Link: Apply now for the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card
We’ve just seen a huge new limited time welcome offer rolled out on the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card (review), which coincides with the card getting new benefits. If you don’t yet have this card and are eligible, you absolutely should apply with this offer.
In this post:
Earn 70K Alaska miles plus a companion fare
The Alaska Airlines Visa Card is offering the following improved bonus after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days of account opening (note that while this offer is marketed as being limited time, the end date hasn’t been published):
- 70,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles
- An Alaska companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23)
Historically the bonus on the card has regularly been 40,000 miles, so this bonus is 75% bigger than that. This is a huge bonus, and one of the best offers I ever recall seeing on the card.
Personally I value Alaska miles at 1.7 cents each, given all the great uses of Alaska Mileage Plan miles. That means the 70,000 miles are worth $1,190 to me. That doesn’t even account for the value of the Alaska companion fare.
If you’re considering applying for this card, note that the welcome bonus isn’t available to those who currently have this exact card, or those who have had this exact card in the past 24 months. Eligibility for this card is independent of whether you have the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card (review).
Why the Alaska Airlines Visa Card is worth it
Beyond the excellent bonus, there are multiple reasons to get the $95 annual fee Alaska Airlines Visa Card, especially with the card’s benefits having recently been overhauled. Among other things, the card offers the following:
- A companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) on your account anniversary every year after spending $6,000 on the card in the prior anniversary year; this is in addition to the companion fare offered as part of the bonus
- 3x Mileage Plan miles on Alaska Airlines purchases, 2x Mileage Plan miles on gas, local transit (including ride share), cable, and select streaming services, and 1x Mileage Plan miles on all other purchases, all with no foreign transaction fees
- A 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America account
- A first checked bag free on Alaska Airlines flights for the card member and up to six companions on the same reservation when paying with the card; this also applies to authorized users (which you can add at no cost), as long as the card is used to pay for the ticket, even when not traveling with the primary card member
- Priority boarding on Alaska Airlines flights for the card member and up to six companions on the same reservation when paying with the card; this also applies to authorized users (which you can add at no cost), as long as the card is used to pay for the ticket, even when not traveling with the primary card member
- 20% savings on inflight purchases of food, drinks, and Wi-Fi, when paying with your card
- $100 off an Alaska Lounge+ membership annually when you purchase the membership with your card
If you fly Alaska Airlines with any frequency, then having this card should be a no-brainer. The benefits really add up, between the companion fare, the first checked bag free, priority boarding, savings on inflight purchases, and more.
Bottom line
The Alaska Airlines Visa Card is offering an exceptional welcome bonus that consists of 70,000 Mileage Plan miles plus a companion fare. If you’re eligible for the card, I’d highly recommend applying with this offer, given all the great uses of Alaska miles.
The card has also recently been refreshed, and now has a more compelling rewards structure, priority boarding and a first checked bag free (including for authorized users), and much more. Unfortunately there’s now also a spending requirement to unlock the companion fare on an ongoing basis.
Are you picking up an Alaska Airlines credit card with a limited time bonus?
I should have read more closely. 24 months. Bah.
I am thinking about canceling my current card (which I've had for over 10 years) and just applying for a new one to get the bonus. Anyone know how long you have to wait after canceling your card to become a "new applicant" when requesting a new one? I heard 30 days in one place, 90 days in another. (I think I would also have to confirm the companion fare I got last year and...
I am thinking about canceling my current card (which I've had for over 10 years) and just applying for a new one to get the bonus. Anyone know how long you have to wait after canceling your card to become a "new applicant" when requesting a new one? I heard 30 days in one place, 90 days in another. (I think I would also have to confirm the companion fare I got last year and still haven't used wouldn't get taken away.)
Although I may be with Stuart...the ability to redeem miles on Alaska is getting harder every year, and it has become nearly impossible to redeem them for upgrades on long-haul flights, which was always my preferred use of them.
Question in regards to 24-month eligibility requirement "This card may not be available to you if you currently have or have had the card in the preceding 24 month period." Is 24 month since the account was closed or 24 month since it was open, or since the bonus was received?
Looks like the $6k requirement is def gonna be for new cardholders only and existing cardholders are grandfathered in. This is the relevant language I see:
"Including Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) on Alaska flights booked at alaskaair.com. Annual spend requirement may be required."
The "may be required" portion of the language indicates that some will have to spend, some won't.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/credit-card/companion-fare-benefits
Looks like the $6k requirement is def gonna be for new cardholders only and existing cardholders are grandfathered in. This is the relevant language I see:
"Including Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) on Alaska flights booked at alaskaair.com. Annual spend requirement may be required."
The "may be required" portion of the language indicates that some will have to spend, some won't.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/credit-card/companion-fare-benefits
90% will cancel the card if they add the spend requirement. In fact I will just terminate my alaska membership and switch to a different carrier.
They are already going to devalue the points by 75% within the next year or so. Kinda dumb
I just applied for the Alaska card before this new offer came out - any chance they will give me the new bonus if I ask for it?!
I recently got an 80k offer with a $12k spend requirement. I took it but I’m not sure I value Alaska miles so highly anymore. Doing searches for Europe, if I can find business class, it’s usually BA, with its exorbitant fees. I found one routing on Aer Lingus from Seattle through Dublin for 280k one way! Absurd. Qatar is often available for flights through Doha but also for 280k one way. Alaska miles have...
I recently got an 80k offer with a $12k spend requirement. I took it but I’m not sure I value Alaska miles so highly anymore. Doing searches for Europe, if I can find business class, it’s usually BA, with its exorbitant fees. I found one routing on Aer Lingus from Seattle through Dublin for 280k one way! Absurd. Qatar is often available for flights through Doha but also for 280k one way. Alaska miles have provided great value in the past on Cathay but that really is of no value now. Once I amazingly found 2 first class Qantas seats to DFW, but that almost never happens. Where is the great value with Alaska now?
$6k spend requirement for the companion ticket comes back for new card applicants? Or for all cardholders? That requirement wasn't mentioned when current cardholders received their updates a couple of weeks ago.
Big Change here:
Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™. Get Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year. Valid on all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com
Now requires annual spend!
IS this true? It was a Flyer Talk rumor but it never came to past.
@ mdande7 -- Indeed, just noticed that as well, and have confirmed that this is correct. Seems like the $6K spend requirement does indeed apply going forward with this card (except the one you get as part of the bonus).
For all cardholder or just new applicants?
new applicants only