" with industry norms.
For points enthusiasts, the practical takeaway is simple: a free route into one of the most valuable U.S. loyalty currencies is worth watching, and if you fly Alaska or American regularly, deciding between miles, flights or spend-based earning just became a real strategic choice.
Reported by The Points Guy.
