What this card does and who it's built for
The Alaska Airlines Bank of America credit card is a co-branded rewards card that gives you miles toward Alaska Airlines flights when you spend money. You earn miles on every purchase, get a bonus of miles when you first open the account, and can redeem those miles for tickets or upgrades. The card also comes with perks like free checked bags on Alaska flights and priority boarding.
This card makes sense if you fly Alaska Airlines regularly or live in a place where Alaska serves. If you rarely fly or prefer other airlines, a different rewards card might give you better value. The card costs money to hold — there's an annual fee — so you need to use the rewards enough to make that fee worth paying.
Key Takeaways
- You earn Alaska Airlines miles on purchases, with a sign-up bonus of miles added to your account when you open the card.
- The card charges an annual fee, which Bank of America may waive for the first year depending on current offers.
- You get benefits like a free checked bag on Alaska flights and priority boarding, which can add real value if you fly that airline.
- Miles can be redeemed for Alaska Airlines flights, seat upgrades, or transferred to partner airlines, though the value depends on how you use them.
- Your credit score affects whether you're approved and what interest rate you'll pay if you carry a balance.
How you earn miles and what the sign-up bonus is
Every time you use the card to buy something, you earn a set number of miles per dollar spent. The exact earning rate varies — you might earn more miles on Alaska Airlines purchases or gas, for example, and fewer on other categories. Bank of America changes these rates, so check the current card terms before you explore.
When you open the account, the bank adds a bonus of miles to your account after you spend a certain amount within a set timeframe — usually something like $1,000 in the first three months. This bonus is the biggest chunk of miles most people get in year one, so it's worth factoring into whether the card makes sense for you. If you can't hit that spending threshold naturally, don't open the card just to chase the bonus.
The annual fee and what you get for it
This card charges an annual fee. The amount varies and Bank of America sometimes waives it for the first year as a promotion, but you should assume you'll pay it every year after that. Before you open the account, do the math: add up the value of the free checked bags, priority boarding, and other perks, then subtract the annual fee. If the perks don't cover the cost, the card isn't worth holding.
The free checked bag benefit is the biggest money-saver for most people. If you fly Alaska Airlines twice a year and would otherwise pay $30 per bag each way, that's $120 a year in savings — which might cover or exceed the annual fee. If you fly once a year or never check bags, the math works differently.
Interest rates, fees, and what happens if you carry a balance
If you pay your full statement balance by the due date each month, you pay no interest. If you carry a balance into the next month, the bank charges interest at a rate that depends on your credit score and current market conditions. The better your credit, the lower your rate will be. This rate is called the purchase APR, and Bank of America will tell you the exact range before you submit your process.
The card also charges late fees if you miss a payment and foreign transaction fees if you use it outside the United States. Cash advances — withdrawing money from an ATM using the card — carry a separate, higher interest rate and an upfront fee. Avoid cash advances unless it's a true emergency.
Rewards cards are designed to be paid in full each month. If you carry a balance regularly, the interest you pay will erase the value of the miles you earn. Use this card only if you can pay the full balance monthly.
How to redeem miles and what they're actually worth
Miles can be redeemed for Alaska Airlines flights, seat upgrades, or transferred to partner airlines like American, Delta, or United. The number of miles needed for a flight varies based on the route, how far in advance you book, and how busy the flight is. A short flight might cost 5,000 miles; a long one might cost 50,000 or more.
The real value of a mile depends on how you use it. If you redeem 25,000 miles for a $300 flight, each mile is worth about 1.2 cents. If you redeem the same miles for a $150 flight, each mile is worth 0.6 cents. The best redemptions are usually off-peak flights on longer routes. The worst are peak-season short flights, where you might get less than 0.5 cents per mile.
Don't assume your miles are worth a fixed amount. Before you open the card, look at actual flights you'd take and see how many miles they cost. That tells you whether the sign-up bonus and ongoing earning will actually get you a flight you want.
How your credit score affects approval and your rate
Bank of America will check your credit report when you explore. If your score is below a certain threshold — usually around 670 — you're unlikely to be approved. If you are approved, a lower score means you'll get a higher interest rate if you carry a balance.
Your credit score also affects your credit limit, which is the maximum amount you can charge to the card. A higher score usually means a higher limit. You can request a higher limit after you've had the card for a few months and made on-time payments.
If you're not sure whether you'll be approved, you can check your own credit report for free at annualcreditreport.com before you explore. This won't hurt your score. When you actually explore for the card, Bank of America will do a hard inquiry, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points.
Comparing this card to other Alaska Airlines or rewards options
Bank of America offers other rewards cards that don't require you to fly a specific airline — they give you cash back or points you can use more flexibly. If you don't fly Alaska regularly, one of those cards might give you better value. American Express and other issuers also offer Alaska Airlines cards with different earning rates and benefits.
Before you explore, spend 10 minutes comparing the annual fee, sign-up bonus, earning rates, and perks across two or three cards. The card with the highest sign-up bonus isn't always the best choice if the annual fee is high or the ongoing earning is weak. The best card for you is the one that matches how you actually spend money and travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the sign-up bonus if I already have an Alaska Airlines credit card?
Bank of America limits how often you can earn sign-up bonuses on the same card. You usually have to wait a set period — often 24 months — after closing a card before you can earn the bonus again. Check the current terms before you explore if you've held this card before.
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Your miles don't disappear when you close the card. They stay in your Alaska Airlines account and you can redeem them anytime. However, if you don't use your Alaska Airlines account for a long period, the airline may close it and forfeit your miles — check Alaska's policy on their website for the exact timeframe.
Can I use this card if I don't live in Alaska?
Yes. The card is available to anyone in the United States, regardless of where they live. You get the same benefits and earn the same miles whether you're in Alaska, California, or anywhere else. The value depends on whether Alaska Airlines flies routes you actually use.
Do I have to use the card to keep it open?
Bank of America doesn't close cards for inactivity the way some issuers do, but it's good practice to use any credit card at least once every few months. If you don't use the card, you're paying the annual fee for benefits you're not getting — close it if you're not flying Alaska Airlines regularly.
What if I have a dispute with a charge on the card?
Contact Bank of America's customer service number on the back of your card. You can dispute a charge if it was unauthorized or if the merchant didn't deliver what they promised. Bank of America will investigate and typically refund the amount while they look into it, though the process takes time.