What the Alaska Airlines card offers and who it suits

The Alaska Airlines Visa card is a co-branded rewards card issued by Bank of America that earns miles on every purchase. You earn 3 miles per dollar on Alaska Airlines tickets and Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar at restaurants, gas stations, and transit, and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. The card carries an annual fee — the exact amount varies by card tier and changes periodically, so check the current offer before you explore.

This card makes sense if you fly Alaska Airlines regularly or live in a region where Alaska has frequent service. The miles don't expire as long as your account stays open, and you can use them for flights, seat upgrades, or partner airline tickets. If you rarely fly Alaska or prefer to maximize cash back on everyday spending, a flat-rate cash card or a different airline card may return more value.

Key Takeaways

  • The card earns 3 miles per dollar on Alaska Airlines purchases and 2 miles per dollar at restaurants, gas stations, and transit.
  • Miles do not expire as long as your Alaska Airlines account remains open, even if the card is closed.
  • The annual fee applies every year and is not waived after the first year, so calculate whether your spending justifies the cost.
  • New cardholders typically receive a sign-up bonus of miles, which you can check in the current offer before you explore.
  • Alaska Airlines miles can be transferred to partner airlines, though the redemption value may be lower than booking Alaska flights directly.

How the sign-up bonus works

New cardholders receive a sign-up bonus measured in miles, not dollars. The bonus amount changes based on current promotions and may vary depending on which card tier you choose. You earn the bonus after you meet a minimum spending requirement within a set timeframe — typically three months from account opening.

The bonus is paid as miles directly into your Alaska Airlines account. These miles count toward your balance when ready and can be used for bookings right away. If you don't meet the spending requirement within the window, you won't receive the bonus, so review the terms before you explore to confirm the timeline and threshold match your spending patterns.

Annual fee and whether it pays for itself

The Alaska Airlines card charges an annual fee each year the account is open. This fee is not waived after the first year, and it renews automatically unless you close the card. Before you explore, calculate whether the miles you'll earn on regular spending plus the sign-up bonus will offset the annual cost.

A rough benchmark: if you spend enough on the card to earn miles worth more than the annual fee in flight value, the card breaks even. Alaska Airlines publishes the cash value of miles redemptions on their website, though the value per mile fluctuates. If you fly Alaska only once or twice a year, the annual fee may outweigh the benefit. If you fly four or more times annually or spend heavily at restaurants and gas stations, the card is more likely to deliver value.

Earning rates across different purchase categories

The card's earning structure rewards Alaska Airlines travel and everyday spending in specific categories. You earn the highest rate — 3 miles per dollar — on Alaska Airlines tickets and Alaska Airlines gift cards. The second tier, 2 miles per dollar, applies to restaurants, gas stations, transit (including taxis, rideshare, and public transportation), and some travel purchases like hotels and rental cars booked through certain platforms.

All other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar. This includes groceries, retail shopping, utilities, and online purchases outside the bonus categories. The 2-mile rate on restaurants and gas stations can add up quickly if those are categories where you spend regularly, but the 1-mile baseline is lower than some competing airline cards offer on non-bonus categories.

How Alaska Airlines miles work and redemption options

Miles are the currency of the Alaska Airlines rewards program. You accumulate them through the credit card, flying Alaska Airlines, and partner activities like hotel stays or car rentals. One mile does not equal one cent — the actual value depends on what you redeem it for and when you book.

You can redeem miles for Alaska Airlines flights, seat upgrades (like moving from economy to premium cabin), or partner airline tickets through Alaska's partners. You can also transfer miles to hotel and car rental partners, though the redemption value is typically lower than booking flights. Miles do not expire as long as your Alaska Airlines account has activity within 24 months — a flight, a credit card purchase, or even a partner activity counts as activity.

Comparing this card to other airline and rewards cards

The Alaska Airlines card competes with other co-branded airline cards and general rewards cards. Other airline cards may offer higher earning rates in specific categories or lower annual fees, depending on the issuer and your travel patterns. A flat-rate cash card that earns 2% on all purchases might deliver more value if you don't fly Alaska frequently or prefer the simplicity of cash back over miles.

The advantage of the Alaska card is the 3-mile earning rate on Alaska tickets and the non-expiring miles, which suit frequent Alaska flyers. The disadvantage is the annual fee and the lower earning rate on non-bonus categories compared to some competitors. If you live on the West Coast or Alaska and fly Alaska regularly, the card's value proposition is stronger than if you live in a region where Alaska has limited service.

What happens if you close the card

If you close the Alaska Airlines credit card, the card account closes but your Alaska Airlines frequent flyer account remains open. Your miles stay in your account and do not disappear. However, the miles will expire if your frequent flyer account has no activity for 24 months — no flights, no credit card purchases, and no partner activity.

This means you can close the card and keep the miles as long as you use them or maintain account activity through other means. If you plan to close the card, consider whether you have enough miles to redeem soon or whether you'll fly Alaska or use a partner activity within the next two years to keep the account active.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay the annual fee every year?

Yes. The annual fee renews automatically each year the account is open. You can close the card to stop paying the fee, but your miles will remain in your Alaska Airlines account as long as the account stays active through flights or partner activity.

Can I use the miles on airlines other than Alaska?

Yes, you can transfer miles to Alaska's partner airlines or redeem them for partner airline tickets. However, the redemption value is often lower than booking Alaska flights directly. Check Alaska Airlines' partner list and redemption rates before you transfer miles.

What if I don't spend enough to meet the sign-up bonus requirement?

You won't receive the bonus miles. The bonus is only paid after you meet the minimum spending threshold within the specified timeframe. If you're unsure whether you'll reach it, explore only if you plan to use the card for regular spending anyway.

How long do miles stay in my account?

Miles do not expire as long as your Alaska Airlines frequent flyer account has activity within 24 months. Activity includes flights, credit card purchases, or partner activity. If your account is inactive for 24 months, miles expire.

Is there a sign-up bonus if I already have an Alaska Airlines card?

Most card issuers limit sign-up bonuses to new cardholders or those who haven't held the card within a certain period. Check the current offer terms or contact Bank of America to confirm whether you're may be able to access for a bonus.