What the Alaska Credit Card Actually Offers
The Alaska Airlines Visa card is a co-branded rewards card issued by Bank of America that gives you points toward Alaska Airlines flights and other travel purchases. You earn miles on every purchase, get a free checked bag on Alaska flights, and can redeem points for tickets, seat upgrades, or travel partners' flights. The card comes in two versions: a no-annual-fee version and a premium version with an annual fee that includes additional perks like companion fare discounts.
The card's main draw is the checked baggage benefit — if you fly Alaska Airlines regularly, that alone saves you $35 to $70 per round trip. Beyond that, whether the card makes sense depends entirely on how much you actually fly Alaska, how you spend money day-to-day, and what other rewards cards you already carry.
Key Takeaways
- The no-annual-fee Alaska card pays for itself quickly if you fly Alaska Airlines even twice a year, because the free checked bag saves $70 to $140 annually.
- You earn 3 miles per dollar on Alaska Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else, which is a middle-of-the-road earning rate compared to other travel cards.
- The premium version with an annual fee makes sense only if you fly Alaska Airlines frequently enough to use the companion fare discount or other perks multiple times per year.
- The card's value drops significantly if you rarely fly Alaska Airlines or if you live somewhere Alaska doesn't serve well.
The No-Annual-Fee Version: Who Should Consider It
The no-annual-fee Alaska card is worth opening if you fly Alaska Airlines at least twice a year. The free checked bag benefit alone covers the cost of the card — you save $35 per bag, and most people check at least one bag on a round trip. That's $70 to $140 in value annually with zero cost to you.
Beyond the checked bag, you earn 3 miles per dollar on Alaska Airlines purchases (tickets, seat upgrades, in-flight purchases) and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. One mile typically redeems for about one cent of travel value, so you're earning roughly 1% cash back on everyday spending. That's not exceptional compared to flat-rate cash back cards, but it's reasonable if you're already flying Alaska and want the baggage benefit.
The card also includes a $50 statement credit toward Alaska Airlines purchases in the first year, which offsets some of the value you'd otherwise earn through points. After that, you're relying on the baggage benefit and the miles you accumulate to justify keeping the card open.
The Premium Version: When the Annual Fee Makes Sense
The premium Alaska card charges an annual fee (the amount varies and changes periodically) and includes a companion fare discount, additional miles bonuses, and other perks. The companion discount lets you buy one ticket and get a second ticket at a reduced price on Alaska Airlines flights, which can save you hundreds of dollars if you travel with a partner regularly.
This version only makes financial sense if you fly Alaska Airlines frequently — typically at least four to six times per year — and you actually use the companion discount. If you fly twice a year solo, the premium card's annual fee will cost more than you save. If you fly frequently but always travel alone, you're paying for a benefit you won't use.
Calculate this yourself: add up what you'd spend on the annual fee, subtract the value of the companion discount you'd actually use, and compare that to what you'd earn in extra miles. If the number is negative, the premium card isn't worth it for you.
How the Earning Rate Compares to Other Cards
The Alaska card's 1% earning rate on everyday purchases is middle-of-the-road. A flat-rate cash back card like the Citi Double Cash or Capital One SavorOne earns 2% cash back on all purchases, which is double what you get from the Alaska card on non-airline spending. However, if you're specifically chasing travel rewards rather than cash back, the comparison is more complicated.
Other travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred earn 2 points per dollar on travel and dining, which can be worth more than 1% depending on how you redeem. The Alaska card wins if you fly Alaska Airlines frequently and value the checked bag benefit, but loses if you fly other carriers or rarely fly at all.
The real question is whether you're choosing between the Alaska card and another rewards card, or whether you're deciding whether to open a rewards card at all. If you already have a 2% cash back card and rarely fly Alaska, adding the Alaska card doesn't improve your rewards — it just splits your spending across two cards.
The Checked Bag Benefit: The Card's Real Value
The free checked bag is the Alaska card's strongest feature, and it's worth understanding exactly what it covers. You get one free checked bag on Alaska Airlines flights when you use the card to purchase your ticket. Your when ready family members traveling with you also get one free checked bag each if they're on the same reservation.
This benefit does not explore to flights operated by other airlines, even if you book through Alaska Airlines' website. It also doesn't explore if someone else purchased your ticket with a different card. The benefit is straightforward: use the card to buy the ticket, get the free bag.
If you fly Alaska Airlines twice a year and check a bag both times, you're saving $70 to $140 annually. That's the floor for whether the no-annual-fee card makes sense. If you fly more often or check multiple bags, the value climbs quickly.
When the Alaska Card Doesn't Make Sense
Skip the Alaska card if you live in a region Alaska Airlines doesn't serve well or if you rarely fly at all. The card's value is almost entirely tied to Alaska Airlines flights — the 1% earning rate on other purchases is not competitive with other rewards cards. If you fly other carriers primarily, you're paying for a benefit you won't use.
You should also reconsider if you never check bags. Some travelers pack light and use only a carry-on, which means the free checked bag benefit is worthless to you. In that case, you're relying on the miles earning rate, which again is not competitive with other travel or cash back cards.
Finally, if you're considering the premium version but don't fly frequently or don't travel with a partner, the annual fee is money wasted. The companion discount is the premium card's main justification for its cost, and if you won't use it, you're better off with the no-annual-fee version or a different card entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the checked bag benefit if someone else booked my ticket?
No. The free checked bag only applies when you use the Alaska card to purchase the ticket. If your employer, a travel agent, or a family member bought the ticket with a different payment method, you won't get the free bag benefit, even if you're the cardholder.
Do the miles expire?
Alaska Airlines miles do not expire as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months. Account activity includes earning or redeeming miles, so if you fly Alaska or use the card regularly, your miles stay active indefinitely. If your account goes inactive, miles can expire.
What's the difference between the no-annual-fee and premium versions?
The no-annual-fee version has no annual cost and includes the checked bag benefit and standard earning rates. The premium version charges an annual fee and adds a companion fare discount, higher sign-up bonus miles, and sometimes additional perks. The premium version is only worth it if you fly Alaska Airlines frequently and will use the companion discount multiple times per year.
Can I redeem miles for flights on other airlines?
Alaska Airlines miles can be redeemed for flights on Alaska Airlines and its partner airlines, which include American, Delta, United, and others. However, partner redemptions typically cost more miles than Alaska Airlines flights, so you get less value per mile. Check Alaska Airlines' partner list to see if your preferred carrier is included.
How much is the annual fee on the premium card?
The annual fee amount varies and changes periodically, so check Bank of America's current offer before you open the card. The fee is typically charged on your card anniversary each year, though some promotions waive the first year's fee for new cardholders.