If you’ve never been particularly invested in airline credit cards, now’s a great time to start paying attention to this niche space.
That’s because two cobranded airline cards emerged this year that made us look twice. Both products even had me, someone who doesn’t care much about airline loyalty, struggling to decide which one I wanted to open, since they both offer outsize value.
I’m referring to the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (see rates and fees). The former is an Alaska Airlines-Hawaiian Airlines card; the latter is an American Airlines product.
Both are impressive in their own right — let’s talk about why.
Atmos Rewards Summit vs. Citi / AAdvantage Globe comparison
| Card | Atmos Rewards Summit | Citi / AAdvantage Globe |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | Earn 80,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. | Earn a limited-time welcome bonus of 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first four months from account opening. |
| Annual fee | $395 | $350 |
| Earning rates |
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| Notable benefits |
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Atmos Rewards Summit vs. Citi / AAdvantage Globe welcome offers
The welcome offers featured on the Atmos Rewards Summit and the Citi / AAdvantage Globe cards are enticing.
Per TPG’s November 2025 valuations, the Atmos Rewards Summit welcome bonus is worth $1,628 (including the 25,000-point Companion Award) while the Citi / AAdvantage Globe’s bonus is worth $1,485.
The value of each welcome bonus is worth more than four times the annual fee for each product. Another factor to consider is which airline you fly with more frequently — both bonuses are generous, but the best option is the one that provides you with the most value.
Winner: At face value, the Atmos Rewards Summit is the winner since it offers a more lucrative welcome bonus. However, if you typically fly solo and won’t make use of the 25,000-point companion award, the Atmos Rewards Summit’s welcome bonus is actually worth less than the Citi / AAdvantage Globe’s — something to keep in mind.
Related: The best credit card welcome bonuses of November 2025
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Atmos Rewards Summit vs. Citi / AAdvantage Globe benefits
Lounge access
Both cards are alike in that they each offer airline-specific lounge access, preferred boarding, up to $120 in Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credits (every four years) and free checked bags for you and several guests traveling on the same reservation with you.
Specifically, Atmos Rewards Summit cardholders get eight Alaska Lounge passes annually (up to two passes per quarter). If you don’t anticipate using these passes frequently, you have the option to share them with friends and family.
Back in September, Nick Ewen, TPG’s senior editorial director, generously gifted me two passes for my return flight home from San Francisco International Airport (SFO). My partner and I enjoyed a stunning — and nearly empty — lounge complete with Alaska’s famous pancake printer.
On the other hand, the Citi / AAdvantage Globe comes with four annual Admirals Club lounge passes. Each pass covers one adult’s entry into an Admirals Club lounge plus up to three children (under 18).
Best of all, each lounge pass can be used across multiple lounges within a 24-hour period when you fly American Airlines (or any Oneworld partner), allowing you to maximize their value during multistop travel days.
Related: Is the Atmos Rewards Summit worth the annual fee?
Companion certificates
Each account anniversary, Atmos Summit cardholders will enjoy a 25,000-point Global Companion Award. Big spenders who charge an excess of $60,000 each year are eligible for a second 100,000-point Global Companion Award as well. These awards can be used on Alaska and Hawaiian flights, as well as on partner airlines.
The Citi / AAdvantage Globe offers a companion certificate (that costs $99 plus taxes and fees) that cardholders can access starting in year two of their membership (upon card renewal).
Status boost
The Atmos Rewards Summit offers cardholders a valuable bonus of 10,000 status points with each account anniversary.
The Citi / AAdvantage Globe takes a different approach to an elite status boost: You’ll earn 5,000 Flight Streak Loyalty Points for every four eligible American Airlines flights. You can triple dip this benefit for a maximum of 15,000 points each year — a solid offering, especially for frequent American Airlines flyers.
Additional benefits
Neither card charges foreign transaction fees; however, the Atmos Rewards Summit takes the lead here, as it also earns 3 points per dollar spent on all foreign transactions.
Both cards offer additional perks, including car rental coverage, extended warranty protection and travel protections for things like lost luggage. The Atmos Rewards Summit additionally offers roadside dispatch services, which can help provide peace of mind.
Citi / AAdvantage Globe cardholders can earn up to $100 annually in statement credits for inflight charges on domestic routes. Note that this statement credit does not apply to codeshare flights. Cardholders can also earn up to another $100 annually with the Citi / AAdvantage Globe’s Splurge statement credit that covers your choice of up to two of the following brands: 1stDibs, eligible AAdvantage hotel bookings, Future personal training and Live Nation (exclusions apply).
Winner: The Atmos Rewards Summit. Both cards feature some overlapping benefits, but the Atmos Rewards Summit offers the chance to earn a 25,000-point certificate in year one in addition to providing cardholders with an annual 25,000-point Global Companion Award, while the Citi / AAdvantage Globe’s companion certificate is accessible starting in year two of card membership (upon renewal).
Related: What to do if your checked bag is lost, damaged or delayed
Earning points on the Atmos Rewards Summit vs. Citi / AAdvantage Globe
As outlined in the table above, both products feature solid earning rates in categories befitting airline cards. Which is more valuable depends on a couple of factors, like which airline you fly with the most and what your most common bonus categories are.
The Atmos Rewards Summit earns:
- 3 points per dollar spent on eligible dining and foreign transactions
- 3 points per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
The Citi / AAdvantage Globe earns:
- 6 miles per dollar spent on eligible AAdvantage hotel bookings
- 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible transit purchases (including taxis, ride-hailing services and public transit)
- 2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants (including takeout and delivery)
- 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
Winner: Atmos Rewards Summit. Although the Citi / AAdvantage Globe shines by offering popular additional bonus categories, the Atmos Rewards Summit card offers a higher rate of 3 points per dollar spent on dining (where the Citi / AAdvantage Globe earns only 2 miles per dollar spent in this same category). Additionally, if you often travel abroad via Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar on foreign purchases and Alaska/Hawaiian flights, which helps you earn points quickly.
Related: Atmos Rewards Ascent vs. Atmos Rewards Summit: Which card is best for points and perks for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines?
Redeeming points on the Atmos Rewards Summit vs. Citi / AAdvantage Globe
The best way to redeem your Atmos Rewards points or AAdvantage miles is for flights with each card’s respective airline (or their Oneworld alliance partners).
Think business-class seats from the West Coast to Asia for around 75,000 Atmos Rewards points and super-reasonable domestic U.S. flights starting at 4,500 AAdvantage miles one-way.
Winner: Tie. Both cards earn valuable reward currencies that’ll help keep money in your pocket.
Transferring points with the Atmos Rewards Summit vs. Citi / AAdvantage Globe
American Airlines miles earned on the Citi / AAdvantage Globe aren’t transferable in the same way as Chase Ultimate Rewards points or American Express Membership Rewards points are transferable. You can, however, use your AAdvantage miles to book flights on partner airlines within the Oneworld alliance.
Atmos Rewards points are similar, with the exception that you can actually transfer them to specific hotel partners; however, these transfers generally yield poor to average value. Partners include Marriott Bonvoy (at a 1:1 transfer ratio), Wyndham Rewards (1:1 transfer ratio) and I Prefer Hotel Rewards (1:2 transfer ratio).
Winner: Atmos Rewards Summit, though this one was a tough call. That’s because TPG’s November 2025 valuations peg AAdvantage miles as more valuable than Atmos Rewards points, but the added flexibility of having the hotel transfer partners is a nice touch for those who might need to top up their eligible hotel account for a redemption.
Should I get the Atmos Rewards Summit or the Citi / AAdvantage Globe?
It might seem like the Atmos Rewards Summit swept each category above, but in truth, the Citi / AAdvantage Globe doesn’t fall far behind.
I’m not particularly loyal to one specific airline; instead, I typically fly with multiple carriers each year. That being said, I wanted both cards when they launched because I know I’ll get killer value from both Atmos Rewards points with the Atmos Rewards Summit and AAdvantage miles with the Citi / AAdvantage Globe.
If both cards make sense for you, consider adding both to your wallet. If there’s one that you know you’ll get maximum value from that suits your spending habits and travel needs, that’s likely the product you should choose. Consider factors like each card’s welcome bonus and the minimum spending threshold required to earn each bonus, in addition to card-specific perks you know will serve you well.
It took me nearly two whole months to decide that the Atmos Rewards Summit was the better of the two choices at the moment. However, the welcome bonus and some of the perks of the Citi / AAdvantage Globe are compelling enough that it might just be the first card I apply for in early 2026.
Related: How to choose an airline card
Bottom line
Though they’re similar in some ways, both the Atmos Rewards Summit and Citi / AAdvantage Globe cards offer specific perks tailored toward Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines and American Airlines flyers, respectively. Ultimately, it comes down to which card is best suited to your travel preferences.
To learn more, read our full reviews of the Atmos Rewards Summit and the Citi / AAdvantage Globe.
Apply here: Atmos Rewards Summit
Apply here: Citi / AAdvantage Globe
