It has been a huge week for Alaska Air Group, as the company has made all kinds of announcements. In addition to revealing plans to turn Seattle into a global gateway (with Seattle to Tokyo being the first route), and opening more lounges, the airline also revealed plans to launch a premium credit card.
I wanted to provide an update, as we now have a few more details of how the perks on this premium credit card will work. I’m really excited about this card, and there’s also an incentive to get on the early-access list.
In this post:
What we know about Alaska’s new premium credit card
Alaska Airlines and Bank of America have a co-branded credit card portfolio, which currently consists of one personal card and one business card. That will be expanding as of the summer of 2025.
Alaska Mileage Plan will launch a premium credit card with a $395 annual fee. The card is described as being built for the global traveler, and perfect for those looking to get the most out of the expanded Alaska Air Group network (with Alaska having acquired Hawaiian). While details are limited as of now, Alaska has dropped some hints about what we can expect:
- The card will offer a brand new annual Global Companion Award Certificate just for having the card, and a second one for completing spending on the card
- The Global Companion Award Certificate will be valid for travel on Alaska and partner airlines in any class of service; there will be a cap on the value, though it’ll be possible to top it off with mileage
- Cardmembers will receive one Global Companion Award Certificate just for having the card, and can earn a second one for completing a certain amount of spending
- The card will offer waived award fees; we’re talking about the $12.50 partner award booking fee, and not fuel surcharges
- The card will offer 3x miles on all eligible foreign purchases and dining purchases; foreign purchases include purchases made in a foreign currency, and US dollar transactions, if processed outside the United States
- The card will offer a faster path to Mileage Plan elite status
- The card will offer Alaska Lounge passes and inflight Wi-Fi passes
- The card will offer same-day confirmed fee waivers
There’s also lots to like about redeeming Mileage Plan miles. The introduction of a premium credit card is in addition to previously announced Mileage Plan changes for 2025, like being able to earn elite status for partner award flights.
I’m excited about Alaska’s premium credit card
While there are still more questions than answers about Alaska’s new premium credit card, I’m very excited based on what we know so far. This seems like a truly innovative product — I can’t say I’m surprised, as Mileage Plan is a well run program. A few things stand out to me about the card:
- The Global Companion Award Certificate is perhaps the most exciting development here; while there will be a cap on the value, even a fairly low cap would more than offset the annual fee for most people
- 3x miles on all foreign purchases is potentially incredibly lucrative, and is making my mind race with all the possibilities; we’ve never seen a card bonus foreign purchases in this way
- Alaska is increasingly leaning into offering elite status through credit card spending, so I’m curious how good the card’s value proposition is for that
We’ll see the details closer to when the card launches, but I feel strongly that this product will have a heck of a value proposition.
Get on the early-access list for the card
Alaska’s new premium credit card is expected to launch in the summer of 2025, though we don’t know the timeline beyond that. Alaska is encouraging people to join the early-access list for the card, to receive an exclusive link to apply for the card.
If you pre-register your interest at this link by December 31, 2024, you’ll receive 500 Mileage Plan bonus miles just for registering (with no additional activity required), plus another 5,000 bonus miles on top of the standard offer, once the card launches. At a minimum, earning 500 miles for nothing should be a no-brainer.
Bottom line
Alaska Airlines has announced plans to launch a premium credit card in the summer of 2025, with a $395 annual fee. The card should offer a variety of unique benefits, from a global companion award certificate, to 3x miles on foreign purchases, to a faster path to elite status, to waived award fees, and more.
I’m really excited to learn the exact details of the new card, as the folks at Alaska (and particularly at Mileage Plan) are a bright and innovative bunch…
What are you expect from Alaska’s new premium credit card?
Other than Alaska Lounges, will this Card also open up Lounges with its International Partners ?
I also agree with the comment on Bank of America, the ONLY reason I bank with BOA is the Alaska Card....BOA is the WORST to deal with !!
I can't stand BofA. But it looks like I don't have any choice...this is the perfect card for me. I've been waiting for something like this all my life (3x miles on foreign transactions) from AAdvantage but Alaska will do just fine. I'm definitely applying for it on day #1.
If the "one Global Companion Award Certificate" is every year, and not just part of the initial signup bonus, this will be great for International Business/First travel. We have booked QSuites and LATAM lie flats this year and look forward to flying AS to Japan.
Has anyone been able to confirm that this will be a distinct product from the existing consumer card and that you will be able to apply for and hold both cards (or, at the very least, that having had the consumer card will not make you ineligible for this card)? I know that's what everyone is assuming, but is there a definitive statement on it?
It says right at the bottom of that page -- "current holders of either version of the Alaska Airlines Visa cards are inelligible for this offer." Now, I take that to mean inelligible for the welcome bonus, not the card itself. But now that I think about it, they may be doing what Chase does with the Sapphire cards: You can only hold one at a time. Not sure...?
It's for the 5,000 miles to sign up, not for the card itself.
An airline credit card that competes with the Venture X on yearly fee and features? I'll believe it when I see it.
Surely someone will figure out how to exploit the hell out of 3x on foreign transactions.
This exactly. US Bank thought "who uses google/apple pay? We will mostly do 1x with this card" - clearly it didn't work out how they thought, since they closed the card to new apps.
Typed too fast. To clarify: Altitude Reserve.
Already have. And Alaska is smart. There aren't enough people that will want this card who spend 6 months or more outside the U.S. so its a win all the way around. What a fantastic multiplier! I'm so pumped.
Not exploiting it but live in Canada and receive revenue in USD. Looks like it will be a no brainer for me
This is going to be great for me as I travel and work internationally every couple of months from the US. Lots of points to rack up.
Important to note that per the fine print on Alaska's website, "Cardholders upgrading from an existing Alaska Airlines consumer credit card are not eligible" for the 500 bonus miles through pre-registering nor the 5,000 bonus miles upon card approval. I get they want to juice sign-ups but disappointing for us longtime AS loyalists.
You could get the new card separately from your existing AS card, and then cancel your old card (once you've used your companion fare for the year). Or keep the old card too. Alaska generally encourages users having multiple cards, so if you don't mind the $95 annual fee, there's no downside to having two or more.
I *hope* this refers to a product change, and doesn't refer to a cardholder who chooses to keep both cards.
I don't think there's much to get excited about here if you're already an Alaska elite (100K in my case). I don't need the AS lounge passes, they suck, and Amex/Chase are much better. The WiFI vouchers aren't needed if you know how to get yourself free WiFi. A companion cert for economy (most likely) isn't useful if you only fly first/biz. Same day confirmed fees are already waived if you have status.
The only...
I don't think there's much to get excited about here if you're already an Alaska elite (100K in my case). I don't need the AS lounge passes, they suck, and Amex/Chase are much better. The WiFI vouchers aren't needed if you know how to get yourself free WiFi. A companion cert for economy (most likely) isn't useful if you only fly first/biz. Same day confirmed fees are already waived if you have status.
The only benefit is the 3x foreign transactions, but other cards already offer 2-5x dining and travel, so this might not really be beneficial except for categories that are 1x.
I'd be interested to see the fast path to status, but as 100K, I already earn status w/ travel and will easily earn again given award ticket EQMs. So, the card seems like a waste.
Depends where you live. If you are SEA-based and don't have an Amex Platinum, those AS lounges sure start looking tempting.
I am SEA-based, have an Amex Plat, and choose the AS lounge almost every single time.
Why do you choose an AS lounge every single time? The food and beverage in Amex is far superior. What motivates you?
A few reasons:
1. The Amex lounge often has a wait to get in.
2. The AS lounge is consistently much closer to my gate.
3. I don't actually think the food and beverages in the Amex lounge are noticeably better. Food isn't a huge motivator for me, and when it comes to beverages (which for me is usually wine unless it's a morning flight) -- I can tell the difference between good...
A few reasons:
1. The Amex lounge often has a wait to get in.
2. The AS lounge is consistently much closer to my gate.
3. I don't actually think the food and beverages in the Amex lounge are noticeably better. Food isn't a huge motivator for me, and when it comes to beverages (which for me is usually wine unless it's a morning flight) -- I can tell the difference between good wine and bad wine, but I can't usually tell the difference between good wine and slightly better wine.
@eaci, I assume you're talking N gate?
Well, damn! Aren't you fancy.
I don't know how you confused "foreign transactions" with "dining and travel" but they aren't the same. 3x on "purchases made in a foreign currency or outside the boundaries of the U.S." is definitely a complete game changer. Just name another card that offers it and I'll apply for that instead.
It would be great if Alaska moved away from B of A. They are terrible to deal with. Not sure about others, but I won't get an Alaska card specifically for this reason
Agreed. BofA lower my limits and cancels cards for lack of activity more than any other major bank, often without any advance notice. My Alaska card is currently sitting at a lovely $500 limit, which is so low it makes me wonder how I can even use my companion pass....
They just lowered my business card limit with no warning. Very inconvenient because I was going to get to AS100K with end of year spending on it. Not happy with BofA right now.
Ironically, their reason was I have few assets at BofA. Which is true ... because I've found them hard to deal with. I plan and administer estates, so I have to deal with all the big banks, and I consistently find BofA harder to deal with than other banks.
Bank of America is awful to work with. Just this week they took away half of the payment methods people could use to pay their cards.
What payment methods were taken away?
as an AA EP, I'm struggling wondering why to stay oneworld loyal to AA when AS can get you the upgrades with a much better rewards program.
Lucky, any thought whether this early sign up could negate a potential large sign up bonus or 50k miles or so?
@ Geneva Karr -- Same regarding loyalty to American. Regarding the early registration, you're not committing to anything. So you should absolutely take the free miles, and then you can always see what the offer is at launch (but this early access offer should be better than the publicly available one at launch).
Yeah, I get that impression as well. Probably why they're offering the additional 5,000 points on top of whatever welcome bonus they have at rollout.
If you fly AA more often, on American flights AA elites are prioritized for upgrades over AS elites. I wouldn't switch just for that reason. I'll be honest as an AS elite, I always think AA has better award availability. It's probably a grass is always greener situation.
As a lifetime Plat on AA with 2 million butt in the seat miles, it was an easy decision to focus on AS not AA for annual spending, crediting etc. to go for higher status. I'm getting more out of the AS program. But I'm not getting significant upgrades on AA either way.
“Eligible foreign net purchases include purchases (1) made in a foreign currency, or (2) made in U.S. dollars if the transaction is made or processed outside of the United States and US Territories.”
Wow. If you’re into European fashion/clothing, this card could be quite helpful!!
I'll buy all my vintage Patek Philippe watches in Geneva with this card.
Any irony in a premium card offering an economy only certificate
*Cough* Delta Platinum?
That's not a premium card, even if they did raise the annual fee.
There's an argument that the Capital One Venture series, with transferable points and potential transfer bonuses, offer superior value on foreign transactions. But, if you need Alaska points, it's pretty nice. Regarding tier status, Alaska will need to do some heavy lifting to beat AA's easy path to One World Emerald.
@ Lee -- Keep in mind that as of 2025, partner award flights will count toward elite status. That's a pretty major pathway to status, if you ask me.
Ummm...superior value on foreign transactions? Sorry but...what argument? I don't see one. C1 doesn't give 3x miles on EVERY purchase made outside the U.S. or in a foreign currency. So from that vantage point C1 isn't even in the running. There's literally zero competition in the "foreign spending" category. Alaska basically rolled it all up!
“ Alaska Mileage Plan is an incredibly well run program…”
I have to chase after miles for 9 out of 10 partner flights. Not that well run.
Do you? Or are you just not patient enough? Alaska takes their sweet time with partner Miles, but they do usually post in the end.
Regardless, I do still agree with you that this is one area that needs significant improvement. With Delta, partner transactions tend to post within a week of flight.
@Redacted Today is day #158 for me chasing 2 LATAM flights with Alaska. 6 emails, 3 phone calls, 4 agents cannot give me the 1000EQM I deserve. If one cannot get miles flown in July by December, I believe it is a badly run program. AS is a small fry pretending to be a global player. If you look anywhere deeper than what most bloggers do, and actually try to participate, you will know it is shiny outside but very rotten deep inside.
Agreed. I have the same problem. Still waiting for miles earned last September 15th and here we are on December 16th. Guess I should expect to wait another 4 months or so, huh?
When they say waived award fees I assume they're referring to the $12.50 partner award booking fee. Do you really think we'd see no fuel surcharges on awards like BA?
@ Scott -- It's not clarified one way or another as of now, though my assumption is that this refers to the $12.50 award fee.
"We don’t yet know what the annual fee will be"
Alaska tells me it will be $395.
@ Gary Leff -- Thanks for the heads up!
At that price they should have just gone all the way and made an AA Executive / UA Club / DL Reserve level card with included boardroom membership.
That’s a very good point considering their very small footprint. It could easily include a basic membership and perhaps an option to upgrade to Lounge+ for a fee.
That's what I'm expecting/hoping for. I'd have rather seen them release a $595 a.f. card with a ton of killer perks than the reduced a.f. card they're going with and just 1-2 perks really worth anything.