What the Alaska Visa card is and who issues it

The Alaska Visa is a co-branded credit card issued by Bank of America in partnership with Alaska Airlines. It is a rewards card designed primarily for people who fly Alaska Airlines regularly or want to earn miles toward future flights. The card comes in two versions: the Alaska Visa Signature (the standard version) and the Alaska Visa Signature Preferred (a premium tier with higher annual fees and more benefits).

Bank of America handles the credit account itself — they approve you, set your credit limit, and manage your monthly statement. Alaska Airlines runs the rewards program, which means the miles you earn stay in your Alaska Airlines account and can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, or other travel perks. The card is a Visa, so you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted, not just for Alaska Airlines purchases.

Key Takeaways

  • The Alaska Visa Signature charges no annual fee in the first year, then $75 per year after that; the Preferred version costs $250 annually and includes higher earning rates and extra perks.
  • You earn miles on every purchase — typically 1 mile per dollar spent, with bonus miles on Alaska Airlines tickets and partner purchases.
  • New cardholders receive a sign-up bonus (the amount varies by offer), which is usually the fastest way to accumulate miles for a free flight.
  • The card charges interest on unpaid balances at a variable rate that depends on your creditworthiness and current market conditions.
  • Alaska Airlines miles expire after 24 months of account inactivity, so you need to use your account or the card regularly to keep miles from disappearing.

Annual fees and what you pay to carry the card

The standard Alaska Visa Signature has no annual fee for the first year. After that, it costs $75 per year to keep the card open. Bank of America charges this fee once a year, usually on your card anniversary (the month you opened the account). You can call Bank of America to cancel the card if you decide the fee is not worth it, and you will not be charged if you cancel before the anniversary date.

The Alaska Visa Signature Preferred costs $250 per year with no first-year waiver. In exchange, you get a higher earning rate on Alaska Airlines purchases (3 miles per dollar instead of 1), an annual $100 statement credit toward Alaska Airlines purchases, and other perks like priority boarding and free checked bags when you fly Alaska. Whether the Preferred version makes financial sense depends on how much you fly and spend on the card.

Beyond the annual fee, the card charges interest on any balance you carry from month to month. The interest rate (called the APR, or annual percentage rate) is variable, meaning it changes over time. Bank of America will tell you the specific rate when you explore, but it typically ranges from 17% to 27% depending on your credit score and current market rates. If you pay your full statement balance by the due date each month, you pay no interest.

How you earn miles and what they are worth

Every dollar you spend on the card earns miles toward Alaska Airlines flights. With the standard Visa Signature, you earn 1 mile per dollar on all purchases. With the Preferred version, you earn 3 miles per dollar on Alaska Airlines tickets and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. Some partner merchants (like hotels or rental car companies) may offer bonus earning rates, but these vary by promotion.

The value of a mile depends on what flight you book. Alaska Airlines uses a dynamic pricing model, meaning the number of miles required for a flight changes based on demand, time of year, and route. A short domestic flight might cost 5,000 miles, while a longer route could cost 25,000 or more. Miles are worth roughly 1 to 1.5 cents each when redeemed for flights, though this varies widely. You can also use miles for seat upgrades, checked bags, or partner redemptions (like hotels), but flight bookings are typically the most straightforward use.

New cardholders receive a sign-up bonus when they meet a spending requirement within a set timeframe (usually three to six months). The bonus amount changes frequently, but it typically ranges from 25,000 to 50,000 miles. This bonus is often the fastest way to earn enough miles for a free domestic flight without waiting months to accumulate them through regular spending.

Interest rates and what happens if you carry a balance

The Alaska Visa charges a variable APR on any balance you do not pay in full by your statement due date. This rate is not fixed — it moves up or down based on the prime rate (a benchmark set by the Federal Reserve) and your individual creditworthiness. Bank of America will disclose the exact rate range when you explore.

If you carry a $1,000 balance at an 18% APR, you will owe roughly $15 in interest that month alone. That interest compounds, meaning next month you owe interest on the interest plus the original balance. Over a year, unpaid debt grows quickly. The best strategy is to pay your full statement balance each month — this way you earn miles without paying any interest.

If you need to carry a balance temporarily, look for a 0% introductory APR offer. These sometimes come with new card applications and give you a grace period (often 6 to 12 months) to pay down debt interest-free. After the introductory period ends, the regular variable APR kicks in.

Rewards and perks beyond miles

The standard Visa Signature includes a few travel protections: trip delay reimbursement (covers meals and lodging if your flight is delayed more than 12 hours), lost luggage reimbursement, and emergency medical and dental coverage while traveling. These are insurance benefits, not cash back — you only receive money if a covered event happens.

The Preferred version adds more perks. You get a $100 annual statement credit that you can use toward Alaska Airlines purchases (tickets, seat upgrades, baggage fees). This credit effectively reduces your net annual fee from $250 to $150 if you use it fully. Preferred cardholders also receive complimentary priority boarding and a free checked bag on Alaska Airlines flights when they use the card to purchase the ticket.

Both versions include purchase protection (covers items damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase) and extended warranty coverage on may be able to access items. These protections are automatic — you do not need to register anything, but you do need to use the card to make the purchase.

Credit requirements and how the process works

Bank of America does not publish a minimum credit score for the Alaska Visa, but approval typically requires good to excellent credit (usually a score of 670 or higher). If your credit is fair or poor, you may still be approved, but you might receive a lower credit limit or a higher interest rate.

You can explore online through Bank of America's website or Alaska Airlines' website. The process takes about 10 minutes and asks for your name, address, income, employment status, and Social Security number. Bank of America will pull your credit report (a hard inquiry) to make a decision. You will usually know whether you are approved or denied within minutes.

If you are approved, your card typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days. You can start using it as soon as it arrives. Your miles account will be linked automatically to your Alaska Airlines frequent flyer account (or a new account will be created if you do not have one). Make sure you have your Alaska Airlines account number handy when you explore so the miles post correctly.

Alaska Airlines miles expiration and account maintenance

Alaska Airlines miles expire if your account is inactive for 24 consecutive months. Inactivity means no miles earned, no miles redeemed, and no account activity of any kind. If you use the Alaska Visa card regularly, your account will stay active automatically because every purchase earns miles. If you stop using the card, your miles could disappear after two years of no activity.

You can keep your account active without spending money by logging into your Alaska Airlines account and taking a straightforward action like viewing your balance or redeeming a mile for a partner reward. Some cardholders set a calendar reminder to log in once a year just to prevent expiration. If your miles do expire, Alaska Airlines may reinstate them if you contact them and explain the situation, but reinstatement is not may provide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Alaska Visa miles for flights on other airlines?

Not directly. Alaska Airlines miles can only be redeemed for Alaska Airlines flights. However, Alaska Airlines is part of the OneWorld alliance, so you can sometimes use miles to book partner airlines like American, British Airways, or Cathay Pacific through Alaska's website. The number of miles required for partner flights is often higher than for Alaska Airlines flights.

What happens to my miles if I close the card?

Your miles do not disappear when you close the card. They stay in your Alaska Airlines frequent flyer account as long as your account remains active (no 24-month inactivity). You can close the credit card and still redeem your miles for flights. However, if you close the card and do not use your Alaska Airlines account for 24 months, your miles will expire.

Does the Alaska Visa offer travel insurance?

Yes, both versions include trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage coverage, and emergency medical and dental coverage while traveling. These are automatic benefits when you use the card to purchase your ticket. The coverage amounts and specific terms are in the benefits guide that comes with your card or on Bank of America's website.

How do I know if the Preferred version is worth the extra cost?

The Preferred version costs $175 more per year than the standard version (after the first year). It makes sense if you fly Alaska Airlines at least a few times per year and spend enough on the card to earn back the $100 annual credit. If you fly Alaska frequently and spend $10,000 or more per year on the card, the higher earning rate (3 miles per dollar on Alaska purchases) usually covers the extra fee.

Can I transfer my Alaska Airlines miles to someone else?

Alaska Airlines allows you to transfer miles to another person's account, but there is a fee. The cost varies based on the number of miles transferred. You can also use your miles to purchase a ticket for someone else without transferring the miles themselves. Check Alaska Airlines' website for current transfer fees and rules.