8 Reasons To Get The Alaska Business Visa Card

Link: Apply now for the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card

The Alaska Airlines Business Visa Card, issued by Bank of America, has a best-ever 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.

1. Welcome bonus of 70K Alaska miles

The Alaska Visa Business Card is currently offering a best-ever welcome bonus of 70,000 Mileage Plan miles after spending $4,000 within 90 days. That’s just part of the bonus, and I’ll talk about the rest of the bonus below. As a point of comparison, previously the card offered a bonus of 40,000 miles, so this is 75% better than that.

That is a huge number of miles, and I consider Alaska Mileage Plan miles to be the single most valuable currency in terms of the value per mile. I value Alaska Mileage Plan miles at 1.7 cents each, so to me those 70,000 miles are worth $1,190.

Mileage Plan miles are so valuable thanks to the ability to redeem them for travel on a unique selection of airline partners, and also since you’re allowed a free stopover even on one-way tickets. For example, I’ve redeemed just 70,000 Mileage Plan miles for a first-class Japan Airlines ticket from Tokyo to Chicago. With the world increasingly starting to open up again to global travel, partner redemptions and stopovers are once again practical.

2. Alaska companion certificate as part of bonus

In addition to a welcome bonus of 70,000 Mileage Plan miles, the Alaska Visa Business Card also offers an Alaska companion fare the first year upon completing minimum spending. Historically you only start receiving this on the first anniversary, but with this offer, you get one in the first year as well.

You’ll just have to pay $99 plus taxes and fees, which start at just $22.

3. Alaska companion certificate every year on anniversary

Every year on the account anniversary of the Alaska Visa Business Card you’ll receive an Alaska companion certificate. You’ll just have to pay $99 plus taxes and fees, which start at just $22, so you’re looking at a $121+ fare for the second passenger.

The card has just a $75 annual fee (if you have a single cardholder — $50 for the business and $25 per cardholder), and so in the end, you’re paying under $200 per year for a companion certificate, which is an excellent 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, roundtrip, multi-city, etc.
• 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

This benefit alone should be a reason to hold onto the card long term, in my opinion.

4. 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)

5. 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.

6. 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 $30 per checked bag, so this could save you up to $420 per roundtrip itinerary.

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.

Bottom line

The Alaska Visa Business Card has a reasonable annual fee, and offers a huge welcome bonus of 70,000 miles plus an Alaska companion certificate, making this a fantastic card to consider applying for.

This is also a card worth holding onto long-term, given the companion certificate you get every year. I consistently get value out of that, and it’s why I like always having an Alaska Airlines credit card.

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?