Alaska Airlines Business Card Review: 50K Miles + More

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

The Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card was recently refreshed, and is currently offering a solid welcome bonus. This is an often overlooked business credit card issued by Bank of America. The card is absolutely worth picking up if you’re eligible but don’t yet have it.

Not only are Alaska Mileage Plan miles incredibly valuable for partner airline redemptions, but the card offers some valuable perks if you fly Alaska Airlines with any frequency.

Alaska Airlines Business Card Basics For September 2023

Let’s take a look at what you need to know about the Alaska Visa Business Card, including the incredible welcome bonus, application restrictions, annual fee, and rewards structure.

Alaska Visa Business Card Welcome Bonus

The Alaska Visa Business Card is offering a three-part welcome bonus, which is fantastic. At the moment, you can earn the following after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days of account opening:

• 50,000 bonus Mileage Plan miles
• $100 Statement Credit
• An Alaska companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23)

I value Alaska Mileage Plan miles at 1.7 cents each, so to me, those 50,000 miles are worth $850; add that $100 statement credit and we’re up to $950. For example, that’s enough miles for a one-way business class award from the United States to Asia in Cathay Pacific business class, with a stopover included.

Then you have the companion fare, which could save you hundreds of dollars on airfare. I’ll get into that more below.

Alaska Visa Business Card Application Restrictions

One great thing about the Alaska Visa Business Card is how easy it is to get approved for, at least anecdotally. There are a few things worth being aware of:

• Anecdotally it appears that 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)
• Applying for this card won’t count as a further card toward Chase’s 5/24 limit, in case that’s a limit you’re trying to stay under

Alaska Visa Business Card Annual Fee

The Alaska Visa Business Card has an annual fee of $70 for the company and $25 per card. That means the annual fee is $95 if you have just one user on the account, which I’d consider to be reasonable.

Alaska Business Card Rewards Structure

The Alaska Visa Business Card has the following tiered rewards structure:

• Earn 3x Mileage Plan miles per dollar spent directly with Alaska Airlines
• Earn 2x Mileage Plan miles per dollar spent on eligible gas, shipping and local transit (including ride share)
• Earn 1x Mileage Plan miles per dollar spent on all other purchases
• The card has no foreign transaction fees, making it useful for purchases globally

Those are solid bonus categories for a co-branded airline credit card.

You can potentially earn more than three points per dollar on airfare with other cards, and you can also earn more than one point per dollar on everyday purchases with other cards. However, Alaska miles are otherwise really tough to come by, so I know some people put spending on this card because they value Alaska miles so much, and I think that can be a good strategy.

Alaska Airlines Business Card Perks

The Alaska Visa Business Card offers a variety of perks, which can potentially more than justify the annual fee year after year. These perks are the main reason you want to consider picking up this card, in addition to the great welcome bonus. In no particular order, let’s go over my favorite benefits.

First Checked Bag Free On Alaska Airlines

If you have the Alaska Airlines Business Card, you receive a free checked bag for you and up to six other passengers on the same reservation. To be eligible for this, you need to charge the cost of the ticket to your card. Another great thing is that authorized users on the card can also receive this benefit, as long as their ticket is purchased with the card.

Alaska usually charges $30 one-way per checked bag, so if you were traveling with six other people and everyone was checking a bag, you’re looking at savings of $420 on a roundtrip itinerary. Of course, it’s rare most people travel with that many companions, but even if you’re traveling with just one other person you’re looking at savings of $120 on a roundtrip ticket, which is significantly more than the card’s annual fee.

Priority Boarding On Alaska Airlines

If you have the Alaska Airlines Business Card, you receive priority boarding for you and up to six guests on the same reservation. In order to be eligible for this perk, you need to charge the cost of the ticket to your card. Another great thing is that authorized users on the card can also receive this benefit, as long as their ticket is purchased with the card.

This is a valuable benefit that help you ensure that there’s space in the overhead bin for your bags. It’s also an awesome authorized user perk, so that you can share this benefit with family members.

20% Back On Alaska Airlines Inflight Purchases

Just for having the Alaska Airlines Business Card, you receive 20% back on Alaska Airlines inflight purchases, including of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi. If you fly Alaska Airlines often, the value of this will quickly add up.

Annual Alaska Airlines Companion Fare (& How It Works)

Not only is the Alaska Airlines Business Card currently offering a companion fare as part of the welcome bonus, but you also earn an Alaska companion fare every year on your account anniversary after spending $6,000 or more on purchases within the anniversary year. You’ll receive a voucher that can get you a companion fare from $122 ($99 plus taxes and fees, which start at $23).

In my opinion, the Alaska companion fare is one of the most valuable companion airfare tickets offered by any US airline credit card. The basic restrictions associated with the companion fare are:

• The companion fare is only valid for tickets booked in economy, though all economy fare classes are included; you can travel throughout Alaska’s route network, including on international flights
• Tickets booked with the Alaska companion fare are upgradeable, both for the primary passenger and companion (this includes using complimentary elite upgrades, Gold Guest upgrades, instant upgrade fares, etc.)
• Both passengers booked with the Alaska companion fare earn miles for their tickets
• The companion fare is valid for a year from when it’s issued, though that’s only the book-by date, while you can travel on a subsequent date
• You’re allowed to use your companion fare code for two other people, but if you do, you need to use a credit card in your name to pay for the ticket
• Both passengers need to be booked in the same itinerary, travel on the same flights, and be ticketed at the same time
• The companion fare is valid for roundtrip, one-way, and multi-city travel
• The Alaska companion fare isn’t valid for award travel, or for travel that includes segments on any airlines other than Alaska or regional subsidiaries

To me this is so valuable, since you could travel all the way from the East Coast to Hawaii, for example, and both passengers are still eligible for mileage accrual and upgrades.

Alaska Lounge+ Membership Discount

If you’re looking to get an Alaska Lounge membership, the Alaska Airlines Business Card offers $100 off an Alaska Lounge+ annual membership when you pay for the purchase with your card. An Alaska Lounge+ membership ordinarily costs $500-600 annually, and offers access to all Alaska Lounges, plus nearly 100 partner lounges around the world (including American Admirals Clubs).

Being able to get this lounge discount could prove to be a good value.

Best Business Card Alternatives

There are lots of great business credit cards out there. If you’re looking for one of the best cards for everyday business spending, I’d recommend considering one of the following:

• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (review) has no annual fee (Rates & Fees), and offers 2x Membership Rewards points on the first $50,000 spent per calendar year (after that 1x); this is one of the most lucrative cards for the first $50,000 of non-bonused spending annually, in my opinion
• The American Express® Business Gold Card (review) has a $295 annual fee (Rates & Fees) and offers 4x Membership Rewards points on the two categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle (there are select categories, and this applies on the first $150,000 in combined purchases every calendar year)
• The Capital One Spark Cash Plus (review) (Rates & Fees) has a $150 annual fee and offers unlimited 2% cash back with no foreign transaction fees; there’s also the possibility to convert these rewards into Capital One miles at a favorable rate
• The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (review) has a $95 annual fee and offers the best welcome bonus of any credit card, has an amazing cell phone protection plan and rental car coverage, and offers 3x points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
• If you’re willing to get more than one card, there’s value in pairing the Ink Preferred with the no annual fee Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (review) and/or Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (review), as the cards offer 1.5-5x points per dollar spent, along with huge welcome bonuses

Looking For A Personal Alaska Airlines Credit Card?

If the Alaska Visa Business Card sounds interesting but you’re not eligible for a business card, there’s good news. The Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card (review) is offering a limited time welcome bonus. You can earn the following after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days of account opening:

• 40,000 bonus Mileage Plan miles
• An Alaska companion fare from $23 ($0 fare plus taxes and fees from $23)

This $95 annual fee card offers many of the same perks as the business card, including 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.

You could even pick up both the personal and business card, to really maximize the points and companion certificates that you can earn.

Bottom Line

The Alaska Visa Business Card is an excellent business credit card that offers a great welcome bonus and strong perks. The initial bonus of 50,000 Mileage Plan miles, plus a $100 statement credit, plus a companion fare will come in handy for cardmembers, and is more than enough reason to get the card.

Also keep in mind that anecdotally this card is pretty easy to get approved for, and the eligibility restrictions aren’t particularly strict. On top of that, savings on checked bags and inflight purchases will add up over time. If you don’t yet have this card and are eligible, I’d highly recommend applying. This is a card that many people don’t have, yet which offers lots of value and a great bonus.

If you’re looking for a personal credit card, consider the Alaska Airlines Visa Card, which also has an excellent bonus.

If you want to learn more about or apply for the Alaska Business Credit Card, follow this link.

The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: American Express® Business Gold Card (Rates & Fees), and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Rates & Fees).