Alaska Airlines Visa Card 2023 Review: Pros, Cons, and More | The Motley Fool (2023)

Top perks

There are quite a few benefits for having the Alaska Airlines Visa® Card.

70,000 bonus miles

You earn 70,000 bonus miles after making $3,000 or more in purchases in the first 90 days of opening the account. That many miles is more than enough for multiple Alaska Airlines flights, and this is one of the better sign-up bonuses for an airline credit card.

Compare more: Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses

Companion fare

Another introductory offer with this card is Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™. You also earn this bonus after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days. To be clear, once you make $3,000 in purchases in that timeframe, you earn both the 70,000 bonus miles and the companion fare. You can also earn Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year.

Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ allows you to book one round-trip coach companion fare from $122. You must book the fare in cash using your Alaska Airlines Visa® Card. Considering some round-trip flights cost over $500, you could score big savings with this benefit.

Earn up to 3 miles per $1

The Alaska Airlines Visa® Card earns:

• 3 miles per $1 on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
• 2 miles per $1 on eligible gas, cable, streaming services, and local transit purchases
• 1 mile per $1 on other purchases

Since this card has several bonus categories, you should be able to earn miles quickly. One of the ways it stands out compared to other airline credit cards is by offering double miles on multiple everyday spending categories.

Free checked bag

You and up to six guests traveling on the same reservation will each receive one free checked bag. Alaska Airlines otherwise charges $30 for the first piece of checked luggage. Even if you're traveling solo, you'd avoid $60 in bag fees on a round trip.

Priority boarding

When you pay for your flight with your Alaska Airlines credit card, you'll get priority boarding. You and up to six guests traveling on the same reservation will get to board before the general boarding group, making it easier to snag that coveted overhead bin space.

Savings on Alaska Airlines purchases

When you pay with your Alaska Airlines Visa® Card, you get:

• 20% back on Alaska Airlines in-flight purchases
• $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ Membership (from a price of $550 per year for elites and $650 per year for non-elites)

High-value redemption options

One of the great things about Alaska Airlines miles is all the ways you can use them. Of course, you could book a flight with Alaska Airlines. You could also redeem those miles with any of more than a dozen airline partners, including American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, and Japan Airlines. That roster of partners helps mitigate the fact that Alaska Airlines doesn't go to as many destinations as some of the bigger airlines.

No foreign transaction fee

The top travel rewards cards don't charge you any extra on foreign transactions, and the Alaska Airlines Visa® Card is no exception.

Learn more: Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

What could be improved

While there's not a lot to critique with this card, it has a drawback you should know about.

Smaller than other major airlines

Alaska Airlines doesn't offer nearly as many flights or destinations as some of its competitors. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines all have wider selections for destinations. It's a great airline for travelers in the Pacific Northwest, the West Coast, or Alaska. But if you don't live in one of those regions or visit them often, then you may be better off checking out more credit card reviews for a better fit.

To get the Alaska Airlines Visa® Card, you should have a FICO® Score of at least 670. Ideally, aim for a credit score of at least 700.

Although your credit score is a key factor in the application process, it's not the only factor that matters. Bank of America will also look at other items. These could include your income, your credit utilization ratio, and your number of recent credit applications.

Related: Best Rewards Credit Cards

Considering what the Alaska Airlines Visa® Card offers, its $95 annual fee is a bargain.

Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ alone can be worth hundreds of dollars depending on how you use it. If you frequently travel with someone else, then the value of the annual companion fare should easily outweigh this card's annual fee.

You'll save $30 every time you need to check a bag, plus $30 per travel companion for up to six other people. And since you'll be earning Alaska Airlines miles on purchase, you should get plenty of value from this card's travel rewards as well.

You travel with Alaska Airlines often. Those who live near one of the airline's hubs will be able to get the most out of this card, so it's great if you live in the Pacific Northwest, the West Coast, or Alaska. Ideally, you should also travel with a companion at least once per year so you can make use of the annual companion fare.

The Alaska Airlines Visa® Card won't be right for everyone simply because of the airline's flight and route selection. But for travelers who live near one of those hub airports, this card offers substantial value at an affordable cost.

Keep reading: Best Credit Cards