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The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card is one of our favorite co-branded airline cards. It affords you the opportunity to earn Alaska Mileage Plan miles — some of the most valuable miles out there — while offering great perks to those who travel with Alaska Airlines. And with a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus miles + Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ (from $122), this card isn't one to overlook — even if you don't fly Alaska regularly.
Let’s break down everything you need to know about the Alaska Visa Card to help you decide if it deserves a spot in your wallet.
- LIMITED TIME ONLINE OFFER-60,000 Bonus Miles + a 30% Flight Discount Code!
- Receive a 30% flight discount code for a qualifying future flight after opening your new account. Additionally, earn 60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
- Get Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year. Valid on all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com.
- Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases. And earn unlimited 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. And, your miles don't expire on active accounts.
- Earn a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account.
- Free checked bag and enjoy priority boarding for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation, when you pay for your flight with your card - Also available for authorized users when they book a reservation too!
- With oneworld® Alliance member airlines and Alaska's Global Partners, Alaska has expanded their global reach to over 1,000 destinations worldwide bringing more airline partners and more ways to earn and redeem miles.
- Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a low $95 annual fee.
- This online only offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
- Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
- Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases
- Earn unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Page Contents
- Alaska Airlines Visa Overview
- Alaska Airlines Credit Card Offer
- Pros and Cons of the Alaska Visa Card
- Alaska Visa Card Benefits
- Earning Miles With The Alaska Airlines Credit Card
- Redeeming Alaska Mileage Plan miles
- Application Eligibility / Restrictions
- How Alaska Airlines Card Compares to Similar Credit Cards
- Final Thoughts
- Alaska Visa Card FAQ
Alaska Airlines Visa Overview
The Alaska Visa Card offers cardholders plenty of value in exchange for a modest $95 annual fee. Some of the card's benefits include priority boarding, a free checked bag, bonus earning categories, a discounted Alaska Lounge membership, and more. Plus, starting in 2025, you can spend your way toward Alaska MVP elite status by spending on your Alaska credit card.
While the airline's name might imply that it only operates flights to Alaska, Alaska Airlines is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and serves over 120 destinations across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Central America. And thanks to its recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska’s network is expanding even further.
But what really sets the Alaska Visa Card apart is the flexibility and value of Alaska Mileage Plan miles. These miles consistently rank among the top-value mileage currencies you can earn, which spells incredible redemption opportunities.
Moreover, as a member of the Oneworld alliance, Alaska partners with global airlines like Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and British Airways. And the airline also partners with several non-alliance carriers. This means your miles can take you virtually anywhere — from quick domestic getaways to bucket-list international trips in premium cabins.
It's clear that the Alaska Visa Card helps unlock exceptional value for all types of travelers.
Alaska Airlines Credit Card Offer
The Alaska Visa Card is currently offering new applicants 60,000 bonus miles + Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ (from $122) after spending $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. This is a limited-time online offer, which, as you can likely gather, means it won't be around forever.
What’s unique about this offer is that you'll receive the Companion Fare right after meeting the minimum spending requirement. This allows you to bring a companion along on any Alaska flight for as little as $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23). This perk can be extremely valuable, especially if you can maximize it for cross-country or international flights that otherwise cost a lot.
In addition to the miles and Companion Fare, which are earned after meeting the spending requirements, the current bonus also includes a 30% flight discount code which is earned on account opening.
What are Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles worth?
Alaska Mileage Plan miles consistently rank among the most valuable airline miles. On average, AwardWallet users redeem Alaska miles for 2.11¢ apiece. That means the 60,000 bonus miles you’ll earn from this welcome offer are worth over $1,200 toward award travel.
However, the value of your miles inherently depends on how you redeem them:
- Domestic and regional economy awards: 1.3¢ per mile
- Domestic and regional business/first-class awards: 3.42¢ per mile
- Long-haul economy/premium economy awards: 1.75¢ per mile
- Long-haul business/first-class awards: 4.19¢ per mile
To unlock maximum value, you should aim to use your miles for premium cabin international travel on Alaska’s partner airlines.
Pros and Cons of the Alaska Visa Card
Pros:
- Earn highly valuable Alaska Mileage Plan miles.
- Free checked bag for the cardholder and up to six companions.
- Earn Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) through card spending
- 10% mileage bonus for eligible Bank of America customers.
Cons:
- Requires $6,000 in annual spending to earn the Companion Fare after the first year.
- Limited bonus categories for everyday spending.
- Alaska Mileage Plan miles, like all airline miles, are subject to devaluation.
Alaska Visa Card Benefits
The Alaska Visa Card’s benefits go beyond the welcome offer. Here’s a closer look at its standout perks:
Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™
In addition to earning an Alaska Companion Fare as part of the sign-up bonus, Alaska Visa Card cardholders can earn an Alaska Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) on every cardholder anniversary. However, you'll need to spend $6,000 or more in the previous cardholder year to earn this unique perk.
This spending requirement is quite reasonable compared to other companion passes you can unlock through airline credit cards.
Free checked bag on Alaska Airlines
Cardholders and up to six companions on the same reservation get a free checked bag on Alaska Airlines. Authorized users also qualify for this benefit, and there’s no additional fee to add them to your account.
Priority boarding
Cardholders board with Group C, which can help you get early access to overhead bin space. This benefit applies to you and up to six travel companions on the same reservation.
Earn Alaska Elite Qualifying Miles on spending
Spend your way to Alaska MVP status! Cardholders earn 1 EQMs for every $3 spent — up to a maximum of 30,000 EQMs per year.
Alaska doesn't impose flight segment requirements, so it’s possible to qualify for entry-level MVP status entirely through credit card spending — though this means you'll need to spend a significant amount ($75k) on your Alaska credit card.
Related: Alaska MVP Gold: First Class Upgrades, Cost-Saving Benefits, and Oneworld Sapphire Perks
Alaska Lounge+ membership discount
Those with the Alaska Visa Card can also take advantage of a $100 discount on an Alaska Lounge+ membership. This membership grants you access to the nine Alaska Lounge locations and more than 90 partner lounges — including American Airlines Admirals Club, Qantas Clubs, and some United Club lounges.
It's worth noting that the price of an Alaska Lounge membership will increase on February 1, 2025. Thus, if you want to purchase a membership for this year, right now is an especially good time to apply for the card and pay for your membership.
20% savings on in-flight purchases
Enjoy 20% back on in-flight purchases on Alaska Airlines, including food, drinks, and Wi-Fi. It’s a small perk that can add up over time, especially for frequent flyers.
No foreign transaction fees
The Alaska Visa Card charges no foreign transaction fees, so this is a card you can pack for your international trip.
Earning Miles With The Alaska Airlines Credit Card
Here’s how you’ll earn miles with the Alaska Visa Card:
- Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
- Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases
- Earn unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
If you’re a Bank of America customer with an eligible account, you can boost your earnings with a 10% mileage bonus. This effectively means earning 3.3X miles on Alaska purchases and 2.2X on bonus categories!
Redeeming Alaska Mileage Plan miles
How Alaska's award chart works
Unlike many of its peers, Alaska Airlines still publishes an award chart, which generally offers significant value. MileagePlan members can book flights on Alaska Airlines according to the following table — though it's worth noting that you can sometimes find awards that price below these “starting at” rates:
Partner award flights are also priced based on geographic regions, the distance you fly, and cabin class. Alaska’s partner award charts provide redemption rates for flights with international airlines like Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and British Airways.
Sweet spots of the Mileage Plan program
Alaska Mileage Plan miles truly shine when redeemed for premium cabin partner awards. An added bonus? You can include a stopover on a one-way award for no extra miles. Here are a few examples of standout redemptions:
Boston to London on American Airlines
- 22,500 Mileage Plan miles in economy
- 30,000 Mileage Plan miles in premium economy
- 45,000 Mileage Plan miles in business class
Notice the massive difference in fees if you fly British Airways on this route rather than American Airlines.
Miami to Frankfurt on Condor
- 27,000 Mileage Plan miles in economy
- 35,000 Mileage Plan miles in premium economy
- 55,000 Mileage Plan miles in business class
West Coast to Taipei on Starlux
- 75,000 Mileage Plan miles in business class
New York to Helsinki on Finnair
- 27,500 Mileage Plan miles in economy
- 55,000 Mileage Plan miles in business class
Related: Incredible Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Sweet Spots
Application Eligibility / Restrictions
Potential new cardholders should beware of a few application restrictions before signing up for the Alaska Visa Card. Only one of these rules is explicitly stated in the card's terms and conditions:
“This card may not be available to you if you currently have or have had the card in the preceding 24 month period…”
The other application restrictions are unwritten guidelines figured out the hard way by cardholders. The first is Bank of America's 2/3/4 Policy. This policy limits the number of Bank of America cards that you can get in a particular time period to:
- 2 new Bank of America cards in any two-month period
- 3 new Bank of America cards in any 12-month period
- 4 new Bank of America cards in any 24-month period
Finally, Bank of America is also known to look at how many cards you've opened in the past 12 months with any card issuer. If you don't have a Bank of America deposit account, you're generally limited to three new cards in the past 12 months. Applicants with a Bank of America bank account have a much higher threshold of seven cards in the past 12 months.
For more, read all about Bank of America credit card application rules.
How Alaska Airlines Card Compares to Similar Credit Cards
The Alaska Visa Card offers quite similar perks to other mid-tier airline credit cards — such as a first free checked bag, priority boarding, and bonus mileage earnings on the airline. That means the best fit for you will depend on which airline you fly the most and which airline miles you find the most valuable for your travels.
Here are some of the card's closest competitors:
(Terms apply)
- 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1X miles on all other eligible purchases
- 3X points per $1 spent on all Southwest® purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on all Rapid Rewards® Hotel and Car Rental Partner purchases
- 2X points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
- 2X points per $1 spent on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services
- 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 2X miles per $1 spent on purchases from United®
- 2X miles per $1 spent on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
- 1X mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Final Thoughts
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card is a top-tier choice for travelers who want to earn and maximize Alaska Mileage Plan miles and enjoy valuable travel perks. Whether you’re earning miles for sweet spots on partner airlines or looking for an easy way to pick up a Companion Fare, this card offers significant short- and long-term value.
And with a welcome offer of 60,000 bonus miles + Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ (from $122), there’s no better time to apply.
- LIMITED TIME ONLINE OFFER-60,000 Bonus Miles + a 30% Flight Discount Code!
- Receive a 30% flight discount code for a qualifying future flight after opening your new account. Additionally, earn 60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
- Get Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year. Valid on all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com.
- Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases. And earn unlimited 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. And, your miles don't expire on active accounts.
- Earn a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account.
- Free checked bag and enjoy priority boarding for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation, when you pay for your flight with your card - Also available for authorized users when they book a reservation too!
- With oneworld® Alliance member airlines and Alaska's Global Partners, Alaska has expanded their global reach to over 1,000 destinations worldwide bringing more airline partners and more ways to earn and redeem miles.
- Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a low $95 annual fee.
- This online only offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
- Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
- Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases
- Earn unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Alaska Visa Card FAQ
How much is 60,000 Alaska Miles worth?
In recent AwardWallet user redemptions, Alaska Mileage Plan miles have provided an average of 2.11¢ per mile in value. At that rate, 60,000 Alaska miles are worth around $1,260. However, keep in mind that mileage redemptions can vary widely depending on whether you're booking economy or business/first class and if you're maximizing your Alaska miles — which many AwardWallet users do!
Is it hard to get Alaska Airlines credit card?
According to Bank of America, potential new cardholders need an "Excellent/Good" credit score to open the Alaska Visa Card. That means it's not going to be an easy card to get for travelers who are building their credit.
Do you get a free bag with Alaska card?
Alaska Visa Card cardholders get a first checked bag free when they purchase an Alaska flight with their card. This free first checked bag perk extends to up to six additional guests traveling on the same reservation. That makes the Alaska Visa Card invaluable for families who fly Alaska Airlines.
What bank is the Alaska Airlines card through?
Alaska Airlines issues the Alaska Visa Card through Bank of America. That means the card is subject to the same credit card application restrictions as other Bank of America cards.
How many miles equals a free flight Alaska?
Alaska Airlines uses a distance-based award chart with awards starting at just 5,000 Mileage Plan miles each way for economy and 15,000 miles for first class. However, that's just the starting price for flights under 700 miles. Longer flights and peak dates can have much higher redemption requirements.
Do Alaska miles expire?
Alaska Mileage Plan miles don't technically expire. However, if your Mileage Plan account is inactive for two years, your account will be deactivated and you'll need to call Alaska to reactivate your account within a year to keep your miles from expiring permanently.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and The New United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees)
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