Alaska Airlines has long been a popular choice for travelers on the West Coast, and its credit card, the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card, stands out as an attractive option for loyal customers. Issued by Bank of America, this card offers a range of valuable perks and opportunities to accumulate miles, making it worth considering for frequent flyers or those looking to optimize their travel rewards.

With an annual fee of $95, the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card provides cardholders with generous rewards potential, including a notable welcome offer. The card earns its holders varying amounts of miles per dollar spent on purchases, with the highest rewards being earned on Alaska Airlines flights. Additionally, redeeming miles is made easy through Alaska’s Global Partner network, which comprises over 20 international airlines.

One of the standout features of the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card is the annual Companion Fare benefit. This perk allows cardholders to book a companion ticket with a significantly discounted price once a year, making it an undeniable draw for those who frequently travel with a partner or family member. Overall, the card’s benefits present a strong case for individuals seeking to capitalize on their Alaska Airlines loyalty and secure value-added travel experiences.

Alaska Airlines Credit Card Basics

Annual Fee

The Alaska Airlines Credit Card comes with an annual fee of $95.

Sign-Up Bonus

New cardmembers can benefit from a generous sign-up bonus for this credit card. After spending $2,000 within the first 90 days, cardmembers will receive:

• 50,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles
• A $100 Statement Credit
• An Alaska Airlines companion fare from $122 ($99 fare, plus taxes and fees starting at just $23)

Regular APR

The regular APR on this credit card varies between 19.74% – 27.74%. This is a variable APR which applies to both purchases and balance transfers.

Welcome Offer

The current welcome offer for the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card includes:

• 70,000 miles for those who make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening their account.
• Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare, which consists of a fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer.

Rewards and Benefits

Earning Rewards

The Alaska Airlines Visa credit card allows cardholders to earn Mileage Plan miles at the following rates:

• 3 miles per $1 spent directly on Alaska Airlines purchases
• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

These earned miles can be very valuable, as they offer flexibility and a wide range of travel options with over 20 global airline partners.

Redeeming Rewards

Redeeming Mileage Plan miles is fairly straightforward, enabling cardholders to use their earned miles for:

• Award flights on Alaska Airlines and partner airlines
• Upgrading to First Class or premium seating
• Hotel stays at partner hotels

The value of miles varies depending on how they are used, but they generally offer a competitive rewards rate compared to other airline credit cards.

Additional Perks

The Alaska Airlines Visa card comes with several additional perks that enhance the overall travel experience for cardholders. Some notable perks include:

• Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare: This benefit allows cardholders to get a companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) every year after their account anniversary. This is easily one of the most compelling benefits for those who frequently travel with a partner.
• Free checked bag: Cardholders, as well as up to six additional guests on the same reservation, can enjoy one free checked bag each.
• Priority boarding: Cardholders and their travel companions can take advantage of priority boarding on Alaska Airlines flights, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable boarding experience.

Overall, the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card offers a combination of valuable rewards and appealing travel benefits. It is especially well-suited for those who frequently travel with Alaska Airlines and their partners, providing a reliable source of rewards and perks to enhance the journey.

Alaska Airlines Visa Features

Famous Companion Fare

The Alaska Airlines Visa credit card offers a valuable benefit called the Famous Companion Fare. This feature allows cardholders to book a companion ticket starting at $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) annually, making it an attractive option for those who frequently travel with another person. The Companion Fare can be earned after meeting the requirements – making $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Free Checked Bags

Another perk of the Alaska Airlines Visa card is the free checked bags for the cardholder and up to six other passengers on the same reservation. This can save travelers significant money, especially for families or groups traveling together.

Elite Status

Owning the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card can help you achieve Elite Status within Alaska’s Mileage Plan program. As cardholders spend on their card, they’ll earn miles that help them get closer to reaching a higher status with additional benefits, such as complimentary upgrades, priority boarding, and more.

Ongoing Rewards

The Alaska Airlines Visa also provides ongoing rewards for its cardholders. Users can earn:

• 3 Alaska miles per $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
• 1 Alaska mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

With over 20 global airline partners, these earned miles can be redeemed for flights, making the Alaska Airlines Visa card a great option for frequent flyer enthusiasts.

Spending Categories and Bonuses

The Alaska Airlines credit card offers various spending categories and bonuses that cater to different cardholders’ needs. This section will cover the rewards in four primary categories: Alaska Airlines Purchases, Local Transit and Ride Share, Gas and Groceries, and Cable and Streaming Services.

Alaska Airlines Purchases

Cardholders can earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. These rewards provide an incentive for frequent travelers to use the card for Alaska Airlines flights, baggage fees, and in-flight purchases.

Local Transit and Ride Share

For those who rely on local transit and ride share services, the Alaska Airlines credit card offers 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible local transit and ride share purchases. This benefit covers a range of services, including buses, trains, trams, taxis, and ridesharing platforms such as Uber and Lyft.

Gas and Groceries

To cater to everyday spending, the card also provides 1 mile for every $1 spent on eligible gas and grocery purchases. This rewards category makes it convenient for cardholders to accrue miles while taking care of daily essentials like fueling their vehicles and purchasing groceries.

Cable and Streaming Services

Lastly, the card offers 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible cable and streaming services, allowing cardholders to earn miles while enjoying their favorite TV shows and films. This spending category covers a variety of popular streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, as well as cable providers such as Comcast and Spectrum.

Travel Perks and Savings

Priority Boarding

As an Alaska Airlines Visa credit card holder, you enjoy the benefit of priority boarding. This allows you to board the plane earlier, providing extra time to get settled and get your luggage stowed away.

In-Flight Discounts

With the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card, you also get to enjoy some in-flight discounts. Save on your inflight purchases such as meals, beverages, and Wi-Fi with this card.

Alaska Lounge Membership

Cardholders have an opportunity to get an Alaska Lounge membership at a discounted rate. The lounges offer comfortable seating, complimentary snacks and beverages, Wi-Fi, and access to other amenities to enhance your travel experience.

Partner Airlines and Destinations

The Alaska Airlines credit card allows you to redeem miles for flights with over 20 global partner airlines. One of these partnerships is with Oneworld, a leading global airline alliance that includes American Airlines. You can use your miles to book award flights on Oneworld partner airlines, giving you access to an extensive network of destinations.

Alaska Airlines offers flights to popular destinations within the United States, including Hawaii. With this card, you can redeem your miles for flights to beautiful Hawaiian destinations, making your tropical vacation more affordable.

Overall, the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card provides valuable travel perks and savings, making it worth considering for frequent Alaska Airlines flyers or those who value flexible redemption options with partner airlines.

Fees and Interest Rates

Foreign Transaction Fees

The Alaska Airlines Visa credit card charges no foreign transaction fees. This feature makes it an attractive choice for frequent travelers, as you won’t incur any additional charges for making purchases in other countries.

Balance Transfers

There is a balance transfer fee associated with the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card. The fee is either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $10 minimum, whichever is greater. If you’re considering transferring a balance from another credit card, it’s essential to weigh this fee’s potential benefits.

Variable APR

The Alaska Airlines Visa credit card comes with a variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. The APR ranges between 19.74% and 27.74% depending on your creditworthiness. It’s crucial to keep in mind the interest charges you may accrue if you carry a balance on this card.

Remember to use your credit card responsibly. Make timely payments and maintain a reasonable balance to make the most of this card’s benefits.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Generous rewards program: The Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card offers its cardholders a rewarding 3x miles for every dollar spent on Alaska Airlines purchases, and 1x miles on all other eligible purchases.
• Annual companion fare: Cardholders receive an annual companion fare, which allows them to buy one domestic ticket at regular price and get a second ticket for just the cost of taxes and fees. This benefit alone can offset the card’s $75 annual fee for those who take advantage of it.
• Free checked bag: When flying with Alaska Airlines, cardholders and up to six of their travel companions receive their first checked bag free, saving money on baggage fees.
• No foreign transaction fees: The Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it a convenient choice for international travels.

Cons:

• Limited airline options: Alaska Airlines’ flight route network is primarily focused on the west coast, meaning cardholders in other parts of the country may have limited options for redeeming their miles. It is worth mentioning that Alaska Airlines has a number of partner airlines, but the overall flexibility of using miles may still be limited.
• Annual fee: The card comes with a $75 annual fee. While the benefits such as the annual companion fare and free checked bags can offset this fee for frequent flyers, infrequent travelers may have a harder time justifying the cost.
• High variable APR: The card has a variable APR ranging from 19.74% to 27.74% based on creditworthiness. This can be costly for cardholders who carry a balance on the card from month to month.

In summary, the Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card can offer great value to frequent Alaska Airlines travelers, especially those living on the west coast. While the card may not be as attractive to infrequent travelers or those living further from Alaska Airlines’ service areas, its rewards program and benefits still bring value to the table.

How to Apply and Credit Score Requirement

To apply for the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card, you can head over to the Bank of America‘s website and fill out the online application form. You will need to provide personal and financial information such as your name, address, Social Security number, and income to complete the application process. Once you submit your application, Bank of America will review it and determine your eligibility for the card based on your creditworthiness.

The Alaska Airlines Visa credit card is well-suited for applicants who have a credit score in the range of 690 to 850, which is considered good to excellent. This credit score requirement helps to ensure that cardholders are able to manage their credit responsibly, and it enables the card issuer to provide competitive benefits and rewards to its consumers.

Meeting the credit score requirement is essential for approval, but other factors are considered as well, such as your income, current debts, and credit history. It’s important to note that a higher credit score could lead to better terms, such as lower interest rates and higher credit limits.

In conclusion, to apply for the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card and increase your chances of approval, ensure that you meet the credit score requirement and provide accurate information during the application process. Bank of America plays a significant role in the approval process, so having a strong relationship with the bank can also be beneficial.

Alternatives and Comparisons

Other Airline Credit Cards

There are several other airline credit cards that travelers can consider when looking for a card to complement their travel needs. For example, the United Explorer Card offers a sign-up bonus, rewards on everyday spending, and additional perks such as free checked bags and priority boarding for United Airlines passengers.

Similarly, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card offers valuable benefits for those who frequently fly with Delta, such as no foreign transaction fees, main cabin priority boarding, and a free checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation.

Hotel and General Travel Credit Cards

For travelers who prioritize hotel rewards, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is a solid choice, offering a generous sign-up bonus, 6x points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, and 2x points on all other purchases. Cardholders also receive a free night award each year after their account anniversary.

For those seeking flexibility with their travel rewards and aren’t loyal to a specific airline or hotel, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is an excellent option. It offers valuable rewards on travel and dining purchases and comes with no foreign transaction fees. Points earned with this card can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners, or redeemed through the Chase travel portal at a higher value.

In summary, while the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card offers great value for Alaska Airlines customers, there are other options available for those who prefer different airlines, hotel chains, or more flexible travel rewards. Each card has its unique set of benefits and rewards, so it’s important for travelers to carefully consider their travel habits and preferences when selecting the right card for their needs.

Mileage Plan and Partner Airlines

Earning and Redeeming with Partners

The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program offers plenty of opportunities to earn and redeem miles with their extensive list of partner airlines. Members can earn miles on Alaska Airlines purchases, as well as on flights with partner airlines. These miles can then be redeemed for award flights, stopovers, and seat upgrades, giving members more flexibility and options for their travels.

Some notable partner airlines include Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines. The generous rules of the Mileage Plan program even allow members to add free stopovers on most award flights, and also on one-way awards. This can be extremely valuable when using your miles to book business-class flights with partners like Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines, allowing for stopovers in cities like Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Alaska’s Oneworld Alliance Partners

Alaska Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance, which expands the Mileage Plan’s reach even further by including more partner airlines. As a part of this alliance, members can earn and redeem miles with Oneworld partners as well as West Coast-focused airline Fiji Airways. Here is a list of some of Alaska’s Oneworld partners:

• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Fiji Airways (a Oneworld Connect airline)
• Finnair
• Iberia

By participating in the Mileage Plan program and making the most of Alaska’s partnership with these airlines, members can maximize their rewards and enjoy an extensive range of travel options.

Frequently Asked Questions

What benefits are offered?

The Alaska Airlines Visa credit card offers various benefits, such as earning 3 miles per $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases, and an annual companion fare ticket discount. Cardholders also receive a free checked bag for themselves and up to six companions on the same reservation, as well as 50% off day passes to Alaska Lounge access.

Any foreign transaction fees?

No, the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card does not charge foreign transaction fees. This makes it a suitable choice for international travelers who seek to avoid these fees while on their trips.

How to earn 80,000 miles?

The Alaska Airlines Visa credit card sometimes offers a welcome bonus of up to 80,000 miles. To earn this bonus, new cardholders must meet a minimum spending requirement within a specified period, typically three months from account opening. Keep an eye on current promotions to check for this offer.

Best card offer?

The best card offer depends on an individual’s personal preferences and needs. Generally, the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card is a good fit for those who frequently fly with Alaska Airlines and can make use of the provided benefits, such as earning miles, an annual companion fare, and free checked bags.

Payment methods?

The Alaska Airlines Visa credit card offers various payment methods, including online payments through your bank account, by mail with a check or money order, and over the phone by contacting Bank of America‘s customer service.

What is the credit limit?

The credit limit on the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card varies and depends on factors such as your credit score, income, and payment history. Bank of America will determine your credit limit upon account approval. It’s essential to maintain a good credit score and financial habits to maximize your credit limit.