Bank of America Co-Branded Credit Cards: Airlines, Cruises, and Perks

Toni Perkins-Southam

Love flying Alaska Airlines, or always find yourself booking a Royal Caribbean cruise? If that’s you, Bank of America might have a card that rewards the trips you’re already taking!

When you think of co-branded travel credit cards, Chase and American Express might be the first issuers that come to mind. But Bank of America has its own lineup of co-branded travel credit cards, including options from Alaska Airlines, Air France KLM, and Royal Caribbean.

Some of these cards offer benefits like free checked bags, companion fares, and priority boarding, while others make it easier to save on cruises or earn rewards toward your next vacation.

So, which Bank of America co-branded credit cards are available, and are any of them worth adding to your wallet? Let’s take a closer look.

What Are Bank of America Co-Branded Credit Cards?

Co-branded credit cards are issued through a partnership between a bank and another company, such as an airline, hotel chain, or cruise line. Rather than earning traditional Bank of America rewards, these cards earn points or miles through their respective loyalty programs. Depending on the card, you can also receive travel benefits that aren’t available to regular loyalty program members.

Bank of America’s co-branded portfolio focuses on airlines and cruise lines. Annual fees range from $0 to $395, giving travelers several options depending on their budgets and travel habits. These cards are generally best for applicants with excellent or good credit.

Related: All About Alaska Airlines Atmos™ Rewards Credit Cards 

Bank of America Airline Credit Cards

Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card

Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card

The Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® credit card is one of Bank of America’s most recognizable co-branded products.

  • Annual fee: $95
  • Welcome offer (at the time of writing): Earn 60,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening, plus 20,000 more points after spending a total of $5,000 in that same period.

The card earns:

  • 3X points on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
  • 2X points on eligible gas, EV charging, cable, streaming, and local transit purchases
  • 1X points on other purchases

Learn More

The card’s standout benefit is its annual $99 Companion Fare, plus taxes and fees starting at $23. To qualify each anniversary year, cardholders must spend at least $6,000 on purchases.

Other benefits include a free checked bag and preferred boarding for the cardholder and up to six companions on the same reservation when eligible flights are purchased with the card. In our view, considering how much checked bags cost these days, this benefit alone could help frequent Alaska and Hawaiian travelers justify the annual fee.

For couples or families, the Companion Fare can help offset the cost of one extra ticket, and the free checked bag for up to six companions adds up when everyone has a suitcase.

Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card

Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card

Travelers looking for more premium benefits may prefer the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® credit card.

  • Annual fee: $395
  • Welcome offer (at the time of writing): Get 100,000 bonus points and a 25,000-point Global Companion Award when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 90 days after opening your account.

The card earns:

  • 3X points on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases, dining and foreign transactions
  • 1X points on other purchases

Learn More

Its most valuable benefits include:

  • A 25,000-point Global Companion Award each account anniversary
  • Eight Alaska Lounge passes annually, distributed as two per quarter
  • 10,000 Atmos Rewards status points each account anniversary
  • A Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® statement credit of up to $120 every four years
  • Free checked bags and preferred boarding on eligible flights
  • A 100,000-point Global Companion Award after spending $60,000 in an anniversary year
  • 1 status point for every $2 spent on purchases

Unlike the Ascent card’s Companion Fare, the Summit’s Global Companion Award can be applied toward eligible award bookings, including flights with partner airlines.

This card is especially appealing to travelers who regularly redeem Atmos Rewards points and can take advantage of its lounge access and companion benefits.

Related: New Alaska Airlines Rewards Program and Premium Card

Air France KLM Visa Signature® credit card

Air France KLM Visa Signature® credit card

The Air France KLM Visa Signature® credit card earns Flying Blue miles, which can be redeemed for flights with Air France, KLM, and other SkyTeam partners.

  • Annual fee: $89
  • Welcome offer (at the time of writing): Get 50,000 bonus miles and 100 Experience Points (XP) when you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days after opening your account.

The card earns:

  • 3X miles on eligible Air France, KLM, and SkyTeam airline purchases
  • 3X miles on eligible dining purchases
  • 1.5X miles on other purchases

Learn More

One interesting feature is earning Flying Blue Experience Points (XP), which count toward elite status.

Cardholders receive 20 XP each account anniversary and can earn additional XP by meeting annual spending thresholds. They can also earn 5,000 anniversary miles after spending at least $50 during their anniversary year.

Although this card doesn’t offer the same extensive travel perks as some premium airline cards, it may be worth it for Flying Blue loyalists, especially those pursuing elite status.

Allways Rewards Visa® credit card

Allways Rewards Visa® credit card

The Allways Rewards Visa® credit card is issued in partnership with Allegiant Air.

  • Annual fee: $59
  • Welcome offer (at the time of writing): Get 30,000 bonus points (worth $300 toward a future Allegiant trip) when you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 90 days after opening your account.

The card earns:

  • 3X points on Allegiant purchases, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and attractions
  • 2X points on qualifying dining purchases
  • 1X points elsewhere

Learn More

Additional benefits include priority check-in, priority boarding, and a complimentary onboard beverage when flying Allegiant.

The card also offers a buy-one-get-one-free airfare benefit when purchasing an eligible Allegiant vacation package that includes at least four hotel nights or seven rental car days. However, the package requirements make this perk less straightforward than a traditional companion certificate.

For travelers who frequently book Allegiant flights and vacation packages, the card could still provide worthwhile savings. If you live near a smaller airport that Allegiant serves, this card could be worth a look.

Bank of America Cruise Credit Cards

Bank of America’s co-branded portfolio isn’t limited to airlines. The issuer also partners with major cruise operators, allowing cardholders to earn rewards toward future sailings and onboard expenses.

Cruises are a favorite family vacation for a lot of travelers, so earning rewards toward onboard credit, Wi-Fi, or shore excursions can be a nice perk.

Related: Using Points and Miles To Offset Cruise Trip Costs

Royal ONE™ Visa Signature® credit card

Royal ONE™ Visa Signature® credit card

The Royal ONE™ Visa Signature® credit card earns rewards across Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea.

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Welcome offer (at the time of writing): Get 30,000 bonus points (redeemable for $300 in onboard credit or cruise discounts) when you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 90 days after opening your account.

The card earns:

  • 3X points on eligible Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea purchases
  • 2X points at grocery stores, gas stations, and EV charging stations
  • 1X points on other purchases

Learn More

You can redeem rewards toward cruise discounts and onboard credits for expenses such as specialty dining, beverage packages, Wi-Fi, and shore excursions.

The card also offers priority boarding on eligible Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises sailings, plus a $100 cruise discount after spending $10,000 on purchases annually.

With no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, this could be a reasonable option for occasional cruisers who prefer sailing with Royal Caribbean Group brands.

Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® credit card

Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® credit card

Frequent cruisers may find more value in the Royal ONE Plus™ Visa Signature® credit card.

  • Annual fee: $99
  • Welcome offer (at the time of writing): Get 60,000 bonus points (redeemable for $600 in onboard credit or cruise discounts) when you spend $2,500 on purchases in the first 90 days after opening your account.

The card earns:

  • 4X points on eligible Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea purchases
  • 2X points on eligible airlines, hotels, dining, groceries, gas, and EV charging
  • 1X points elsewhere

Learn More

Additional perks include priority suite boarding, priority luggage handling on eligible sailings, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® statement credit of up to $120 every four years.

Cardholders can also receive a $200 cruise discount after spending $20,000 annually.

The higher earning rates and additional benefits could justify the annual fee, especially for travelers who cruise several times per year.

Related: Podcast 106. How to Get Free Global Entry and TSA PreCheck® for Your Family

Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard® credit card

Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard® credit card

The Norwegian Cruise Line® World Mastercard® credit card offers another option for travelers who prefer earning rewards toward cruises without paying an annual fee.

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Welcome offer (at the time of writing): Get 20,000 bonus points (redeemable for $200 off a future Norwegian cruise) when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days after opening your account.

The card earns:

  • 3X WorldPoints on Norwegian Cruise Line purchases
  • 2X WorldPoints on eligible airfare and hotel purchases
  • 1X WorldPoints on other purchases

Learn More

Points can be redeemed toward Norwegian cruises, stateroom upgrades, onboard credits, hotels, car rentals, and other rewards.

The card doesn’t offer as many additional travel perks as some competitors, but its flexible redemption options and lack of an annual fee make it worth considering for Norwegian Cruise Line fans.

Bank of America Co-Branded Business Credit Cards

Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business credit card

Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business credit card

Business owners who regularly fly Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines may want to consider the Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business credit card.

  • Annual fee: $70 per company, plus $25 per card
  • Welcome offer (at the time of writing): Get 70,000 bonus points and a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days after opening your account.

The card earns:

  • 3X points on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
  • 2X points on gas, EV charging, shipping, and local transit purchases
  • 1X points on everything else

Learn More

Like the consumer Ascent card, it offers a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees starting at $23) each account anniversary after spending at least $6,000 on purchases.

Cardholders also receive a free checked bag and preferred boarding on eligible flights, plus a 10% rewards bonus on points earned from card purchases if their business has an eligible Bank of America small business account.

For business owners who frequently travel with Alaska or Hawaiian, the card offers a way to earn rewards on everyday business expenses while enjoying valuable airline benefits.

Companion Benefits: Read the Fine Print

Companion benefits can be valuable, but they aren’t all equally easy to use, especially for families.

  • Atmos™ Rewards Ascent: The $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) covers one companion, and you need to spend $6,000 on purchases each anniversary year to earn it. For a family of four, it covers one ticket, not the whole trip.
  • Atmos™ Rewards Summit: The 25,000-point Global Companion Award can be used on award bookings, including partner airlines, but you still need enough points for your own award ticket.
  • Allways Rewards: The buy-one-get-one airfare only applies when you book an Allegiant vacation package with at least four hotel nights or seven rental car days. That works if you were already planning that kind of trip, but it’s less flexible than a standard companion certificate.

Before choosing a card for its companion benefit, think about whether you’ll realistically meet the spending requirement and whether the booking rules fit how your family travels.

Related: The Complete Guide to Airline Companion Certificates: Which Cards Offer Them and Are They Worth It?

Are Bank of America Co-Branded Credit Cards Worth It?

In our view, whether one of these cards deserves a spot in your wallet depends largely on how frequently you travel with the associated airline or cruise line.

The Atmos™ Rewards credit cards offer valuable companion benefits and baggage perks, while the Air France KLM Visa Signature® credit card can help travelers earn miles and work toward elite status. Meanwhile, Bank of America’s cruise cards let you earn rewards toward future sailings and onboard purchases.

However, co-branded cards generally offer less flexibility than cards earning transferable points or cash back. Bank of America also offers several non-co-branded travel cards that let you redeem points toward travel purchases without tying you to a specific airline or cruise line.

In the end, the best choice depends on your travel habits and whether you’ll use the benefits enough to justify any annual fee.

Bottom Line

Bank of America has a surprisingly diverse selection of co-branded travel credit cards, from premium airline products to no-annual-fee cruise cards.

For frequent Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines travelers, the Atmos™ Rewards credit cards offer some strong benefits. Travelers loyal to other airlines or cruise lines can also find worthwhile perks with Bank of America’s other partnerships.

Ultimately, the best choice isn’t necessarily the card with the highest earning rate or longest list of benefits. It’s the one that rewards the travel you’re already planning to take, and helps you get there for less!

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed on this page are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by these entities.

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Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. American Express is a Points Talk Squad advertiser, but we always show the best public offer even when we don’t earn a commission. Terms Apply. 

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Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.