What the Alaska Airlines credit card does
The Alaska Airlines Visa card earns you miles on every purchase you make, and those miles can be redeemed for flights on Alaska Airlines and partner carriers. You also earn a large bonus of miles when you first open the card, and you get a free checked bag on every Alaska Airlines flight you take as a cardholder — a benefit that pays for itself quickly if you travel even once or twice a year.
The card is issued by Bank of America. There are currently two versions: the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature (the standard version) and the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Business (for business owners). Both work the same way for earning and redeeming miles, though the business version has different annual fees and bonus structures.
This card makes the most sense if you fly Alaska Airlines regularly or live in a part of the country where Alaska has strong service — primarily the West Coast, Hawaii, and parts of the Pacific Northwest. If you rarely fly or never fly Alaska, a different rewards card will likely serve you better.
Key Takeaways
- You earn 3 miles per dollar on Alaska Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else, with a large sign-up bonus of miles that typically covers one or two free flights.
- The free checked bag benefit applies to you and one companion on every Alaska Airlines flight, which saves $35 to $70 per round trip depending on the route.
- Miles can be redeemed for Alaska Airlines flights or transferred to partner airlines like American, Delta, and United, though Alaska flights typically offer better value.
- The annual fee is $75 for the personal card and $195 for the business card, and neither version waives the fee in the first year.
- Miles do not expire as long as your account remains open and active, but closing the card means you lose all unused miles.
How you earn miles and what the sign-up bonus covers
When you open the card, you receive a sign-up bonus of miles — the exact amount changes periodically, but it is typically between 30,000 and 50,000 miles. You must spend a certain amount within the first few months to earn this bonus; the spending requirement also varies, but is usually $1,000 to $3,000 in the first three months. You can check the current offer on Bank of America's website or the Alaska Airlines website.
After you meet the sign-up bonus, you earn miles on every purchase: 3 miles per dollar when you use the card for Alaska Airlines tickets or purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. There is no category bonus for hotels, dining, or gas — just the flat 1 mile per dollar outside of Alaska Airlines.
A sign-up bonus of 40,000 miles, for example, is roughly equivalent to one round-trip economy ticket from Seattle to Los Angeles or a similar short-haul flight. The exact value depends on the route and how far in advance you book. Miles are worth more on longer flights and less on short ones, so a 40,000-mile bonus might cover a round trip to Hawaii but only a one-way ticket to San Francisco.
The free checked bag and companion benefits
The most valuable everyday benefit of this card is the free first checked bag on every Alaska Airlines flight. This applies to you and one companion traveling on the same reservation. A checked bag normally costs $35 on most Alaska Airlines routes, and $70 on some longer flights, so this benefit alone can save you $140 to $280 per year if you take just two round trips.
The free bag applies only to Alaska Airlines flights, not to partner airlines. If you book a flight on American, Delta, or United using your Alaska miles, you do not get the free bag on that flight. You also do not get the free bag on connecting flights operated by other airlines, even if you booked the entire trip through Alaska Airlines.
The card also gives you priority boarding on Alaska Airlines flights, which means you board before most other passengers. This is useful if you want to find overhead bin space or prefer to settle in early, but it does not give you access to premium cabin seating or extra legroom.
How to redeem miles for flights
Miles can be redeemed directly for Alaska Airlines flights through the Alaska Airlines website or app. You search for a flight the same way you would to buy a ticket with cash, but instead of paying a dollar amount, you pay in miles. The number of miles required depends on the route and how far in advance you book — a short flight might cost 5,000 miles, while a long-haul flight to Hawaii could cost 25,000 or more.
You can also transfer miles to partner airlines, including American Airlines, Delta, United, and several others. Transfers are usually not a good use of your miles unless you have a specific flight in mind on a partner airline that offers better value than Alaska's own award chart. Transfers typically happen within a few business days.
Miles do not expire as long as your account is active. However, if you close the card or your Alaska Airlines account, you lose all unused miles. If you stop using the card for a long period, Alaska Airlines may close your account for inactivity, so it is worth making at least one small purchase every year or two to keep the account open.
Annual fee and whether this card makes financial sense
The personal Alaska Airlines Visa card costs $75 per year, and this fee is charged every year — there is no first-year waiver. The business version costs $195 per year. You pay this fee whether you use the card or not, so you need to earn enough miles and benefits to justify the cost.
The free checked bag alone is worth $35 to $70 per round trip. If you take just two round trips per year on Alaska Airlines, the free bags pay for the annual fee. Add in the sign-up bonus and the 3 miles per dollar on Alaska Airlines purchases, and the card makes sense for most people who fly Alaska at least a couple of times per year.
If you fly Alaska Airlines less than once a year, or if you never fly Alaska, the annual fee is hard to justify. In that case, a general cash-back card with no annual fee will serve you better.
Comparing the Alaska Airlines card to other airline cards
The main competitor to the Alaska Airlines card is the Southwest Rapid Rewards card, which earns points on every purchase and offers a free checked bag and carry-on bag for the cardholder. Southwest's card also has a $69 annual fee (for the personal version) and a similar sign-up bonus structure. The choice between them depends on which airline you fly more often and which airline's route network serves your home airport.
If you fly multiple airlines equally, a general rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the American Express Blue Business Plus might be a better fit. These cards earn cash back or flexible points that can be used on any airline, rather than locking you into one carrier's miles program.
The Alaska Airlines card is also less generous than some premium airline cards like the American Airlines Platinum or the United Explorer card, which offer more perks like lounge access and travel credits. However, those cards have annual fees of $550 or more, so they are aimed at frequent business travelers rather than occasional leisure flyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Alaska Airlines miles to book flights on other airlines?
Yes, you can transfer miles to partner airlines like American, Delta, and United, or you can search for partner airline flights directly on the Alaska Airlines website and book them with miles. However, partner bookings typically require more miles than Alaska Airlines flights for the same route, so they are usually not the best value.
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
If you close the card, you keep your Alaska Airlines frequent flyer account and your miles, but you lose the benefits tied to the card — the free checked bag, priority boarding, and the 3-mile earning rate on Alaska Airlines purchases. Your miles remain in your account as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months.
Does the free checked bag explore to my family members?
The free checked bag applies to you and one companion on the same reservation. Your family members can get a free bag only if they are booked on the same flight as you. If they are on a different flight, they would need to pay for their checked bag or have their own Alaska Airlines card.
How long does it take to earn the sign-up bonus?
You earn the sign-up bonus once you meet the spending requirement, which is typically $1,000 to $3,000 in the first three months. The miles are usually posted to your account within one to two billing cycles after you meet the requirement. Check your welcome materials for the exact timeline and spending threshold for your offer.
Can I earn miles on purchases made with someone else's card?
No, miles are earned only on purchases you make with your own card. If someone else uses your card with permission, those purchases still earn miles to your account, but you are responsible for the charges and the debt.