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Having a travel rewards credit card or two in your wallet can be beneficial if you take frequent trips and you want to earn back some of what you spend on things like flights, car rentals or hotel stays. If you belong to a frequent flyer program, choosing a rewards card that’s co-branded with the same airline can be one way to earn travel rewards even faster.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card offer mentioned in this article is expired and is no longer available
Alaska Airlines partners with Bank of America® to offer the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card. This card features a miles-based rewards structure, along with plenty of extras for travelers, and we think this may be a great airline miles credit cards. Take a look at our detailed review to decide if you want to consider the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card snapshot
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card offers a nice bonus with a reasonable spending threshold, simple but valuable perks for frequent flyers with Alaska Airlines and Virgin America, and a rewards program that may easily translate to sizable travel savings depending on card use over time.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card – highlights we like
| Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $75 for Visa Signature® accounts |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
| Rewards program | Earn up to 5 miles per qualifying $1 spent at select restaurants. For a complete list of participating restaurants, visit mileageplan.rewardsnetwork.com. Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent directly on Alaska Airlines and Virgin America purchases |
| 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases | |
| Bonus offer | Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you make $1,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening. Annual companion fare starting at $121 ($99 base fare plus taxes and fees, from $22 depending on your Alaska Airlines or Virgin America flight itinerary) after you make $1,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening |
| Member benefits | Free checked bag on Alaska and Virgin America flights for you and up to six other passengers on the same reservation |
| We think this card is good for: | People who like to travel on Alaska Airlines and Virgin America |
| People who like to travel on Alaska Airlines and Virgin America partner airlines | |
| Consumers with great credit looking for a lucrative bonus offer | |
| We think these folks should do more research: | Someone who sometimes misses a payment |
| Someone who doesn't have excellent credit | |
| Consumers who don't want to pay an annual fee | |
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card basics
On the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card, the variable Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for purchases and balance transfers is 12.99% to 19.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfer fee of either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater. If you make a late payment, your account may convert to a penalty rate of up to 29.99% variable APR, and the rate will apply indefinitely.
This card has an annual fee of $75. On the flip side, it has no foreign transaction fees for purchases made while traveling outside the United States, so it may be a good card to carry if you need to travel outside the US.
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card may be a great credit card for people who travel in and out of cities serviced by Alaska Airlines and Virgin America. The Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ could offset the cost of the annual fee, depending on the route chosen.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card rewards
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card has a tiered rewards structure, which means you have more than one way to earn miles. Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent directly on Alaska Airlines and Virgin America and earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Additionally, you may have the opportunity to earn up to 5 miles per qualifying $1 spent at select restaurants. For a complete list of participating restaurants, visit mileageplan.rewardsnetwork.com. Miles earned through the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Dining Rewards program will be posted to your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account.
As an added incentive, new cardmembers who qualify can earn 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
The Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ is a discount coupon that allows you to purchase a second ticket from $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees from $22) every year on your account anniversary valid on Alaska and Virgin America flights booked on alaskaair.com. There are no blackout dates. It’s good for a companion traveling with another passenger on a paid published coach airfare on the same itinerary, booked at the same time. The member who owns the discount code can be one of the travelers or the purchaser of the reservation. The discount can only be used for a new reservation purchased on alaskaair.com for Alaska and Virgin America flights. You may get this perk every year that you maintain the account open and in good standing, and each companion fare expires after 12 months (travel can be completed after the companion fare’s expiration).
Cardholders get other benefits too, including one free checked bag on Alaska and Virgin America flights for you and up to six other passengers on the same reservation. That can add up to huge savings on a family vacation.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card pros
The spending threshold for the bonus offer of 30,000 bonus miles is just $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
For frequent Alaska Airlines and Virgin America travelers, the accelerated points-earning rate for Alaska Airlines and Virgin America purchases puts future discounted travel (not including applicable taxes, fees and surcharges which are the cardholder’s responsibility) within easier reach.
Since miles can be transferred to any one of a fairly large number of partner airlines, including AeroMexico, Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qantas and many others, redemption possibilities are very versatile.
The savings gained with the companion fare can be greater than the annual cost of the card.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card cons
If your current creditworthiness doesn’t meet the criteria to be approved for a credit line of $5,000 or more when you apply, Bank of America may approve you for another version of the card instead (The Alaska Airlines Platinum Plus® Visa®), and you won’t know that until your application has already been submitted and reviewed. This may be a concern to you if you don’t want to have the hard inquiry on your credit report without a reasonable expectation that you may qualify for this card. The Alaska Airlines Platinum Plus® version of this card does not come with the same bonus offer or the Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™, but rather up to $50 off a published base fare for Alaska Airlines or Virgin America round-trip or one way travel at alaskaair.com when you spend $1,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening. Other benefits may be watered down, too, such as the rewards program. The annual fee is slightly lower, $50, for the Platinum Plus® Visa® version of the card.
Should you get this card?
We think the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card is a great option for people who may have a solid credit history and a credit score in the higher ranges. Gauging whether the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card is worth owning ultimately depends on how often you fly and how comfortable you are paying an annual fee. A person who travels often or who buys airline tickets for a family member, for example, may get quite a lot out of this card. Taking a close look at your spending and travel habits may give you a better idea of how much value you may likely get out of the $75 annual investment.
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