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If you're planning a trip to Alaska, you're in luck because there are credit cards that can help you earn miles and perks for your next adventure. Alaska Airlines credit cards offer a wide range of benefits, including earning miles towards flights on Alaska Airlines and its partner airlines.
You can earn miles on everyday purchases, such as groceries and gas, with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card. This card offers 3 miles per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines and its partner airlines, making it a great choice for frequent flyers. With this card, you can also earn a 50,000-mile bonus after spending $2,000 in the first 90 days.
One of the best perks of the Alaska Airlines credit cards is the ability to upgrade to first class with miles. If you have a large stash of miles, you can use them to upgrade to first class on Alaska Airlines flights, making your travel experience even more comfortable and enjoyable.
Rewards and Benefits
The Alaska credit card is a great option for frequent flyers, offering a range of rewards and benefits that can save you money and make your travel experience more enjoyable.
You can earn 3 miles for every $1 spent directly on Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles per $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging, cable, streaming services, and local transit purchases, and 1 mile per $1 spent everywhere else.
One of the most valuable benefits is the free checked bag on Alaska flights for the cardholder and up to six other passengers on the same reservation, saving $60 per person roundtrip.
You'll also get 20% back on all Alaska Airlines inflight purchases when you pay with your card, making in-flight snacks and drinks more affordable.
The Alaska credit card offers a welcome bonus of 70,000 bonus miles and a companion fare ticket ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
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Here are the key rewards and benefits at a glance:
Assess Your Flying and Spending Habits
To get the most out of your rewards credit card, you need to assess your flying and spending habits. Consider how often you fly on a particular airline and what you spend on gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services, and local transit.
You might find that your habits don't align with the benefits of a specific card, like the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card. This card earns 3 miles per $1 spent on Alaska Airlines purchases, and 2 miles per $1 spent on other eligible categories.
If you're not a frequent flyer on Alaska Airlines, it might not be the best card for you. You could use it solely for Alaska Airlines purchases, earning 3 miles per $1 spent.
You can also use this card to earn miles on other everyday purchases like gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services, and local transit.
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Rewards and Benefits
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card offers a range of rewards and benefits that make it a great choice for frequent flyers. You can earn 3 miles for every $1 spent directly on Alaska Airlines purchases.
One of the standout benefits is the free checked bag on Alaska flights for the cardholder and up to six other passengers on the same reservation. This can save you $60 per person roundtrip. You'll also enjoy priority boarding when you pay for your flight with your card.
The card also offers a 20% back on all Alaska Airlines inflight purchases, which can be a nice perk if you tend to buy snacks and other goodies during flights. This benefit can put some money back in your wallet.
Another benefit is the Alaska Companion Fare, which allows you to book a companion flight from just $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22). This is a buy-one-get-one ticket for an Alaska Airlines flight, and it's a great way to save money on flights for you and a friend or family member.
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Here's a breakdown of the rewards and benefits you can expect with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card:
Overall, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card offers a range of rewards and benefits that make it a great choice for frequent flyers. By taking advantage of these benefits, you can save money and make the most of your travel experiences.
Earning and Redeeming Miles
You can earn Alaska Airlines miles by spending on the card, with 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, local transit, cable, and select streaming services, and 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
The average American can earn around 28,832 Alaska Airlines miles in the first year of card membership, and if you include the 60,000-point welcome bonus, this would yield 88,832 Alaska Airlines miles in just the first year.
You can also earn miles for flying with Alaska Airlines or one of its many airline partners, including domestic partners like American Airlines.
Outside of what you get for spending on the card, you can transfer points from other loyalty programs into your Alaska Airlines account, such as Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio.
To redeem your Alaska Airlines miles, visit the Alaska Airlines website and log in to your loyalty account, then start searching for your preferred itinerary, but be sure to select "use miles".
The redemption value of Alaska Miles is at least 2¢ each when you redeem them for flights on partner airlines, making this offer worth at least $1,400.
Here's a breakdown of the redemption value of Alaska Miles:
- Economy class flights on partner airlines: at least 2¢ each
- Business class flights on partner airlines: at least 2¢ each
- First class flights on partner airlines: at least 2¢ each
With Alaska Airlines' revamped award charts, there is a baseline minimum redemption amount, but no cap on the award cost, making it possible to get great value when redeeming Alaska Airlines miles for international business and first class flights.
Card Details
The Alaska credit cards have some specific details you should know about. The annual fee for these cards is $95.
If you're looking to earn rewards, you can expect a rewards rate of 1x-3x. This means you'll earn between one to three points or miles for every dollar you spend.
To make the most of these cards, consider taking advantage of the bonus offer, which includes 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare. However, you'll need to make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account to qualify.
When it comes to interest rates, the APR for these cards ranges from 20.24% to 28.24% Variable APR. If you're planning to carry a balance, be aware that the cash advance APR is not specified, but the penalty APR is 29.99%, Variable.
If you need to transfer a balance, be prepared for a balance transfer fee of 4% of the amount of each transaction. On the other hand, foreign transactions are free, with no foreign transaction fee applied.
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Comparison and Review
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card is a great option for frequent flyers with Alaska Airlines. It offers a welcome bonus, great spending categories, and a reasonable annual fee of $95.
One of the standout features of this card is its annual Companion Fare, which allows you to get a ticket for a traveling partner for just $122 ($99 plus taxes and fees from $23) once a year after spending at least $6,000 annually.
If you fly Alaska Airlines with another person at least once a year, this card is a must-have. Be aware, however, that Alaska doesn't fly everywhere.
The card also has a variable APR of 19.99%-28.99%, so be sure to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges.
Comparison
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card is a solid choice for Alaska flyers, but how does it stack up against other similar cards? It offers a valuable welcome bonus, great spending categories, and a reasonable annual fee.
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The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card has a variable APR of 19.99%-28.99%, which is comparable to other travel credit cards.
To see how it matches up, let's compare it to two other travel credit cards. Here's a brief rundown of their rates and fees:
Keep in mind that the Amex Delta Gold review is separate from this comparison, but it's worth checking out if you're considering this card.
Detailed Review
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card is a top-notch option for frequent flyers, especially those who travel with a partner. It offers a rare and valuable annual Companion Fare, worth $122, which can be redeemed once a year after spending at least $6,000 annually.
This card stands out from the competition for its Companion Fare, which is a game-changer for couples who fly together. Alaska Airlines' routes are mostly concentrated on the West Coast, so it's not ideal for travelers who need to fly to every state or major airport.
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One of the key benefits of this card is the unlimited 3 miles earned for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Additionally, cardholders can earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, local transit, rideshare, cable, and select streaming services purchases.
The card also offers a limited-time offer: earn 60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Here are the key features of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card:
- Sign-up bonus: Get 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare with this offer
- Annual fee: $95
- Companion Fare: Get a Companion Fare from $122 each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year
- Ongoing rewards:
+ 3 miles per $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
+ 2 miles per $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging, cable, streaming services and local transit
+ 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Features and Perks
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card offers a range of features and perks that make it a solid choice for frequent flyers. You'll earn 3 miles per $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles per $1 spent on gas, EV charging, local transit, rideshare, cable, and select streaming services purchases, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
One of the standout benefits of this card is the free checked bag perk, which can save you $60 on a round-trip flight. You'll also get priority boarding, 20% back on in-flight purchases, and a $100 discount on an Alaska Lounge membership when you pay with your card.
Here are some of the key benefits of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card:
- Free checked bag on Alaska Airlines flights for you and up to six other passengers on the same reservation
- Priority boarding
- 20% back on in-flight purchases
- $100 discount on an Alaska Lounge membership
The card also offers a unique sign-up bonus: 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Benefits and Perks
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card offers a range of benefits and perks that can make your travels easier and more rewarding. You'll get a free checked bag on Alaska Airlines flights for you and up to six guests on the same reservation, plus priority boarding when you pay for your flight with your card.
One of the standout benefits is the free checked bag benefit, which can save you $60 on a round-trip flight, almost covering the entire annual fee of $95. Additionally, the free checked bag and priority boarding benefits now apply to authorized users as long as the flight is paid for with the Alaska card.
You'll also enjoy 20% back on all Alaska Airlines inflight purchases, such as food, beverages, and Wi-Fi. Plus, with the Alaska Lounge discount, you can save $100 on an Alaska Lounge membership when you pay for it with your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card.
Here are some of the key benefits and perks of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card:
These benefits can add up to significant savings and rewards, making the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card a great choice for frequent Alaska Airlines flyers.
Bonus Spend Categories
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card offers a range of bonus spend categories that can help you earn more miles.
You'll earn 3 miles per $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, which is a great perk for frequent flyers.
The card also offers 2 miles per $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging, local transit, rideshare, cable, and select streaming services purchases. This is a valuable bonus for those who regularly use these services.
Here are the bonus spend categories in more detail:
The card's rewards structure is designed to reward frequent flyers and those who regularly use certain services.
Membership and Sign-up
The Alaska Airlines credit card offers a unique sign-up bonus that includes 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare, which can be redeemed for a free ticket on an Alaska Airlines flight.
To qualify for this bonus, you'll need to make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
You can also earn a $100 credit when you pay for an Alaska Lounge+ membership in full with your card, which grants you access to all of Alaska Airlines lounges and American Airlines Admirals Clubs.
The credit represents a 15% to 18% discount on the membership purchase, which normally costs $550 to $650.
In terms of redemption value, Alaska miles are worth at least 1.3 cents each, according to NerdWallet, making this offer potentially very valuable.
Who Is for?
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If you're considering joining the Alaska Airlines credit card program, you're likely a frequent flyer or someone who values simplicity and flexibility in their travel rewards. The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card is a great fit for those who live on the West Coast and fly with the airline occasionally.
The card is designed for individuals who appreciate a straightforward rewards program without a long list of features or spending categories to track. If you enjoy traveling with someone else, this card is a great pick due to its annual Companion Fare benefit, which allows you to bring a travel partner on a flight for just $121.
The Alaska Airlines Card is aimed towards Alaska frequent flyers, but anyone can get value from Alaska Miles, especially with the airline's excellent redemption options for international travel. You can redeem your miles for round-trip tickets to Europe on Iberia in Economy or one-way tickets to Europe in Business Class on British Airways.
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Sign Up Bonus
The sign-up bonus on the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card is a great perk that can get you started on your rewards journey. You can earn 60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare with this offer, which is a buy-one-get-one ticket for an Alaska Airlines flight.
To qualify for the bonus, you'll need to make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. This is a relatively standard requirement for elevated card offers like this one.
The bonus miles can be redeemed for flights on Alaska Airlines and its partners, with a value of at least 2¢ each when redeemed for flights on partner airlines. This means the bonus is worth at least $1,200.
Here's a breakdown of the bonus offer:
- 60,000 bonus miles
- Alaska's Famous Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23)
- Value of at least $1,200 when redeemed for flights on partner airlines
Membership
Membership can be a great way to enhance your travel experience, and Alaska Airlines offers a lounge membership that's worth considering.
The Alaska Lounge+ membership gets you access to all Alaska Airlines lounges, as well as American Airlines Admirals Clubs when traveling on Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, or OneWorld Alliance flights.
Purchasing the Alaska Lounge+ membership through the Alaska Airlines card can save you 15% to 18% off the retail price of $550 to $650.
Holders of The Platinum Card from American Express and the Hilton Aspire Card from American Express can use credits towards purchasing a club membership, with The Platinum Card offering a $200 credit and the Hilton Aspire Card offering a $250 credit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it hard to get an Alaska credit card?
To get an Alaska credit card, you'll need good credit, with a score of 700 or better. If you have good credit, you may have a good chance of getting approved for the card.
What credit score do you need for an Alaska credit card?
To get the Alaska Airlines Visa Card, you'll need a FICO score of at least 670, but 700 or higher is recommended. Your credit score is just one factor considered in the application process.
How much is 50,000 Alaska miles worth?
According to our analysis, 50,000 Alaska miles are worth approximately $650. This value is based on our assessment of Alaska miles redemption options.
How much is 80000 Alaska points worth?
80,000 Alaska miles are worth approximately $1,040. To estimate the value of 80,000 Alaska miles, consider that 100,000 miles are worth around $1,300.
What Bank issues Alaska Airlines credit cards?
The Bank of America issues Alaska Airlines credit cards. These cards offer rewards and benefits that can be redeemed for Alaska Airlines miles.
Sources
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/is-the-alaska-airlines-visa-card-worth-its-annual-fee
- https://wallethub.com/d/alaska-airlines-credit-card-176c
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/alaska-airlines-visa-credit-card-review/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/alaska-airlines-credit-card
- https://www.thepointymiles.com/posts/alaska-airlines-credit-card-review
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