If the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card has been on your radar, it’s time to take a fresh look. For a limited time, the card is offering 70,000 bonus miles and a companion fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23, terms apply) after spending $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
That’s 10,000 miles more than the previous bonus, and one of the highest offers we’ve seen on the card. The card is a good deal if you fly Alaska Airlines regularly because it comes with money-saving benefits such as a free first checked bag and priority boarding on Alaska flights. But even if you don’t fly Alaska, it can be worth considering because you can redeem Alaska Airlines miles with any of the airline’s partners, including Oneworld members such as American Airlines and British Airways — often for a high value.
Here’s what to know about the new offer on the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card if you’re thinking of applying.
Alaska Airlines credit card: Earn 70,000 miles
Apart from the elevated welcome bonus, the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card offers excellent potential value for frequent Alaska flyers. The card’s $95 annual fee can be well worth it for the perks, especially if you can take advantage of a free first checked bag (which extends to up to six companions on the same reservation) and 20% back on inflight purchases when you pay with your card.
What’s more, new cardholders also receive Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ with this offer. You’ll get a discount code to access your companion fare, which allows you to bring someone along with you on a paid round-trip coach flight with Alaska for just $99 (plus taxes and fees from $23). If you book an expensive route, this perk could amount to significant savings. Cardholders can also qualify for an additional companion fare if they spend $6,000 or more on purchases in a year, with years measured from your account opening.
Other benefits include a 10% rewards bonus on the miles you earn with the card if you have an eligible Bank of America account and priority boarding on Alaska flights. And if you’ve got your eye on an Alaska Lounge+ membership, you’ll get $100 off when you pay with your card.
Here’s why Alaska miles are valuable
Opening an Alaska credit card might seem odd if you rarely (or never) fly the airline. But if you’re looking to redeem miles for free flights and don’t mind putting in a bit of legwork to learn about partners and award charts, earning Alaska miles with this card can be a smart strategy.
Alaska Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance, which means you can use Alaska miles to book award flights on other Oneworld carriers, including American Airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific. Alaska partners with a handful of other airlines outside the Oneworld alliance as well.
Because Alaska’s award prices are sometimes much lower than those of competing frequent flyer programs, having a ready stash of Alaska miles can help you save your hard-earned rewards. Unlike many airlines, Alaska doesn’t partner with any of the major transferable points programs (such as Chase Ultimate Rewards® and American Express Membership Rewards®), so without an Alaska Airlines credit card, it can be challenging to earn Alaska miles.
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