Card Comparison
Atmos Rewards Ascent vs United Explorer
Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.
Annual Fee
$95/yr
$150/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
85,000 points
Spend $4,500 in 4 months
85,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
- Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases 3x
- eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit 2x
- All Other Purchases 1x
- United Purchases 2x
- Restaurant Purchases 2x
- Hotel Stays 2x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Key Credits
None
- Statement Credit $5
- Statement Credit $50
- Statement Credit $50
- +1 more
Card Perks
- free checked bag and preferred boarding (~$70/yr)
- $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership (~$100/yr)
- Enjoy 20% back on all Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines in-flight purchases (~$20/yr)
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year
Spend Milestones
- Annual $99 Companion Fare. Get a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year. Valid on all Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights within North America booked on AlaskaAir.comAfter $6,000 spend
No milestones
Transfer Partners
No transfer partners
No transfer partners
Common Questions: Atmos Rewards Ascent vs United Explorer
Is the Atmos Rewards Ascent or United Explorer better for dining?
Atmos Rewards Ascent has no dining bonus; United Explorer earns 2x on dining.
Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?
Atmos Rewards Ascent currently offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $4,500 in 4 months). United Explorer offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). United Explorer has the larger bonus.
Which card is better for international travel?
Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.
Can I hold both the Atmos Rewards Ascent and the United Explorer?
In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Atmos Rewards Ascent is from Bank of America and United Explorer is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.