Getting to Know the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card
The Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card is a rewards card that is heavy on the rewards. New cardholders can earn 40,000 bonus miles if they make $2,000 in purchases in the first 90 days – and receive a Companion Fare™ as well, entitling a loved one to join in on the fun, with a round trip coach ticket for as low as $121. Cardholders also receive one free checked bag for themselves. Even better, up to 6 guests- on an Alaska flight get that perk too. Cardholders also get in-flight savings.
When using the card every day, expect to earn 3 miles for every dollar spend with Alaska Airlines, up to 5 bonus miles with over 10,000 participating eateries nationwide, or one mile for every dollar spent with the card. Miles are redeemable for flights with Alaska Airlines or one of their 18 global airline partners, for hotel stays at more than 400,000 properties worldwide, or for seat upgrades on flights.
How It Works
Cardholders can expect the following from the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card:
How to Earn Rewards:
Fly with Alaska Airlines: Cardholders earn triple miles when they use their Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card to make eligible purchases from Alaska Airlines. Triple miles equate to 3 miles for every dollar spent on applicable purchases.
Fly with Alaska Airlines Partners: Cardholders can also earn bonus miles when they book tickets with Alaska Airlines partner carriers. Alaska Airlines has a partnership with 18 other airlines, some that are members of Star Alliance, Sky Team, and Oneworld.
Everyday purchases: Cardholders also earn one mile for every dollar spent on all other purchases made using their Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card.
Hotel Partners: Cardholders can earn miles whenever they book stays with Alaska Airlines hotel partners and use their card. Hotel partners include Best Western, Choice Hotels, Coast Hotels, InterContinental, Marriott Bonvoy, and Westmark.
Rental Car Partners: Cardholders can also earn miles when they book rental vehicles with Alaska Airlines partners and use their card. Partner companies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar Car Rental, Hertz, National, and Thrifty.
Shopping: Miles can be earned when using the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card to pay at over 850 retailers nationwide.
Dining: Members can earn up to 5 bonus miles when they use their Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card to pay the entire bill at over 10,000 participating restaurants across the U.S.
Expiration: There is no expiration on miles earned when the account is active.
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 are applicable 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: No blackout dates on travel with Alaska Airlines
Today’s Bonus Offers
Earn 40,000 bonus miles when you spend $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 Visa® Credit Card, or will there be turbulence?
Annual Fee: The Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card features an annual fee of $75, which, while on the higher end of yearly fees for comparable cards, is offset by the excellent rewards and miles available.
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.
Lounge Bonuses: Members receive 50% day passes to Alaska Airlines lounges.
In-Flight Savings: Alaska Airlines Visa® cardholders receive 20% in-flight purchases on Alaska Airlines flights when they use their card.
Cardholder Protections:
Fraud Protection: Cardholders have complete protection from any fraudulent or unauthorized purchases made on their account.
Account Alerts: Visa account alerts allow cardholders to know – via text message or email -when payments are due or if there is suspicious activity on their account.
Global Assistance: 24/7 access to Visa’s dedicated account services, as well as access to Visa Concierge, which provides travel assistance and coordination for any issues that may arise during travel. Customer service is available in different languages.
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, which offers an additional layer of security to the account – all while reducing paper consumption.
The Perks That Make the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card Worthwhile:
What are some of the pros that set this card ahead of the rest?
Great Intro Offer: Get 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 or more on purchases in the 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 Visa® 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: Provided you keep your account active, any miles earned with the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card won’t expire.
Potential Turbulence with the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card:
What are some cons that take the wind from beneath this card’s wings?
Annual Fee: Unlike some other airline rewards cards, the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card has a $75 annual fee. The excellent reward mile earning potential makes up for this fee. If, however, you hate annual fees, there are options without a yearly fee.
Additional Charges: Flight booking may be subjected to additional fees, such as fuel surcharges, which are not covered by miles.
Thoughts Before Takeoff
The Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card from Bank of America offers great miles earning potential and impressive introductory offers. The prospect of 40,000 bonus miles is almost too good to pass up. This card is perfect for those who plan to spend over $2,000 in the first 3 months. That initial spend also gets you a Companion Fare™. That fare allows a loved one to travel round-trip with you for as low as $121. This bonus is in addition to the Companion Fare™ cardholders get each year of membership.
The annual fee of $75 may seem steep to some. This is especially true as there’s great rewards cards out there with no annual fee. The sheer volume of perks with the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card more than makeup for this cost. The ability to earn 3X miles with Alaska Airlines doesn’t hurt either. Nor does the ability to use points with its 18 partner airlines across the globe.