What the Alaska Airlines credit card is and who issues it

The Alaska Airlines credit card is issued by Bank of America and earns rewards points on purchases that you can redeem for flights, seat upgrades, and other travel benefits. The card is designed for people who fly Alaska Airlines regularly or want to accumulate points toward future travel.

Bank of America offers two main versions: the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card and the Alaska Airlines Visa Business card. Both cards earn the same rewards structure, but the business version is for sole proprietors and business owners. The card itself is a standard Visa that works anywhere Visa is accepted, not just with Alaska Airlines.

You do not need to be an Alaska Airlines frequent flyer member to open the card, but your rewards points are automatically deposited into a frequent flyer account once you are approved. If you do not have an account yet, one is created for you during the process process.

Key Takeaways

  • The Alaska Airlines card earns 3 points per dollar on Alaska Airlines purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, with no annual cap.
  • New cardholders typically receive a welcome bonus of points after spending a set amount within the first few months, though the exact offer changes regularly.
  • The card charges an annual fee, which is waived for the first year on the personal version; the business version has an annual fee from year one.
  • Points can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel purchases through the Alaska Airlines website.
  • The card includes benefits like free checked bags on Alaska Airlines flights and priority boarding, available to the primary cardholder and when ready family on the same reservation.

How points are earned and what they are worth

Every purchase you make on the card earns points at a set rate. You earn 3 points per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines purchases (including tickets, seat upgrades, and baggage fees paid directly to Alaska Airlines). You earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, with no limit to how many points you can earn in a year.

The value of each point depends on how you redeem it. When you book a flight directly through Alaska Airlines using points, the value typically ranges from 0.8 cents to 1.5 cents per point, depending on the route and how far in advance you book. Points are worth more on premium cabin seats and less on basic economy fares. You can also transfer points to Alaska Airlines hotel and car rental partners, though the redemption value varies by partner.

Points do not expire as long as your frequent flyer account remains active. Your account stays active if you earn or redeem points at least once every 24 months, or if you have an open Alaska Airlines credit card.

Welcome bonus and ongoing rewards

New cardholders receive a welcome bonus offer, typically worth 30,000 to 50,000 points, though the exact amount changes based on Bank of America's current promotion. You must spend a certain amount on the card within the first few months to earn the bonus — usually between $1,000 and $3,000 depending on the offer. The bonus is deposited into your frequent flyer account once you meet the spending requirement.

Beyond the welcome bonus, you earn points on every purchase at the rates described above. Some cardholders also receive an annual bonus of miles or points on their account anniversary, though this benefit varies by offer and is not may provide on all versions of the card.

Annual fee and other costs

The personal Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card has an annual fee that is waived for the first year. After that, the fee applies each year unless you close the card. The Alaska Airlines Visa Business card charges an annual fee starting in the first year with no waiver period.

The card carries no foreign transaction fees, which means you can use it internationally without paying extra charges on top of the purchase price. There is no annual cap on rewards, and there are no fees for redeeming points toward flights or other travel purchases.

Cardholder benefits beyond points

The primary cardholder and when ready family members traveling on the same reservation receive one free checked bag on Alaska Airlines flights. This benefit applies to the first checked bag only; additional bags are charged at Alaska Airlines' standard rate. The benefit is available on all Alaska Airlines flights, including codeshare flights operated by other airlines under the Alaska Airlines flight number.

Cardholders also receive priority boarding on Alaska Airlines flights, which means you board before general passengers. This is available to the primary cardholder and anyone on the same reservation. The card also includes travel protections such as trip delay reimbursement and lost luggage coverage, though the specific coverage amounts and conditions are detailed in the full cardholder agreement.

The card does not include lounge access or other premium travel perks beyond the checked bag and priority boarding benefits.

How to open an account and what you need

You can open an Alaska Airlines credit card online through Bank of America's website or by calling Bank of America directly. You will need a Social Security number, a valid government-issued ID, and information about your income and employment. The process takes about 10 minutes to complete online.

Bank of America will perform a hard credit inquiry, which temporarily affects your credit score. You will receive a decision when ready or within a few business days. If approved, your physical card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days, though you can often use the card number for online purchases before the physical card arrives.

If you do not have an Alaska Airlines frequent flyer account, one is created automatically when your card is approved. You can log in to manage your account and redeem points once the account is set up.

Redeeming points for flights and other rewards

Points are redeemed through the Alaska Airlines website or mobile app. Log into your frequent flyer account, search for the flight you want, and select the option to pay with points instead of cash. The number of points required depends on the route, the time of year, and how far in advance you book. Peak travel times (holidays, summer) typically cost more points than off-peak travel.

You can also use points to upgrade a paid ticket to a higher cabin class, book hotel stays through Alaska Airlines' hotel partners, or rent a car through their car rental partners. Points can be transferred to other frequent flyer programs, though this is usually not the best use of your points unless you have a specific travel goal in mind.

There is no minimum number of points required to redeem, and you can combine points with cash to book a flight if you do not have enough points for the full cost.

Comparing the Alaska Airlines card to other airline cards

The Alaska Airlines card earns 3 points per dollar on Alaska Airlines purchases, which is competitive with other airline cards. However, the earning rate on non-airline purchases is 1 point per dollar, which is lower than some general travel cards that earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases. If you fly Alaska Airlines frequently, the 3x rate on airline purchases and the free checked bag make the card worthwhile. If you fly multiple airlines or travel infrequently, a general travel card may offer better value.

The annual fee is lower than premium airline cards from other carriers, and the first-year waiver on the personal version makes it easier to test whether the card fits your travel habits. The free checked bag benefit alone saves $30 to $35 per round trip if you check a bag, which can offset the annual fee for frequent travelers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the card if I do not fly Alaska Airlines?

Yes. The card works anywhere Visa is accepted and earns 1 point per dollar on non-Alaska Airlines purchases. However, the card is designed for Alaska Airlines travelers, so the rewards are most valuable if you fly Alaska Airlines at least a few times per year. If you rarely fly Alaska Airlines, a general travel card may offer better rewards.

What happens to my points if I close the card?

Your points remain in your Alaska Airlines frequent flyer account even after you close the card. However, your account will become inactive if you do not earn or redeem points within 24 months. Once inactive, your points may be forfeited, so you should redeem them or keep the account active before closing the card.

How long does it take to earn enough points for a free flight?

This depends on how much you spend and which flight you want to book. A domestic round-trip flight typically costs 25,000 to 50,000 points. If you spend $5,000 per month on the card, you earn 5,000 points per month (at the 1x rate on non-airline purchases), which means you could earn enough for a domestic flight in 5 to 10 months, plus any welcome bonus.

Do I earn points on the annual fee?

No. Annual fees do not earn points. Only purchases made with the card earn rewards.

Can family members use the free checked bag benefit?

Yes, if they are traveling on the same reservation as the primary cardholder. Each family member on the reservation receives one free checked bag. If they are traveling on a separate reservation, they do not receive the benefit.