Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card Review
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card Review Bankrate Main Menu Mortgages Financing a home purchase Refinancing your existing loan Finding the right lender Additional Resources Looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch Main Menu Banking Compare Accounts Use calculators Get advice Bank reviews Looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch Main Menu Credit cards Compare by category Compare by credit needed Compare by issuer Get advice Looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch Main Menu Loans Personal Loans Student Loans Auto Loans Loan calculators Looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch Main Menu Investing Best of Brokerages and robo-advisors Learn the basics Additional resources Looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch Main Menu Home equity Get the best rates Lender reviews Use calculators Knowledge base Looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch Main Menu Real estate Selling a home Buying a home Finding the right agent Additional resources Looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch Main Menu Insurance Car insurance Homeowners insurance Other insurance Company reviews Looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch Main Menu Retirement Retirement plans & accounts Learn the basics Retirement calculators Additional resources Looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch Advertiser Disclosure
Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. * See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card review
Written by Author, Award-Winning Writer Holly Johnson writes expert content on personal finance, credit cards, loyalty and insurance topics. In addition to writing for Bankrate and CreditCards.com, Johnson does ongoing Oct. 3, 2022 Edited by Credit Cards Editor Nouri Zarrugh is a writer and editor for CreditCards.com and Bankrate, focusing on product news, guides and reviews. His areas of expertise include credit card strategy, rewards Reviewed by Credit Card Reviews Writer Bankrate expert Garrett Yarbrough strives to make navigating credit cards and credit building smooth sailing for his readers. After regularly featuring his credit card, Oct. 3, 2022Share
Bankrate LogoWhy you can trust Bankrate
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Bankrate LogoWhy you can trust Bankrate
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly, people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit card industry year-round to: Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options. Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you\'re well-equipped to make confident decisions. Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the right decision for you. At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience. Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way, we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next. Bankrate LogoEditorial Integrity
Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions.Key Principles
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.Editorial Independence
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information. Bankrate LogoHow We Make Money
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Bankrate LogoInsurance Disclosure
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.ON THIS PAGE
PREV NEXTSnapshot
4.4 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon on Bank of America's secure siteBest for Alaska Airlines perks
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
Rewards rate Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Annual fee Intro offer Get 50,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) with this offer. To qualify, make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. Regular APR Recommended Credit Score A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card Overview
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card is effective for the airline's frequent flyers on account of its benefits, but the card also stands out for its solid sign-up bonus. Cardholders can also hit the ground running with Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ on Alaska Airlines - one of the best deals you can find on an . This card can be well worth the $75 annual fee, but mostly for those who fly with Alaska Airlines often since the rewards and benefits don't extend beyond the airline.What are the pros and cons
Pros
Earn Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare every year. The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card lets cardholders enjoy a companion fare that can be used to book a companion flight starting at $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22). Get a free checked bag. Cardholders and up to six companions on the same reservation get a free checked bag on Alaska flights. Alaska Airlines savings. By using your card, you can receive 20 percent back on inflight purchases.Cons
Alaska Airlines has a limited flight network. While Alaska Airlines is a oneworld Alliance partner, the airline itself has a limited route network. This can make using the companion fare especially difficult depending on where you live. Disappointing ongoing rewards. While cardholders do earn 3 miles per dollar spent with the airline, the earning rate for any purchases outside the airline is only 1 mile per dollar spent. Requires a prime credit score. For the best approval odds, you’ll need a good to excellent credit score.A deeper look into the current card offer
Quick highlights
Rewards rate: Earn 3 miles per dollar spent with Alaska Airlines and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases Welcome offer: 50,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) after you spend $2,000 or more within the first 90 days of opening your account. Annual fee: $75 Purchase intro APR: N/A Balance transfer intro APR: N/A Regular APR: 18.99% – 26.99% Variable APRThe current welcome offer
This card's latest limited-time online bonus is a small boost to the card's previous offer: If you can spend $2,000 with the card in your first 90 days as a cardholder, you can earn 50,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22). The value of the bonus is quite impressive on its own, and based on , 50,000 miles could be worth around $550 (based on a 1.1-cent-per-point valuation). As you compare airline credit cards, you'll definitely notice that some cards offer bigger than others. However, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card bonus offer is very generous considering you can earn the bonus with a relatively low spending requirement of just $2,000 within 90 days.The rewards rate
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card offers for each dollar you spend, which makes it worth considering if you're looking for ways to rack up airline miles when you're not flying very often. However, the earning rate leaves a lot to be desired.Earning rewards
Cardholders earn 3 miles per dollar spent with Alaska Airlines and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. While the rate for airfare is generous and on par with many other airline credit cards, the earning rate for regular purchases is relatively subpar. Once you start comparing other options, you'll notice that other offer bonus miles in everyday spending categories, like groceries or dining out.Redeeming rewards
Alaska Airlines award flights start at just 5,000 miles, which is an excellent point of entry for any frequent flyer program. You can also use your miles to book hotel stays at more than 400,000 locations or to upgrade your seat to First Class. Fortunately, your miles won't expire for the life of your account. Even if you close your account, though, you can reinstate your miles for a fee for up to one year. To make your bonus mile redemption experience easier, the airline also features a tool on its website that lets you know how many miles you'll need for an award flight to different regions the airline services. This even shows how you can use Alaska miles for flights with , which reach a wider network of over 1,000 destinations. While this frequent flyer program has plenty of sweet spots, you should be aware that this card and program are geared to individuals who live on the West Coast or fly Alaska Airlines often. When you look at the airline's route map, you can quickly see that Alaska Airlines doesn't even service states like North Dakota, Iowa, Alabama and Arkansas. You could potentially use Alaska miles for flights with partners from these destinations, but your options will be more limited.How much are rewards worth
According to Bankrate's latest point valuations, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles are worth around 1.1 cents each on average. That falls short of many competing airlines' estimated average rewards values, including Delta SkyMiles and Southwest Rapid Rewards points. Keep in mind also that Alaska Airlines' travel map may be more niche, so the actual value you'd receive from these miles may not be as valuable if you don't frequently travel within the airline's partner network.Key cardholder perks
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card has some benefits worth noting, including some perks that can help you save big when you fly. Unfortunately, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card doesn't come with several of the usual airline card benefits like priority boarding or elite qualifying miles.Famous Companion Fare
Individuals who sign up for this card get access to Alaska's Famous , which starts at $121 once you pay $99 for the fare and a minimum of $22 in airline taxes and fees. Right now you can get 50,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22). To qualify, make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.Discounts on in-flight purchases
Frequent Alaska customers will also love the fact this card gives a 20 percent discount on in-flight purchases.Free checked bags
Finally, cardholders get a free checked bag on Alaska flights. This benefit also extends to up to six other people on the same itinerary, and the saving is worth approximately $60 per person on a round-trip flight.Rates and fees
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card charges a $75 annual fee, although it doesn't charge any foreign transaction fees if you need to make purchases abroad during your travels. Taking advantage of the Companion Fare and free checked bags benefit at least once a year will more than offset the annual fee, but you can also easily recoup it via rewards by spending around $2,200 per year in Alaska Airlines purchases (based on Bankrate's 1.1-cent-per-mile value). Unfortunately, there is no intro APR if you're looking to keep interest at bay on a balance transfer or any upcoming purchases. You'll face a 18.99% – 26.99% variable APR instead. All things considered, fees charged by the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card are standard among airline credit cards. Balance transfers require a 3 percent (minimum $10) balance transfer fee.How the Alaska Airlines credit card compares to other travel cards
If you're considering the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card, you should take the time to compare it to other and airline cards before you sign up. The chart below shows how the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card stacks up to cards that offer similar perks and rewards.Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card vs Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The lets you earn rewards for travel with a lot more flexibility. After all, this card lets you redeem your miles to cover any travel purchase charged to your card at a rate of one cent per mile. Meanwhile, you can also transfer your miles to Capital One airline and hotel partners, which include some oneworld partners that offer the same routes you can book with Alaska. This card also offers a flat earning rate on all your purchases, as well as a generous bonus offer. While you won't get any frequent flyer benefits, you do get no foreign transaction fees and a fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA Precheck membership.Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
The has one of the best bonus offers among travel credit cards at its price tag right now, and you also get to earn bonus points in a wide range of everyday spending categories. On the redemption end, you can cash in your points for statement credits, gift cards or merchandise. You also get 1.25 cents per point in value when you redeem for travel through Chase, or you can transfer your points to Chase Ultimate Rewards airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio. Overall, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a better overall rewards rate and points that are much more flexible. However, you don't get any frequent flyer benefits with specific airlines.Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon star icon Bankrate Score Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. on Bank of America's secure site Annual fee Intro offer Get 50,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $22) with this offer. To qualify, make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account. Rewards rate Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
on Chase's secure site Annual fee Intro offer Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Rewards rate 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards 3x on dining. 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more. Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
on Capital One's secure site Annual fee Intro offer New Venture cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening Rewards rate Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Recommended credit A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.Best cards to pair with this card
If you are considering the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card but hoping to pair it with another rewards card, we suggest pairing it up with a flexible travel credit card, especially if Alaska Airlines is one of the reward program's transfer partners. That way, you can use your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card to rack up miles for the flights you want while leaning on your flexible travel credit card to earn points for hotel stays, rental cars and other aspects of your travel plans. If you pair your Alaska card with another that has different earning categories, that's even better. For example, you could pair it with the Chase Sapphire Preferred to access better rewards in everyday spending categories and the flexibility of the .Bankrate s Take Is the Alaska Airlines card worth it
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card can definitely be worth the $75 annual fee, but only if you are in a position to use Alaska miles and the card's companion fare. If you live in an area not serviced by Alaska Airlines, or if you frequently fly to destinations outside of the airline's service area, you may want to look at other card options. Fortunately, there are a great many rewards and travel credit cards to choose from. No matter whether the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card makes sense for your travel needs, you should consider all your options before you decide.ON THIS PAGE
Written by Holly D. Johnson Author, Award-Winning Writer Holly Johnson writes expert content on personal finance, credit cards, loyalty and insurance topics. In addition to writing for Bankrate and CreditCards.com, Johnson does ongoing work for clients that include CNN, Forbes Advisor, LendingTree, Time Magazine and more. Edited by Credit Cards Editor Reviewed by Credit Card Reviews WriterAdvertiser Disclosure
Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Bankrate.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and the likelihood of applicants' credit approval also impact how and where products appear on this site. Bankrate.com does not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers.Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. * See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.