Free during beta. Plus launches at $12/mo or $99/yr on July 1. Annual is locked for 12 months during beta.
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature comes from Bank of America at $95/yr; the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab from American Express at $695/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.
| Feature | Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature | The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $695 |
| Sign-up bonus | 80,000 points + Companion Fare | Up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $1,600 | $1,440 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $4,000 in 4 mo | $8,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Bank of America | American Express |
| Card category | airline | travel |
| Best earning category (Alaska_hawaiian) | 3x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | amex-mr |
| Headline benefits |
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The current Atmos Rewards Ascent card replaces Alaska's legacy Visa Signature. The Companion Fare alone justifies the $95 fee, book a paid Alaska or Hawaiian ticket, take a partner along for $99 + tax. Easy three-figure value at the West Coast / Asia-via-Alaska routes Alaska reaches.
The premium Platinum for Schwab brokerage customers. Same lounge access, FHR, and credit suite as the Personal Platinum, but the killer feature is Invest with Rewards at 1.1 cents per point cash-into-brokerage — the highest fixed-value MR redemption in the program. Best for cardholders who don't max out airline transfer partners.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.
