What the Alaska Airlines Visa Card Is

The Alaska Airlines Visa Card is a co-branded credit card issued by Bank of America in partnership with Alaska Airlines. When you use it for purchases, you earn miles toward Alaska Airlines flights instead of cash back. The card comes with a sign-up bonus of miles (the exact amount changes periodically), an annual fee, and benefits like free checked bags on Alaska Airlines flights and priority boarding.

This card is built for people who fly Alaska Airlines regularly or live in a region where Alaska Airlines operates. If you rarely fly or prefer other airlines, a different rewards card may serve you better. The card's value depends entirely on whether you can use the miles you earn before they expire and whether the annual fee makes sense against your spending.

Key Takeaways

  • The Alaska Airlines Visa Card earns miles on every purchase, with bonus miles for sign-up and higher earning rates on Alaska Airlines tickets and certain merchants.
  • You pay an annual fee to hold the card, which Bank of America charges whether or not you use it.
  • The card includes a free checked bag on Alaska Airlines flights for you and one companion on the same reservation, which can offset the annual fee if you fly even once or twice per year.
  • Miles do not expire as long as your account stays open and you have account activity at least once every 24 months.
  • You can transfer miles to Alaska Airlines, use them to book flights through the card's travel portal, or redeem them for other rewards like hotel stays.

How to Get the Card and What Happens First

You can request the Alaska Airlines Visa Card through Bank of America's website or by phone at the number on the back of an existing Bank of America card. The process is the same as requesting any Bank of America credit card: you provide your Social Security number, income, employment status, and current address. Bank of America will check your credit report and typically give you a decision within minutes.

If you are approved, your card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days. You must set up it before you can use it—Bank of America sends set up instructions with the card, or you can set up it through their mobile app or website. Once activated, you can use it when ready for purchases in stores, online, or by phone.

The sign-up bonus miles post to your account after you meet the spending requirement, which is usually a set dollar amount spent within the first few months of opening the account. Read the offer carefully: the requirement and bonus amount vary depending on when you request the card. Miles typically appear in your Alaska Airlines account within one to two billing cycles after you meet the requirement.

Annual Fee and When It Charges

Bank of America charges an annual fee on the Alaska Airlines Visa Card. The exact amount varies and changes periodically, so check the current offer before you request the card. This fee posts to your account on the anniversary of when you open the card, and every 12 months after that, whether or not you use the card.

Some cardholders offset this fee by using the free checked bag benefit: if you fly Alaska Airlines once per year with a companion, the checked bag savings alone may cover the annual cost. Others earn enough miles on everyday spending to justify the fee. If you do not fly Alaska Airlines or cannot use the miles within the expiration window, the annual fee becomes a pure cost with no benefit.

You can close the card at any time by calling Bank of America. If you close it before the annual fee posts, you will not owe that year's fee. If the fee has already posted, you cannot get it refunded by closing the card.

How Miles Earn and What They Are Worth

You earn miles on every dollar you spend with the card. The earning rate is usually 1 mile per dollar on most purchases, with higher rates (often 3 miles per dollar) on Alaska Airlines tickets bought directly from the airline and on certain merchant categories like gas stations or restaurants. Check your cardholder agreement or the card's benefits guide for the current earning rates, as these can change.

The value of a mile depends on how you redeem it. If you book a flight through Alaska Airlines' website using miles, a mile is typically worth between 0.5 and 1.5 cents per mile, depending on the flight and how far in advance you book. If you transfer miles to a hotel or car rental partner, the value may be higher or lower. Booking premium cabin seats (first class or business class) with miles often gives you better value than economy seats.

Miles do not expire as long as your Alaska Airlines account has activity within any 24-month period. Activity includes earning miles, redeeming miles, or even just logging into your account. If your account sits dormant for 24 months, Alaska Airlines will close it and you will lose any miles in it. Keeping the card open and using it occasionally is the simplest way to keep your miles active.

Benefits Beyond Miles

The card includes a free checked bag on Alaska Airlines flights for you and one companion traveling on the same reservation. This benefit applies to the primary cardholder and one other person on the reservation—not to every person on the reservation. If you travel with a family of four, only two of you get free checked bags; the other two pay the standard checked bag fee.

You also receive priority boarding on Alaska Airlines flights, which means you board before general boarding groups. This is useful if you want to find overhead bin space or prefer to board early, but it does not may provide a seat in a premium cabin or extra legroom.

The card may include other benefits like travel insurance, purchase protection, or extended warranty coverage. The specific benefits and their terms vary by card version and change over time. Review the benefits guide that comes with your card or check Bank of America's website for the full current list.

Paying Your Bill and Managing Your Account

Your monthly bill is due on a date set by Bank of America, usually 21 to 25 days after your statement closes. You can pay online through Bank of America's website or app, by phone, by mail, or in person at a Bank of America branch. If you pay less than the full balance, Bank of America charges interest on the remaining balance at the card's annual percentage rate (APR), which varies based on your creditworthiness and current market rates.

You can set up automatic payments so the full balance or a minimum payment posts on your due date each month. This prevents late fees and helps protect your credit score. If you miss a payment by 30 days or more, Bank of America will report it to credit bureaus and may increase your APR.

Track your spending and miles through the Bank of America app or website. You can see your current balance, available credit, recent transactions, and miles earned in real time. You can also view your Alaska Airlines miles balance by logging into your Alaska Airlines account directly.

Transferring Miles and Redeeming Rewards

You can redeem your miles in several ways. The most straightforward is to book a flight directly on Alaska Airlines' website using miles instead of cash. You can also transfer miles to Alaska Airlines' partner hotels, car rental companies, and other travel partners, though the transfer process takes a few business days and you cannot reverse a transfer once it is sent.

Some cardholders use miles to book flights for family members or friends by transferring the miles to another Alaska Airlines account. Alaska Airlines allows you to transfer miles to another person's account, but there are limits on how many miles you can transfer per year and whether the recipient must be a family member (this varies by Alaska Airlines' current policy).

You can also redeem miles for statement credits, gift cards, or merchandise through the rewards portal, though these redemptions typically offer lower value than booking flights. If you have a small balance of miles that will not cover a full flight, a statement credit or gift card may be your best option.

Frequently Asked Questions

What credit score do I need to get the Alaska Airlines Visa Card?

Bank of America does not publish a minimum credit score requirement, but the card typically goes to people with good to excellent credit (usually 670 or higher). If you have fair credit, you may still be approved, but your APR may be higher. The only way to know is to request the card and see whether Bank of America approves you.

Can I use my miles on airlines other than Alaska Airlines?

Miles earned on the Alaska Airlines Visa Card can only be redeemed through Alaska Airlines or its partners. You cannot transfer them to other airline loyalty programs. If you want to fly a different airline, you would need to use a different rewards card.

What happens to my miles if I close the card?

Your miles stay in your Alaska Airlines account even after you close the card. As long as your Alaska Airlines account has activity within 24 months, the miles will not expire. You can still book flights with them or transfer them to partners. Closing the card does not delete your miles.

Do I have to spend a certain amount to keep the card open?

No. Bank of America will not close the card for inactivity. However, your Alaska Airlines miles account will close if it has no activity for 24 months, which means you would lose the miles. Using the card at least once every two years keeps both accounts active.

Can I get the annual fee waived?

Bank of America does not waive the annual fee for existing cardholders. Some new cardholders may receive an offer that waives the first year's fee, but this is not may provide and depends on the current promotion. If you want to avoid the annual fee, you would need to close the card before the fee posts.