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Side-by-side

Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature vs United Gateway Card

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature comes from Bank of America at $95/yr; the United Gateway Card from Chase at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,210 more in estimated value) than the United Gateway Card's. Get the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature first; revisit the United Gateway Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureAtmos Rewards Ascent Visa SignatureUnited Gateway Card
Annual fee$95$0
Sign-up bonus80,000 points + Companion Fare30,000 miles
Bonus value (est.)$1,600$390
Min spend to unlock bonus$4,000 in 4 mo$1,000 in 3 mo
IssuerBank of AmericaChase
Card categoryairlinetravel
Best earning category (Alaska_hawaiian)3x1x
Transfer partnersNoneNone
Headline benefits
  • $99 Companion Fare annually
  • 80K + Companion Fare welcome offer
  • 3x on Alaska & Hawaiian
  • No foreign tx fees
  • 2x on United + transit + gas
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign tx fees
  • 25% inflight rebate
Read the full review
Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature
$95/yr · 80,000 points + Companion Fare
Read the full review
United Gateway Card
$0/yr · 30,000 miles

Editorial take: Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature

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.

Editorial take: United Gateway Card

The no-fee United card. Doesn't include free bags (that starts with the Explorer), so it's really only worth it for credit-building purposes.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature or United Gateway Card?
The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature has the bigger bonus, 80,000 points + Companion Fare, worth roughly $1,600, versus 30,000 miles (~$390) on the United Gateway Card.
Is the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the United Gateway Card?
At $95/yr, the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the United Gateway Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature and United Gateway Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Bank of America and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature or the United Gateway Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature: $4,000 spend in 4 months. United Gateway Card: $1,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

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.