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.
But those aren’t your only options. In fact, other transferable rewards cards could provide stellar earnings on Alaska Airlines flights.
We’ve compiled a list of the best credit cards to use for booking Alaska flights. Here’s a breakdown of the top options.
Comparing the best credit cards for Alaska Airlines flights
Here is a quick overview of the best cards for Alaska Airlines flights, along with their earning rates and benefits.
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated with TPG’s February 2026 valuations and not by the card issuer.
**Must pay with the card to receive benefits.
The information for the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite, Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business and American Express Green Card 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?
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Which card should you use for Alaska Airlines flights?
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 points card that earns bonus points on airfare. 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.
The 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. A card with these perks wouldn’t be as impactful for status holders.
Related: Your complete guide to Oneworld alliance benefits
Bottom line
An Atmos Rewards card is likely the best option for frequent Alaska flyers. That’s because you’ll get a free checked bag, inflight discounts and access to preferred boarding that can help outweigh the card’s annual fees.
But if you have Alaska elite status and would rather earn transferable points, one of the other cards we listed here may be a better choice.
Related: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.
