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Alaska Airlines Credit Card
What we like:
$121 companion fare credit every year
Intro Offer | Get 40,000 bonus miles plus a $121 companion fare after spending $2,000 in the first 90 days |
Rewards Rate | 3 miles for every $1 spent on Alaska Airlines purchases 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases |
Regular APR | 18.24% – 26.24% (variable) |
Annual Fee | $75 |
Card Overview
Pros
- The sign-up bonus should be easy to qualify for.
- The annual companion pass more than covers the annual fee.
- Miles can be transferred to 17 Mileage Planairline partners, including American Airlines.
- You get free checked bags for you and up to six guests on Alaska flights.
- Miles don’t expire.
- There are no foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- It does have a $75 annual fee, although that’s lower than comparable cards.
- There isn’t an intro APR rate for balance transfers.
- You’ll need a fairly high credit score to get this card.
Recommended Credit Score
Good/Excellent
Everything You Need to Know About the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card
Are you a frequent flier with Alaska Airlines? If so, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card is the next card you’ll want to add to your wallet.
While the name might make you think you can only take flights to Alaska with this, that’s not true. This card is offered through a partnership between Bank of America, Alaska Airlines, and Visa, and you can use your points to travel to a broad range of destinations with Alaska Airlines and its 17 partners, including American Airlines, British Airways, and Emirates. And while the card does have an annual fee, it comes with some solid benefits that more than offset it.
In this review:
- Alaska Airlines Credit Card Benefits
- Downsides of the Alaska Airlines Credit Card
- How it Compares to Similar Cards
Alaska Airlines Credit Card Benefits
The Alaska Airlines card comes with a modest rewards program. You’ll get 3 miles for every $1 spent on Alaska Airlines purchases and 1 mile for every $1 spent elsewhere. But that’s just the beginning of the perks.
There are other no foreign transaction fees, and a free first checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six of your guests that are booked on your reservation. The major benefits, however, are the sign-up bonus and the annual companion fare ticket.
Companion Ticket
You’ll get the opportunity to purchase a companion ticket from $121 ($99 for base fare, with fees starting at $22) each year after your account anniversary. It doesn’t have any blackout dates and is good for Alaska flight bookings on alaskaair.com.
Since roundtrip ticket prices can easily exceed $1,000, taking advantage of this annual perk could more than make up for the card’s $75 fee.
Sign-Up Bonus
Right now, this card has an introductory offer of 40,000 bonus miles and a $121 companion ticket after you spend $2,000 in the first 90 days of having the account.
Downsides of the Alaska Airlines Credit Card
While you can fly pretty far with Alaska Airlines, it is somewhat limited domestically, especially if you don’t live around an Alaska or American Airlines hub.
Another drawback is the $75 annual fee. Although that’s not a high annual fee for a travel card, it may be enough to turn off those who don’t think they’ll fly with Alaska Airlines or one of its partners each year.
How it Compares to Similar Cards
If you regularly travel with Alaska Airlines, this card is a no-brainer. The sign-up bonus and annual companion fare can save you hundreds of dollars each year, and it does have a lower annual fee than some other cards. However, there are other good travel credit cards you may want to consider.
Bottom Line: Is the Alaska Airlines Credit Card Right for You?
If you fly with Alaska Airlines frequently, you’re bound to love this card. With a low annual fee, it carries some major perks. But if you fly Alaska Airlines less than once per year, you might be better suited with another airline credit card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred.