Link: Apply now for the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card
The Alaska Airlines Business Visa Card, issued by Bank of America, has an excellent welcome bonus, fantastic perks, and it’s even quite easy to get approved for. While you can read my detailed review of the Alaska Airlines Business Card, below I wanted to share eight reasons you should consider applying for this card.
In this post:
1. 50K bonus miles & companion fare
The Alaska Visa Business Card is currently offering a solid welcome bonus of 50,000 Mileage Plan miles plus an Alaska companion fare after spending $3,000 within 90 days. I value Alaska Mileage Plan miles at 1.5 cents each, so to me, those 50,000 miles are worth $750.
For the companion fare, you’ll just have to pay $99 plus taxes and fees, which start at just $23. The value you’ll receive from the companion fare depends entirely on how you redeem it, but you should easily be able to receive a few hundred dollars in value, assuming you fly Alaska with any frequency.
2. Alaska companion certificate annually with spending
Beyond the companion fare offered as part of the welcome bonus, you can also earn a further companion fare annually with the Alaska Visa Business Card. Specifically, you’ll receive an Alaska companion certificate if you spend $6,000 or more on the card in an anniversary year. You’ll just have to pay $99 plus taxes and fees, which start at just $23, so you’re looking at a $122+ fare for the second passenger.
The card has just a $95 annual fee (if you have a single cardholder — $70 for the business and $25 per card), and so in the end, you’re potentially paying under $200 per year for a companion certificate if you meet the annual spend requirement, which is a nice deal.
Here’s the thing — there are quite a few airlines that offer companion certificates in one form or another, but in my opinion, the Alaska companion certificate is by far the most generous:
- It’s valid on any Alaska Airlines economy fare to all destinations, including Alaska, Hawaii, Central America, etc.
- You can use it for a one-way or roundtrip
- The companion earns miles and can even be upgraded
- The cardholder doesn’t even have to be the one to use it; you can use it for someone else, as long as you pay for the ticket with a card in your name
For many people, the ability to earn this benefit alone will justify having the card.
3. Anecdotally easy approval & limited restrictions
This is all anecdotal, but based on everything I’ve seen (and personally experienced), I don’t think there are many business cards that are easier to get approved for than the Alaska Visa Business Card. There are a couple of things that are particularly noteworthy.
- It seems like lots of people are getting instant approvals on this card, more so than with most other business credit cards, and more than on the personal version of the card
- The eligibility requirements around earning the bonus aren’t particularly strict; you can earn the bonus on the card even if you’ve earned it in the past, and many even report being able to pick up a second business card (even if they already have it)
4. Applying for the Alaska Business Visa doesn’t count toward 5/24
Chase has the 5/24 rule, which is a restriction whereby you typically won’t be approved for a Chase card if you’ve opened five or more new card accounts in the past 24 months. If this is a limit you’re trying to stay under, applying for most business cards, including the Alaska Visa Business Card, shouldn’t count toward that limit.
That’s because the card won’t show up on your personal credit report, which is another reason to consider this card.
5. Free checked bag on Alaska Airlines
If you fly Alaska Airlines with any frequency, the Alaska Business Visa offers a free checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other passengers on the same reservation. Alaska charges $35 per checked bag, so this could save you up to $490 per roundtrip itinerary.
6. Priority boarding on Alaska Airlines
Those with the Alaska Business Visa can receive priority boarding on Alaska Airlines flights for themselves and up to six companions on the same reservation. In order to use this perk, you need to charge the cost of the ticket to your card. This can be useful if you’re worried about being able to find space in the overhead for your luggage.
7. 20% back on Alaska Airlines inflight purchases
For having the Alaska Visa Business Card you can receive 20% back on Alaska inflight purchases, including for the purchase of food, drinks, and Wi-Fi. If you fly Alaska with any frequency, the value of this could quickly add up.
8. 3x miles on Alaska flights
The Alaska Visa Business Card offers 3x miles for every eligible dollar spent on Alaska Airlines purchases.
While there are some other credit cards that offer up to 5x points for airfare purchases, I’d note that Alaska miles are a special currency that many find to be extremely valuable, and the program doesn’t partner with the major transferable points currencies.
Many may prefer to put their Alaska spending on this card because earning 3x Alaska miles is a very solid return.
Looking for a personal credit card?
If you want an Alaska Airlines credit card but don’t want to apply for a business credit card, there’s good news. The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card (review) is offering the following limited time bonus after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days of account opening:
- 70,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles
- An Alaska companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23)
This $95 annual fee card has largely overlapping perks, including a free checked bag on Alaska Airlines for you and up to six guests on the same reservation, priority boarding, 20% back on Alaska Airlines inflight purchases, the ability to earn a companion fare with annual spending, 3x Mileage Plan miles on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, and more.
Bottom line
The Alaska Visa Business Card has a reasonable annual fee, and is offering a solid welcome bonus of 50,000 miles, plus an Alaska companion certificate, making this a great time to apply.
This is also a card worth holding onto long-term, given the ability to earn a companion certificate every year, plus priority boarding, a first checked bag free, and more.
If you’re eligible for this card (which a vast majority of small business owners should be, even if you’ve had the card in the past), then applying should be a no-brainer.
If you have the Alaska Business Visa, what has your experience been with the card?
Another point with the companion certificate is you just have to book a trip by the expiration date - not travel by that date. For instance, Delta’s is more restrictive - you must travel by the expiration date.
It's great to see the CX first class seat in the first photo, as it's a nice reminder of how great the Alaska program used to be, and what's no longer available.