Atmos Summit Partner Fee Discount
I have not been shy discussing my love for what Bank of America and Alaska Airlines created with the new Atmos Summit Visa card. With the launch of the Summit card they made a premium card with perks that actually made sense for users of their program. Shocking, I know! One of the perks that I found useful in particular is the Atmos Summit partner fee discount. Did they simply correct a problem they made all on their own with this new benefit? Yes. Is it still extremely useful and easy to use? Also, yes.
What Is The Partner Award Booking Fee?
Alaska Airlines has always been a bit annoying with their insistence on charging a fee for booking a partner award flight. It is something that most airline programs do not do. While the amount, $12.50, is not horrible in and of itself, it can add up when booking for a family. That is because the fee is per person, per way. That is $100 for a family of four round trip! The most annoying part of all of it was that the partner award booking fee is non-refundable. Gross!
Even though Alaska manufactured this problem all on their own, I do love that one of the perks of the card is having this fee wiped away. That can offset a major portion of the $395 annual fee if you use the Atmos Rewards program for partner bookings often.
How Does The Discount Work?
After getting the card I had wondered how the Atmos Summit Partner fee discount actually worked. Would it be a statement credit on my card after booking our flights? Would it simply be locked into my Atmos Rewards account, kind of like the Delta 15% award booking discount? Nope, it instead automatically comes off once the Atmos Summit card is selected at checkout. Smooth as butter!
There are some downsides to this set up compared to if it was just attached to my Atmos account. If that were the case then I could check out with a different card with better earning on flights, or with better travel protections etc. It would make sense that Bank of American & Alaska wouldn't want that to happen though.
When I first went into my account to book my flight the partner award fee was still showing. I was confused at first, but then noticed that my Venture X Business card was highlighted as the payment option.
Once I switched it over to my Atmos Summit Visa card the booking fee automatically came off. This should show the same for everyone in your booking party as well. That can add up to some serious savings in a year if you maximize the Alaska Atmos Rewards program.
Atmos Summit Partner Fee Discount: ToP Thoughts
While I have always found the partner award booking fee a necessary evil of dealing with the Alaska Airlines program, it is now wholly avoidable. That is if you have the Atmos Summit Visa at least, and can take advantage of the partner fee discount. I love that the process is simple and automatic. No tracking and chasing down credits like we see with some other card perks here. Let me know what you think of this new card benefit over in the ToP Facebook Group.
