Discover the strengths and weaknesses of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card in 2023. Compare rewards, benefits, annual fees, APR rates and more before you decide if it’s the best credit card for your needs.
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card are issued by Bank of America and offers a variety of great benefits for the airline’s frequent flyers. Some of the most useful benefits include a solid sign-up bonus, free checked bags, annual companion fare, and 3x miles on Alaska Airlines purchases.
Plus, the $75 annual fee is pretty low compared to other cards in its class.. And if you fly enough, you can offset the annual fee with the free checked bag benefit alone.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the best perks and cons of this card.
QUICK FACTS
- If you make at least $2,000 in purchases within 90 days of opening your account, you’ll receive 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare.
- Every year, on your credit card account anniversary, you’ll receive a companion fare from Alaska Airlines. This special offer is available on all flights booked through alaskaair.com.
- You’ll receive a free checked bag for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation, saving you and your guests $60 per person roundtrip.
- With Alaska Airlines’ rewards program, you can earn miles for your purchases simply by being a loyal customer. Miles don’t expire on active accounts and you’ll earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible items, plus 1 mile for every $1 on all other items.
- Alaska Airlines has partnered with some of the largest airlines in the world, giving you access to over 1,000 destinations worldwide. This alliance allows you to earn and redeem miles for travel at other airlines.
- There are no blackout dates on Alaska Airlines flights when booking with miles or a companion fare, giving you flexibility in your travel plans.
- This card has no foreign transaction fees .
- $75 annual fee
- Balance transfer & Purchase Intro APR is not applicable here.
- There are Regular APR: 19.74% – 27.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers.
- You need to spends $10 or 3% of the amount of each balance transaction, whichever is greater for balance transfer.
- You need to 690-700 credit score to get approved of this card.
Why should have Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card in your wallet.
Below are the top reasons to consider getting the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card.
1.Free checked bag on Alaska Airlines.
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card is a great way to save money on your next flight. With this card, you and up to six other passengers on the same reservation can check your bags for free. This can save you up to $60 per round trip!
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card also comes with a free companion ticket, so you can bring a friend or family member along on your next flight.
2. Solid sign-up bonus.
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card is a great addition to your wallet. Not only does it offer a solid sign-up bonus – 50,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) – but it also comes with a range of benefits.
For example, you can qualify for the bonus by spending $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. Additionally, you can try Alaska’s mileage tool to see how far the bonus might take you.
3.In-flight savings
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card offers 20% back on all in-flight purchases, which includes food, beverages and Wi-Fi. This card is perfect for frequent flyers who want to save on their airfare.
This credit card could help you save money on your next flight. The benefits of this card depend on how much you spend and whether you have a travel partner.
4. Annual Companion Fare
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card offers a discounted companion fare on annual basis after you open an account. This airfare can be used to book either a one-way or round-trip ticket for your travel companion at the basic cost of $99, plus taxes and fees that amounts to a minimum of $121. This is an excellent chance to cut down the costs of flying if you have an upcoming trip.
5.Extended warranty coverage
You can add on an extra 12 months beyond the duration of a manufacturer’s warranty for certain buys. If a problem arises with your purchase, you have ample time to get it repaired or replaced. Furthermore, if you experience a successful claim worth more than $10,000 in twelve months, your coverage will go up to $50,000 annually.
So whether you need extra protection for your new electronics or your favorite piece of clothing, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card has you covered.
6.Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
This card provides up to $1,500 in reimbursement for eligible canceled or interrupted trips, which can be a lifesaver if you’re stuck with non-refundable tickets or have to cancel a trip at the last minute.
7.Trip delay reimbursement
If you’re looking for a credit card that offers trip delay reimbursement, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card is a great option to consider. This card provides up to $250 in reimbursement after an eligible trip delay of six hours or more.
So if you’re stuck at the airport for hours because of a delayed flight, you can at least feel good knowing that you’ll be reimbursed for your inconvenience.
8.Visa Signature Concierge
This credit card also offers some amazing perks like access to the Visa Signature Concierge Service – offering 24/7 assistance with all your travel, dining, entertainment, and other needs.
With the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card in your wallet, you can enjoy greater convenience and flexibility when traveling, while collecting rewards points and earning miles along the way!
9. No Foreign transaction fee
That’s a big deal, because it means you won’t have to worry about shelling out extra cash every year. And if you ever do run into an unexpected bill, the card has a low foreign transaction fee to help cover any costs.
Plus, the card offers a variety of benefits that will make your travel experience even better. For example, it comes with airport lounge access and complimentary travel insurance.
What are disadvantage the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card?
Now to discussed about why you should apply Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card, now lets what are the disadvantage of having this credit card in your wallet.
1. Limited/inefficient routes.
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card has some disadvantages. One of these is that it can be limited or inefficient when it comes to routes. This means that the card may not be able to get you where you need to go as quickly as you would like.
In addition, flights that originate on the East Coast may also have a stopover in Seattle since it’s so prevalent on the West Coast.
Despite the fact that Seattle is halfway across the country the opposite way, Alaska Air’s current route map includes a layover in Seattle between Boston, MA, and Wichita, KS.
2.The Benefits may not for you.
Despite the generous perks of Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit cards for traveling companions and baggage fees, they may not be suitable for you. Consider the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card with its $95 annual fee instead. A card that provides flexible travel credits could be a better fit.
This credit card provides up to $100 of statement credit annually for domestic flight-related expenses. This includes things like seat upgrades, checked baggage fees and airport lounge charges with qualified U.S.-based airlines.
Furthermore, this card provides a reimbursement for the fee associated with either TSA Precheck or Global Entry – just like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Apart from that, it awards 2 points for each dollar spent on travel and dining, and 1.5 points for all other purchases.
To greet you warmly, you will be given 50,000 bonus points – worth $500 – provided that you have made at least $3,000 in your first 90 days since getting the account.
If the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card is not suitable for you, it might be worth considering one of Mycreditcardclub.com top-rated cards as an alternative.
3.Rewards is not great
You might be considering the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card for its rewards, but it’s not as rewarding as other travel cards. Sure, you’ll get bonus rewards on purchases made with Alaska Airlines, but not on other categories like restaurants and hotels.
The United℠ Explorer Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card are both better options if you’re looking for bonus rewards on United Airlines flights, restaurants, and hotels.
Plus, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases – that’s double what the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card has to offer (1 mile for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases).
And when you sign up for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you’ll get a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening – that’s much more than what you’d get with a purchase from eligible Alaska Airlines flights booked with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card.
4.Companion ticket is limited to Alaska Airlines flights
One of the main disadvantages of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card is that the companion ticket you receive can only be redeemed for flights on Alaska Airlines.
You won’t be able to access any other airline’s flights with this card, so if you’re looking to travel outside of Alaska Airlines’ network, this isn’t the best option for you. This card also do not offer priority boarding.
Alternatives of Alaska airlines visa signature® card
As discussed above this credit card might not best for everyone, so lets talk about other alternative of this credit cards.
1. Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
You can earn miles on Delta purchases, as well as on purchases made at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide.
Plus, you get a free checked bag when you fly with Delta. And if you spend $2,000 in the first six months, you’ll get a 40,000 bonus miles bonus! Which card would you prefer?
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card offers a higher earning rate and a companion certificate, but the Delta card offers a more easily used flight credit. It’s really up to you which one you choose!
2. Citi Premier Card
Citi Premier® Card – a great way to save on air travel and other purchases. With 3 ThankYou points per dollar on certain purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases, you can redeem your points for a number of great rewards.
Plus, you get a welcome bonus of 80,000 points when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months.
3. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Do you want to earn some extra cash? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card can help! With this card, you can earn 2% cash rewards on your purchases – which can be used in a variety of ways, including for cash back, against purchases, or for gift cards.
Plus, there’s no annual fee and it offers cell phone protection and Visa Signature privileges. Best of all, the 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers is great news – so you can start earning rewards right away!
And if that’s not enough, the welcome bonus of $200 cash rewards after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months just adds to the incentive.
How do I redeem miles with the Alaska Airlines Card?
You can redeem your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan points for flights on Oneworld alliance carriers and other partners like LATAM and Icelandair. Simply search using miles on Alaska’s website to locate award availability.
With the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card, you have access to great redemption options that make the most of your earned points.
How much are Alaska Airlines miles worth?
Alaska Airlines miles can be quite valuable, but their worth can vary depending on how and when you use them. On average, Alaska Airlines miles are worth about 1.2 cents each when redeeming for award flights.
This is less than the miles of other airlines such as American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest.
When redeeming, the time of your booking can also affect the worth of the miles. Booking flights far in advance will yield a higher value, while booking last-minute flights will yield the lowest value.
Who should get the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card?
If you travel a lot on Alaska Airlines, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card may be a good option for you. The card provides some valuable benefits, such as free checked luggage and early check-in privileges.
Bear in mind that the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card isn’t worthwhile if this airline does not service the flights you take regularly.
However, if Alaska is your preferred carrier, then it is likely one of the more valuable mass-market airline cards out there. If you choose to obtain this card, make sure to capitalize on its exclusive advantages.
Conclusion: Is alaska airlines visa worth it?
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Let us know what you think – we would love to hear your thoughts!
FAQ’S
Can you have 2 Alaska Airlines credit cards?
Is it hard to get an alaska airlines credit card?
Does Alaska Visa card cover car rental insurance?
So while the Alaska Visa card itself doesn’t offer primary coverage, you can use it to purchase car rental insurance and get additional protection when renting a car abroad.
