The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature card is positioned as the more affordable option in the Atmos Rewards lineup, and honestly, it delivers some pretty compelling benefits for the $95 annual fee. The standout feature here is definitely the annual companion fare - spend $6,000 on the card each year and you'll get a $99 companion fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) that's valid on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights within North America, including Hawaii. The great thing about this benefit is there are no blackout dates, so as long as there's a seat available, you can use it.

Now here's what makes this card particularly attractive for families or anyone traveling with a companion regularly: you get free checked bags for yourself and up to 6 guests on the same reservation when you pay with the card. That's a pretty generous perk that can easily save you $60-120 per roundtrip flight depending on how many people you're traveling with. Add in preferred boarding on Alaska flights, and you're getting some nice quality-of-life improvements to your travel experience.

The earning structure is solid but not spectacular - 3x points on Alaska and Hawaiian purchases, 2x on gas, EV charging, cable, streaming, and transit (including rideshare), and 1x on everything else. One thing to note is the status point earning potential: you get 1 status point for every $3 spent, capped at 30,000 status points in 2025, but that cap disappears in 2026. And so if you're someone who spends heavily on this card, you could potentially earn elite status through credit card spending alone starting next year.

The card also throws in 20% back on inflight purchases and no foreign transaction fees, which are nice touches. I mean, this card really shines if you're already flying Alaska or Hawaiian regularly and can take advantage of that companion fare. If you value the companion benefit and use the free checked bags, the $95 annual fee pretty much pays for itself.

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