How I used a companion fare to save 44% on flights to Alaska

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If you’re reading this newsletter, chances are you’re a maximizer. And, if you have an Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature card, there’s a nifty perk that deserves to be maximized.

If you spend $6,000 on the card in the prior anniversary year, check your Atmos Rewards account. There, you’ll find an annual Companion Fare that lets a traveling partner fly on the same Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines itinerary within North America for $99 plus taxes and fees (starting from $23). You pay the standard price, and your partner flies for just over a hundred bucks.

Perks like this one are hard to come by. So while you could use it for a $300 fare, it’s worth being choosy. The higher the fare on your ticket, the steeper the percentage discount on the partner’s fare.

Here’s how I used mine to save 44% on two of our tickets.

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My wife and I are on a journey to visit all 50 U.S. states with our son. Alaska — the last frontier — remained elusive.

If you’re a long-time Points Path reader, you may remember a prior newsletter where I detailed my family’s favorite islands with trains on them. Given the railfan that my son is, I honed in on a very unique place in North America: the White Pass Scenic Railway.

This is one of the most stunning train rides in the world, though getting there is not for the faint of heart. It departs from Skagway, Alaska, a tiny town that’s only accessible (from America, at least) via boat or plane. This was our moment, and it turned out to be an epic way to use my latest Companion Fare.

I needed to get to Juneau, Alaska during peak summer travel dates in July 2026. We’ll then hop either a ferry or a seaplane from there. I found a paid fare of around $900 for a round-trip flight between Raleigh-Durham (RDU) and Juneau (JNU). By applying the Companion Fare, I took the total for two passengers from $1,800 to just over $1,000 — roughly a 44% savings!

Turn flight delays into free lounge time

For about the cost of two airport cocktails, a Travelzoo Club membership gets you a year of members‑only travel deals, early access to Top 20 offers, and weekly vacation giveaways. Even better, if your registered flight is delayed, you and your companions can get access to over 1,600 airport lounges to wait out your delay with snacks, Wi‑Fi, and a comfy seat instead of a crowded gate.

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Given that we’re a family of three, I needed one more ticket. Thankfully, I had enough Alaska miles stashed away to cover the third ticket.

For those who routinely need an extra ticket, this is a great strategy. Use the Companion Fare on a pricey bucket-list trip that may be otherwise out of reach, and keep enough miles sitting around to cover a solo ticket. This approach helps you avoid needing a boatload of miles to fly your family on vacation.

In a world fixated on points and miles, it’s worth remembering that cash deals still exist.

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