Link: Apply now for the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card
A couple of weeks ago we saw a fantastic limited time welcome offer rolled out on the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card (review). I wanted to post a reminder of this, as it’s a great offer — if you’re eligible for this card, I’d highly recommend applying.
In this post:
Earn 50K Alaska miles plus a companion fare
The Alaska Airlines Visa Card is offering the following improved bonus after spending $2,000 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):
- 50,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles
- An Alaska companion fare from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22)
This is an awesome bonus. Previously the card offered 40,000 miles, so the mileage portion of this bonus is 25% bigger than before. This is one of the best bonuses I ever recall seeing on the personal version of 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 50,000 miles are worth $850 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. This restriction doesn’t apply to the business version of the card.
Why the Alaska Airlines Visa Card is worth it
Beyond the excellent bonus, there are multiple reasons to get the $75 annual fee Alaska Airlines Visa Card.
The card offers lots of amazing perks, including a companion certificate on your account anniversary every year (in addition to the one offered as part of the bonus), a free checked bag on Alaska Airlines for you and up to six guests on the same reservation, 20% back on Alaska Airlines inflight purchases, 3x Mileage Plan miles on Alaska Airlines purchases, and more.
If you fly Alaska Airlines with any frequency, the companion fare alone should more than justify the annual fee.
Consider the Alaska Business Visa Card as well
The Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card (review) is the business version of this card, and if you’re eligible for a business card, there are several reasons it makes sense to apply:
- The card is offering a limited time welcome bonus of 70,000 Alaska miles plus an Alaska companion fare starting at $121, which is amazing
- The card has virtually the same benefits as the personal card, including a free checked bag, an annual companion fare, savings on inflight purchases, 3x miles on Alaska purchases, and more
- Getting approved for the card is potentially easy, as you can pick up this card (and receive the bonus) even if you’ve had this exact card in the past; furthermore, applying for that card doesn’t count toward the Chase 5/24 limit, if that’s a consideration
You could even pick up both the Alaska Airlines Visa Card and Alaska Airlines Visa Business Card, and you could then earn a total of 120K Mileage Plan miles plus two companion certificates as part of the welcome offers.
Bottom line
The Alaska Airlines Visa Card is offering an excellent welcome bonus that consists of 50,000 Mileage Plan miles plus a companion certificate. If you’re eligible for the card, I’d highly recommend applying with this offer, given all the great uses of Alaska miles.
On top of that, if you’re eligible for the Alaska Airlines Visa Business Card, I’d definitely recommend picking up that card. Benefits are similar, and the card offers 70,000 Mileage Plan miles plus a companion certificate as part of the welcome bonus.
Are you picking up an Alaska Airlines credit card with a limited time bonus?
If I use Alaska points to book a flight on American Airlines can I use the Alaska card to receive a free checked bag?
Earlier this month I received an offer of 80k miles -- 40k after spending $2,000 in 3 months, another 40k after spending $12,000 in 9 months. Substantial spend, substantial bonus.
Since these are limited time offers, is there any indication when these offers will expire both for the personal or business card ?
@ Steve -- Unfortunately I don't have any insights there, I'm sorry.
Can you transfer miles to AA or other airlines, or hotels Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt?
@ Kris -- You can't transfer miles to other programs, but you can redeem for travel on many airlines, including both oneworld partner airlines and some non-oneworld partners. You can read about how to redeem Alaska miles in the below post.
https://onemileatatime.com/guides/redeem-alaska-mileage-plan-miles/
Alaska cards are issued by Bank of America.
You’ve been warned.
I got a targeted bonus offer in the mail of 50K miles + $0 companion fare (for first year) after $4K spend in 90 days. A no brainer for me given that I fly Alaska with my family at least once a year.