Battle of the airline playing cards: Atmos Rewards Summit vs. Citi / AAdvantage Globe

In case you’ve by no means been notably invested in airline bank cards, now’s a good time to start out being attentive to this area of interest house.

That is as a result of two cobranded airline playing cards emerged this yr that made us look twice. Each merchandise even had me, somebody who does not care a lot about airline loyalty, struggling to resolve which one I wished to open, since they each provide outsize worth.

I am referring to the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit score Card and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (see charges and charges). The previous is an Alaska Airways-Hawaiian Airways card; the latter is an American Airways product.

Each are spectacular in their very own proper — let’s speak about why.

Atmos Rewards Summit vs. Citi / AAdvantage Globe comparability

Atmos Rewards Summit vs. Citi / AAdvantage Globe welcome presents

The welcome presents featured on the Atmos Rewards Summit and the Citi / AAdvantage Globe playing cards are engaging.

Per TPG’s November 2025 valuations, the Atmos Rewards Summit welcome bonus is value $1,628 (together with the 25,000-point Companion Award) whereas the Citi / AAdvantage Globe’s bonus is value $1,485.

The worth of every welcome bonus is value greater than 4 occasions the annual price for every product. One other issue to contemplate is which airline you fly with extra often — each bonuses are beneficiant, however the best choice is the one that gives you with probably the most worth.

Winner: At face worth, the Atmos Rewards Summit is the winner because it presents a extra profitable welcome bonus. Nevertheless, in the event you usually fly solo and will not make use of the 25,000-point companion award, the Atmos Rewards Summit’s welcome bonus is definitely value lower than the Citi / AAdvantage Globe’s — one thing to bear in mind.

Associated: One of the best bank card welcome bonuses of November 2025

Atmos Rewards Summit vs. Citi / AAdvantage Globe advantages

Lounge entry

Each playing cards are alike in that they every provide airline-specific lounge entry, most popular boarding, as much as $120 in International Entry/TSA PreCheck assertion credit (each 4 years) and free checked luggage for you and several other friends touring on the identical reservation with you.

Particularly, Atmos Rewards Summit cardholders get eight Alaska Lounge passes yearly (as much as two passes per quarter). In case you do not anticipate utilizing these passes often, you’ve gotten the choice to share them with family and friends.

Again in September, Nick Ewen, TPG’s senior editorial director, generously gifted me two passes for my return flight house from San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO). My associate and I loved a shocking — and practically empty — lounge full with Alaska’s well-known pancake printer.

However, the Citi / AAdvantage Globe comes with 4 annual Admirals Membership lounge passes. Every cross covers one grownup’s entry into an Admirals Membership lounge plus as much as three youngsters (underneath 18).

Better of all, every lounge cross can be utilized throughout a number of lounges inside a 24-hour interval once you fly American Airways (or any Oneworld associate), permitting you to maximise their worth throughout multistop journey days.

Associated: Is the Atmos Rewards Summit definitely worth the annual price?

Companion certificates

Every account anniversary, Atmos Summit cardholders will get pleasure from a 25,000-point International Companion Award. Large spenders who cost an extra of $60,000 every year are eligible for a second 100,000-point International Companion Award as properly. These awards can be utilized on Alaska and Hawaiian flights, in addition to on associate airways.

The Citi / AAdvantage Globe presents a companion certificates (that prices $99 plus taxes and charges) that cardholders can entry beginning in yr two of their membership (upon card renewal).

Standing increase

The Atmos Rewards Summit presents cardholders a invaluable bonus of 10,000 standing factors with every account anniversary.

The Citi / AAdvantage Globe takes a distinct method to an elite standing increase: You will earn 5,000 Flight Streak Loyalty Factors for each 4 eligible American Airways flights. You possibly can triple dip this profit for a most of 15,000 factors every year — a stable providing, particularly for frequent American Airways flyers.

Further advantages

Neither card prices international transaction charges; nevertheless, the Atmos Rewards Summit takes the lead right here, because it additionally earns 3 factors per greenback spent on all international transactions.

Each playing cards provide further perks, together with automobile rental protection, prolonged guarantee safety and journey protections for issues like misplaced baggage. The Atmos Rewards Summit moreover presents roadside dispatch companies, which might help present peace of thoughts.

Citi / AAdvantage Globe cardholders can earn as much as $100 yearly in assertion credit for inflight prices on home routes. Notice that this assertion credit score does not apply to codeshare flights. Cardholders can even earn as much as one other $100 yearly with the Citi / AAdvantage Globe’s Splurge assertion credit score that covers your alternative of as much as two of the next manufacturers: 1stDibs, eligible AAdvantage resort bookings, Future private coaching and Stay Nation (exclusions apply).

Winner: The Atmos Rewards Summit. Each playing cards function some overlapping advantages, however the Atmos Rewards Summit presents the possibility to earn a 25,000-point certificates in yr one along with offering cardholders with an annual 25,000-point International Companion Award, whereas the Citi / AAdvantage Globe’s companion certificates is accessible beginning in yr two of card membership (upon renewal).

Associated: What to do in case your checked bag is misplaced, broken or delayed

Incomes factors on the Atmos Rewards Summit vs. Citi / AAdvantage Globe

As outlined within the desk above, each merchandise function stable incomes charges in classes befitting airline playing cards. Which is extra invaluable is determined by a few elements, like which airline you fly with probably the most and what your commonest bonus classes are.

The Atmos Rewards Summit earns:

• 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible eating and international transactions
• 3 factors per greenback spent on Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways purchases
• 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases

The Citi / AAdvantage Globe earns:

• 6 miles per greenback spent on eligible AAdvantage resort bookings
• 3 miles per greenback spent on eligible American Airways purchases
• 2 miles per greenback spent on eligible transit purchases (together with taxis, ride-hailing companies and public transit)
• 2 miles per greenback spent at eating places (together with takeout and supply)
• 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases

Winner: Atmos Rewards Summit. Though the Citi / AAdvantage Globe shines by providing in style further bonus classes, the Atmos Rewards Summit card presents a better fee of three factors per greenback spent on eating (the place the Citi / AAdvantage Globe earns solely 2 miles per greenback spent on this similar class). Moreover, in the event you typically journey overseas through Alaska Airways or Hawaiian Airways, you may earn 3 factors per greenback on international purchases and Alaska/Hawaiian flights, which helps you earn factors shortly.

Associated: Atmos Rewards Ascent vs. Atmos Rewards Summit: Which card is greatest for factors and perks for Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways?

Redeeming factors on the Atmos Rewards Summit vs. Citi / AAdvantage Globe

One of the simplest ways to redeem your Atmos Rewards factors or AAdvantage miles is for flights with every card’s respective airline (or their Oneworld alliance companions).

Suppose business-class seats from the West Coast to Asia for round 75,000 Atmos Rewards factors and super-reasonable home U.S. flights beginning at 4,500 AAdvantage miles one-way.

Winner: Tie. Each playing cards earn invaluable reward currencies that’ll assist maintain cash in your pocket.

Transferring factors with the Atmos Rewards Summit vs. Citi / AAdvantage Globe

American Airways miles earned on the Citi / AAdvantage Globe aren’t transferable in the identical manner as Chase Final Rewards factors or American Categorical Membership Rewards factors are transferable. You possibly can, nevertheless, use your AAdvantage miles to e book flights on associate airways inside the Oneworld alliance.

Atmos Rewards factors are comparable, with the exception which you could really switch them to particular resort companions; nevertheless, these transfers usually yield poor to common worth. Companions embody Marriott Bonvoy (at a 1:1 switch ratio), Wyndham Rewards (1:1 switch ratio) and I Favor Lodge Rewards (1:2 switch ratio).

Winner: Atmos Rewards Summit, although this one was a troublesome name. That is as a result of TPG’s November 2025 valuations peg AAdvantage miles as extra invaluable than Atmos Rewards factors, however the added flexibility of getting the resort switch companions is a pleasant contact for individuals who may have to prime up their eligible resort account for a redemption.

Ought to I get the Atmos Rewards Summit or the Citi / AAdvantage Globe?

It’d appear to be the Atmos Rewards Summit swept every class above, however in fact, the Citi / AAdvantage Globe does not fall far behind.

I am not notably loyal to at least one particular airline; as an alternative, I usually fly with a number of carriers every year. That being stated, I wished each playing cards after they launched as a result of I do know I am going to get killer worth from each Atmos Rewards factors with the Atmos Rewards Summit and AAdvantage miles with the Citi / AAdvantage Globe.

If each playing cards make sense for you, take into account including each to your pockets. If there’s one which you realize you may get most worth from that fits your spending habits and journey wants, that is possible the product you must select. Think about elements like every card’s welcome bonus and the minimal spending threshold required to earn every bonus, along with card-specific perks you realize will serve you properly.

It took me practically two complete months to resolve that the Atmos Rewards Summit was the higher of the 2 decisions in the mean time. Nevertheless, the welcome bonus and a number of the perks of the Citi / AAdvantage Globe are compelling sufficient that it’d simply be the primary card I apply for in early 2026.

Associated: How to decide on an airline card

Backside line

Although they’re comparable in some methods, each the Atmos Rewards Summit and Citi / AAdvantage Globe playing cards provide particular perks tailor-made towards Alaska Airways/Hawaiian Airways and American Airways flyers, respectively. In the end, it comes right down to which card is greatest suited to your journey preferences.

To study extra, learn our full critiques of the Atmos Rewards Summit and the Citi / AAdvantage Globe.

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Apply right here: Atmos Rewards Summit
Apply right here: Citi / AAdvantage Globe

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