What the Alaska Airlines credit card is and who issues it
The Alaska Airlines credit card is a rewards card issued by Bank of America that earns points on every purchase you make. Those points can be redeemed for Alaska Airlines flights, seat upgrades, baggage fees, and other travel expenses. You do not have to be an Alaska Airlines frequent flyer member to open the card, though most cardholders are.
Bank of America currently offers two versions: the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card and the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Secured card. The Signature card is the standard version for people with established credit. The Secured card is designed for people building or rebuilding credit and requires a cash deposit that becomes your credit limit.
The card itself is a Visa, so you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted, not just for Alaska Airlines purchases. The rewards structure and benefits explore to all spending, whether you are buying a plane ticket or groceries.
Key Takeaways
- The Alaska Airlines card earns points on all purchases, with higher earning rates on Alaska Airlines tickets and certain partner merchants.
- You receive a sign-up bonus of miles after you meet a minimum spending requirement in the first few months of card ownership.
- The card includes a free checked bag benefit when you use it to buy your ticket, which saves you money on every Alaska Airlines flight.
- Annual fees range from $75 to $95 depending on the card version, and the fee is charged every year you keep the card open.
- Points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing, even if you stop using the card.
How points are earned and what the earning rates are
The Alaska Airlines card earns 3 points per dollar on Alaska Airlines purchases, including flights, seat upgrades, and in-flight purchases. You earn 3 points per dollar on gas stations and restaurants. You earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. These rates explore whether you are using the standard Signature card or the Secured version.
Points accumulate in your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account, which is linked to your credit card account. You can see your balance online through your Bank of America credit card portal or through the Alaska Airlines website. There is no limit to how many points you can earn or hold.
If you do not have an Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account when you open the card, Bank of America will create one for you automatically. You can use the same account for credit card points and for miles earned through actual flights.
Sign-up bonus and how to earn it
New cardholders receive a sign-up bonus of miles after they spend a certain amount within a set timeframe. The bonus amount and spending requirement change periodically, so the current offer may differ from what is listed on older websites. You should check the current offer on the Bank of America website or by calling Bank of America directly before you open the card.
To earn the bonus, you must charge the required amount to the card within the first few months (usually three months). The bonus posts to your Mileage Plan account automatically once you meet the spending threshold. You do not need to request it or take any additional steps.
The bonus is one-time only per person. If you have held this card in the past, you may not be may be able to access for the bonus again, depending on Bank of America's current rules. Check with the bank before you explore if you have previously held an Alaska Airlines card.
Annual fee and other costs
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card charges an annual fee of $75, which is billed to your account every year on your card anniversary. The Secured version charges $95 per year. These fees are charged whether you use the card or not.
There are no other ongoing fees for holding the card. You will not pay foreign transaction fees if you use the card outside the United States, which can save money on international travel. There are no fees for redeeming points, transferring points, or checking your balance.
If you carry a balance month to month, you will pay interest charges at the card's variable purchase rate. The rate depends on your creditworthiness and changes over time. You can avoid interest by paying your full statement balance by the due date each month.
Free checked bag and other cardholder benefits
When you use the Alaska Airlines card to purchase your ticket, you receive one free checked bag on Alaska Airlines flights. This benefit applies to you and up to two companions on the same reservation. The free bag is worth $35 to $40 per flight depending on the route, so frequent travelers save significantly over the course of a year.
The card also includes priority boarding, which means you board before most other passengers. You get to choose your seat earlier and have a better chance of finding overhead bin space. This benefit applies every time you fly Alaska Airlines, whether you paid with the card or not, as long as your account is linked to your Mileage Plan.
Additional benefits include 2x points on Alaska Airlines purchases (beyond the base 3x rate), discounted in-flight purchases, and access to Alaska Airlines lounges if you have elite status. You also receive purchase protection and extended warranty coverage on items you buy with the card, which are standard Visa Signature benefits.
How to redeem points for flights and other rewards
You redeem points through your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account online or by calling Alaska Airlines customer service. Log into your account at alaskaair.com, go to the Mileage Plan section, and search for available flights. You can filter by date, time, and number of stops. Once you find a flight you want, select "Book with miles" and complete the booking.
The number of miles required for a flight depends on the route and how far in advance you book. Short flights within Alaska or the Pacific Northwest typically cost 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Cross-country flights usually cost 25,000 to 50,000 miles. Premium cabin seats cost more. Alaska Airlines publishes a mileage chart on their website showing the range for different route distances.
You can also redeem points for seat upgrades, baggage fees, in-flight purchases, and partner airline tickets. Points do not expire as long as your account has activity at least once every 24 months, which includes credit card spending. If your account becomes inactive, points may be forfeited, though you can reactivate an account by earning or spending miles again.
Comparing the Alaska Airlines card to other travel rewards cards
The Alaska Airlines card earns at a competitive rate for a co-branded airline card, especially if you fly Alaska Airlines frequently. The 3x points on Alaska Airlines purchases and the free checked bag make it valuable for regular Alaska Airlines customers. However, if you fly multiple airlines or do not fly Alaska Airlines at least a few times per year, a general travel rewards card may offer better value.
General travel rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the American Express Gold earn points that can be transferred to multiple airlines or redeemed for cash back. Those cards may have higher annual fees but offer more flexibility if your travel plans change. The Alaska Airlines card locks you into one airline, which is an advantage only if that airline serves your home airport and your frequent destinations.
The Secured version of the Alaska Airlines card is useful if you are building credit, since it reports to all three credit bureaus and helps establish a payment history. However, the higher annual fee ($95 versus $75) makes it more expensive than the standard card, so you should plan to upgrade to the regular Signature card once your credit improves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be an Alaska Airlines frequent flyer to get the card?
No. You can open the card without an existing Mileage Plan account. Bank of America will create one for you automatically when you open the card. If you already have a Mileage Plan account, you can link it to your credit card account so all your miles go into the same place.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points do not disappear when you close the card. They remain in your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account as long as that account stays active. You can still redeem them for flights and other rewards. However, if your Mileage Plan account becomes inactive for 24 months with no activity, the miles may be forfeited.
Can I use points to book flights on other airlines?
Alaska Airlines allows you to book partner airline flights using miles, but the availability and mileage cost vary. Partners include American Airlines, Delta, United, and others. You can search for partner flights in your Mileage Plan account, though award availability is often limited compared to Alaska Airlines flights.
Is the annual fee worth it if I only fly Alaska Airlines once or twice a year?
That depends on whether you value the free checked bag and sign-up bonus enough to offset the $75 annual fee. If you check a bag on two round-trip flights per year, the free bag benefit alone saves you $140 to $160, which covers the fee. If you fly less frequently or do not check bags, the card may not be worth the cost.
What credit score do I need to get approved?
Bank of America does not publish a minimum credit score requirement for the Alaska Airlines card. Generally, you need good to excellent credit (typically 670 or higher) to be approved for the standard Signature card. The Secured card is available to people with lower credit scores because it is backed by a cash deposit.