What the Alaska Airlines credit card is and who issues it
The Alaska Airlines Visa card is issued by Bank of America and designed to earn rewards on Alaska Airlines flights and everyday purchases. You earn miles on every dollar spent, with bonus miles on Alaska Airlines tickets and partner purchases. The card comes with an annual fee, and the rewards structure changes depending which version you hold.
Bank of America offers two main versions: the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card and the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Preferred card. The Preferred version has a higher annual fee but earns more miles per dollar on Alaska Airlines purchases and includes additional perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. Both cards earn the same base rate on non-airline purchases.
Miles earned on this card can be used to book Alaska Airlines flights, including partner airlines, or transferred to hotel and car rental partners. Unlike some airline cards, Alaska Airlines miles do not expire as long as your account stays active, even if you do not use the card.
Key Takeaways
- The Alaska Airlines Visa card earns miles on every purchase, with higher earning rates on Alaska Airlines tickets and partner merchants.
- The Preferred version costs more annually but earns additional miles on airline purchases and includes perks like free checked bags.
- Annual fees range depending on the card version, and the card carries standard credit card terms including interest rates and late fees.
- Miles can be used for Alaska Airlines flights, partner airlines, hotels, and car rentals, and do not expire as long as your account remains active.
- New cardholders typically receive a welcome bonus of miles after meeting a minimum spending requirement within the first few months.
Annual fees and what they cover
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card charges an annual fee, while the Preferred version charges a higher annual fee. Both fees are charged each year on your account anniversary. Bank of America does not waive the first year fee, so you pay it when ready upon opening the account.
The Preferred card's higher fee is offset by additional benefits: you receive a statement credit toward Alaska Airlines purchases each year, free checked bags on Alaska Airlines flights for you and up to six companions on the same reservation, and priority boarding. The standard Signature card does not include these perks, though cardholders do receive a discount on Alaska Airlines purchases and access to Alaska Airlines lounges.
If you close the card before the year ends, Bank of America does not refund the annual fee. You should factor the annual cost into whether the miles you earn and perks you receive make the card worthwhile for your travel patterns.
How miles are earned and what they are worth
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card earns 1 mile per dollar on all purchases. The Preferred version earns 2 miles per dollar on Alaska Airlines tickets purchased directly from Alaska Airlines, and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. Both cards earn bonus miles on partner merchants like hotels, rental cars, and restaurants, though the bonus rate varies by partner.
New cardholders receive a welcome bonus of miles after spending a set amount within the first few months of opening the account. The bonus amount changes periodically, so check the current offer before you explore. This welcome bonus is often the largest single earning opportunity with the card.
The value of a mile depends on how you use it. When you book an Alaska Airlines flight directly through the airline's website using miles, the value typically ranges from 1 to 2 cents per mile, though premium cabin seats and peak travel dates may offer different value. Miles transferred to partner programs like hotels or car rentals may be worth more or less depending on the partner and the specific redemption.
Interest rates, late fees, and other costs
The Alaska Airlines Visa card carries a variable interest rate on purchases and balance transfers. The rate you receive depends on your credit score and credit history at the time you open the account. Bank of America publishes a range of rates, but your individual rate falls somewhere within that range based on creditworthiness.
If you carry a balance month to month, you pay interest on that balance at your card's annual percentage rate. The card does not offer an introductory 0% period on purchases or balance transfers, so interest accrues from the first day of your billing cycle if you do not pay in full.
Late payments incur a late fee, and if you miss a payment by 60 days or more, the interest rate may increase to the penalty rate. Missing payments also damages your credit score. To avoid these costs, set up automatic payments or calendar reminders for your due date.
Comparing the Signature and Preferred versions
| Feature | Visa Signature | Visa Signature Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | Lower annual fee | Higher annual fee |
| Miles on Alaska Airlines purchases | 1 mile per dollar | 2 miles per dollar |
| Miles on all other purchases | 1 mile per dollar | 1 mile per dollar |
| Free checked bags | No | Yes, for you and up to 6 companions |
| Priority boarding | No | Yes |
| Annual statement credit | No | Yes, toward Alaska Airlines purchases |
| Lounge access | Discount available | Included |
The choice between the two versions depends on how often you fly Alaska Airlines and how much you spend on airline tickets annually. If you take at least one or two Alaska Airlines trips per year and value free checked bags, the Preferred version may offset its higher annual fee through the statement credit and bag savings alone. If you fly Alaska Airlines rarely or only use the card for everyday purchases, the standard Signature card keeps your costs lower.
How to use miles and redemption options
Miles can be redeemed through the Alaska Airlines website by logging into your account and searching for award flights. You book directly with Alaska Airlines or partner airlines like American, Delta, and United. The number of miles required for a flight varies by route, season, and how far in advance you book — peak travel dates typically cost more miles than off-season flights.
You can also transfer miles to hotel and car rental partners, including Marriott, Hilton, Hertz, and others. Transfer rates vary by partner, and some partners offer promotional bonuses during certain periods. Miles transferred to partners cannot be transferred back to your Alaska Airlines account, so confirm the value before you transfer.
If you have a companion ticket from Alaska Airlines, you can use miles to book a flight for yourself and then use the companion ticket for a travel companion on the same flight, effectively stretching your miles further. This strategy works only if you have an active companion ticket benefit from Alaska Airlines.
When the Alaska Airlines card makes financial sense
The card works best for people who fly Alaska Airlines at least once or twice per year and spend enough on the card to earn miles that offset the annual fee. If you fly Alaska Airlines frequently and value perks like free checked bags and priority boarding, the Preferred version may be worth the higher annual cost.
The card is less useful if you rarely fly Alaska Airlines, prefer other airlines, or do not travel frequently enough to use the miles you earn. In those cases, a general-purpose cash-back card or a card from your preferred airline may deliver better value.
Consider also whether you already have other airline cards or rewards cards. Holding multiple cards increases annual fees and can make it harder to concentrate spending on one card to reach bonus thresholds. If you are deciding between this card and another airline card, compare the earning rates, annual fees, and perks against your actual travel plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Alaska Airlines miles expire?
Miles do not expire as long as your Alaska Airlines account remains active. Your account stays active as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months, which includes earning or redeeming miles, or even just logging into your account. If your account becomes inactive, miles may be forfeited, but you can reactivate the account by contacting Alaska Airlines.
Can I transfer miles to someone else?
You cannot transfer miles directly to another person's account. However, you can use your miles to book a flight for someone else if you have their name and contact information. Some programs allow you to gift miles, but Alaska Airlines does not offer this feature through the credit card program.
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Your miles remain in your Alaska Airlines account even after you close the credit card. The card and the airline account are separate, so closing the card does not affect your miles balance. You can continue to redeem miles through the Alaska Airlines website as long as your airline account stays active.
Is there a sign-up bonus, and how much is it?
New cardholders receive a welcome bonus of miles after spending a minimum amount within the first few months. The bonus amount and spending requirement change periodically, so check Bank of America's current offer before you open an account. The welcome bonus is typically the largest earning opportunity with the card in the first year.
Can I use miles on flights booked by someone else?
You can use your miles to book a flight for anyone, but the ticket must be issued in that person's name. You cannot book a ticket in your name and then transfer it to someone else. If you want to use miles for a travel companion, you must book their ticket directly using your miles.