Getting to Know the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card

The Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card from Bank of America is a business airline rewards card that doesn’t skimp on the rewards part. Businesses can earn an impressive 40,000 bonus miles when they make just $2,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening an account – and receive a Companion Fare™ as well, with a round trip coach ticket for as low as $121. Businesses also receive one free checked bag for each cardholder when they travel – and for up to 6 guests – on an Alaska-operated  flight.  When using the card for everyday business expenses, you can expect to earn 3 miles for every dollar spent with Alaska Airlines, with no cap on the total number of miles earned, or blackout dates.

How It Works

Companies can expect the following from the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card:

How to Earn Rewards:

• Fly with Alaska Airlines: Businesses earn triple miles (3 miles for every dollar spent) when they use their Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card to make eligible purchases from Alaska Airlines.
• Fly with Alaska Airlines Partners: Companies can also earn bonus miles when booking tickets with Alaska Airlines partner airlines. Alaska has partnerships with 18 other airlines, including members of Star Alliance, Sky Team, and Oneworld. These wide-ranging partnerships give cardholders impressive opportunities to earn even more miles when traveling worldwide.
• Expiration: There is no expiration on Alaska Airlines miles earned when the account is active.
• Rewards Limitations: Flights booked through third-party travel and flight sites only earn 1 mile per dollar spent.

How to Redeem Miles:

• Travel: Miles are redeemable for reward travel with Alaska Airlines or one of its partner carriers to over 900 destinations worldwide.
• Book Hotels: Bonus miles are applicable for booking a hotel stay with one of Alaska Airlines’ partner hotels through RocketMiles. Miles apply to over 400,000 properties worldwide.
• Seat Upgrades: Cardholders can also use their bonus miles to purchase first-class seat upgrades on Alaska Airlines flights when booking, checking-in at the airport, or while at the departure gate.
• Mile Redemption Restrictions: All flights using bonus miles must be booked through Alaska Airlines.
• Blackout Dates: There are no blackout dates on travel with Alaska Airlines

Today’s Bonus Offers:

Earn 40,000 bonus miles when your account spends$2,000 within the first 90 days of opening the account. Cardholders also receive an additional Companion Fare™ when they spend $2,000 or more on purchases in the first 90 days of opening an account.

The Plane Facts

Can you expect a smooth flight from the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card, or will there be turbulence?

• Annual Fee: The Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card features a yearly fee of $50, which, with the awards-earning potential of the card is an excellent rate when compared with other similar business airline rewards credit cards. Additional cards for employees are charged at an annual rate of $25.

Airline and Airport Perks:

• Annual Companion Fare: Cardholders get one of Alaska Airlines’ famous Companion Fare™ offers each year of membership. The Companion Fare™ offer lets Alaska Airlines cardholders to purchase one round-trip coach companion fare on an Alaskan flight for as low as $121 ($99 base fare, plus applicable taxes from $22 depending on itinerary).
• Baggage Allowance: Cardholders and up to 6 other guests on the same reservation can check one free bag on Alaska operated flights.

Cardholder Protections:

• Fraud Protection: Cardholders have complete protection from any fraudulent or unauthorized purchases made on their account.
• Global Assistance: 24/7 access to Visa’s dedicated account services. This includes access to Visa Concierge, which provides travel assistance and coordination for any issues. Customer service is available in different languages.
• Chip Card technology
• Account alerts

Additional Benefits:

• No foreign transaction fees
• Purchase Protection: Cardholders are protected when an eligible purchase break or suffer damage.
• Paperless Statement: Cardholders can opt-in for a paperless statement. This offers an additional layer of security to the account – while reducing paper consumption.
• Online and Mobile Access:  24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online and mobile banking access.
• Cash Flow Management Tools: Bank of America offers a suite of online services for cardholders. These include automatic payments, transfers, and downloading transactions for QuickBooks integration.

The Perks That Make the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card Worthwhile

What are some of the pros that set this card ahead of the rest?

• A Generous Intro Offer: Earn 40,000 bonus miles for spending $2,000 on purchases in their first 90 days.
• Booking Flights: Miles earned can be used on ticket purchases for Alaska Airlines, or any of their 18 partner airlines.
• Additional Rewards: The chance to claim up to 2 Companion Fare™ offers per membership year, as well as the discounts on in-flight purchases and day pass purchases for Alaska lounges are an extra incentive to like this card.
• The Ability to Earn Miles Everywhere: With the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card, you can earn 3 miles for every dollar spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases and one mile for every dollar spent on all other purchases.
• No Blackout Dates: No blackout dates on Alaska Airlines flights
• Rewards Miles Don’t Expire: Mileage Plan miles never expire. As long as the account is open and active, you’ll be fine.

Potential Turbulence with the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card:

What are some cons that take the wind from under this card’s wings?

• Additional Charges: Flight booking may be subject to additional fees, such as fuel surcharges.

Coming in for Landing

The Alaska Airlines Business  Card is an excellent option for companies looking to earn miles for their travel. Companies planning on spending over $2,000 in the first 3 months earn an impressive bonus. The prospect of that 40,000 bonus miles is almost too good to pass up. The addition of a companion fare for as little as $121 is another great perk. All told, this means businesses can save a little more when they travel for work or play. 

The annual fee of $50 is also a great perk, though you may find many other comparable cards that offer complimentary employee cards – whereas the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card charges $25 per year per employee card. This nitpick, however, is just that – a nitpick. The Alaska Airlines Business Card is a great choice and one that all businesses looking for a solid airline rewards credit card should seriously consider.