Source: The Points Guy
Summary
Alaska Airlines plans to introduce a new credit card with no annual fee that allows Atmos Rewards members to earn redeemable and status points. The card will join existing Atmos credit cards, including one with a $95 annual fee and a premium option with a $395 fee. The airline also announced a new debit card and plans to refresh its business credit card. Atmos Rewards is a shared loyalty program with Hawaiian Airlines.
Our Reading
The escape is carefully planned.
Alaska Airlines adds another card to its Atmos Rewards lineup.
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Points are valuable, but the process is complicated.
Author: Evan Null
Airlines layer in more card options at more price points
Airline credit cards without an annual fee are a great way for less-frequent flyers to earn points without incurring a high yearly cost.
No-annual-fee cards typically have fewer perks and freebies (like complimentary checked bags). However, considering Atmos Rewards points routinely rank among the most valuable in the U.S., this should be an enticing option for some travelers.
Looking at the travel sector as a whole, this news is part of a bigger picture showing that both airlines and hotels are layering in cobranded credit cards to appeal to consumers across more price points.
Alaska’s growing Atmos card lineup
In Alaska’s case, this newest card will give the Atmos program a trifecta of consumer cards:
One with no annual fee (no word on what it will be called)
Another that comes in at $95: The Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card, which has a handful of money-saving perks like an annual Companion Fare and a free checked bag.
Great news for Atmos members who fly American Airlines
If you use Alaska’s Atmos Rewards program but frequently fly on top partner American Airlines, there’s good news.
Alaska’s unique new loyalty option will apply whenever you take a flight on American.
Beginning Thursday, Atmos members will be able to choose how the airline awards them points:
Based on how many miles they fly
Based on how many flights they take
Based on how much money they spend
No more US transfer partners expected
Alaska made a splash this week by announcing a new credit card transfer partner in Bank of America, which means certain cardholders will be able to transfer their points to Atmos.
The carrier also turned heads by suggesting more transfer partners could be coming.
Spoiler: Atmos members in the U.S. probably won’t see any new banks get an “in” to Atmos. Alaska’s loyalty chief tells TPG any additional transfer partners will probably be banks based outside the U.S.
Will Bank of America-Atmos transfers be 1:1?
Speaking of the new Bank of America arrangement, Alaska didn’t say whether Bank of America transfers to Atmos will be 1:1 (that is, 1,000 BoA Rewards equals 1,000 Atmos Rewards points).
Catlin said the bank will announce which cardholders will be eligible to transfer to Atmos — and what the rate would be.
“But I would fully expect that it would be competitive with what’s seen across the industry,” he said.
