What the Alaska Airlines card earns and costs

The Alaska Airlines Visa card earns 3 points per dollar on Alaska Airlines purchases, 1 point per dollar on restaurants and gas, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. The annual fee is $75, waived the first year for new cardholders. You earn a one-time 40,000-point sign-up bonus after you spend $2,000 in the first 90 days.

Points redeem directly for Alaska Airlines flights at a fixed rate: you need roughly 5,000 to 12,500 points for a domestic round trip, depending on the route and how far in advance you book. Unlike some airline cards, Alaska does not use variable pricing — a flight that costs 7,500 points today will cost 7,500 points next month. You can also transfer points to Alaska's partner hotels and car rental companies, though the redemption value is typically lower than booking flights.

The card comes with checked bag fee waivers: the primary cardholder and one companion get a free first checked bag on Alaska Airlines flights. This alone saves $30 to $35 per round trip for two people, which covers most of the annual fee if you fly once or twice a year.

Key Takeaways

  • The card earns 3 points per dollar on Alaska Airlines tickets and 1 point per dollar everywhere else, with a 40,000-point sign-up bonus after $2,000 spending in 90 days.
  • The $75 annual fee is waived the first year, and the free checked bag benefit for two passengers typically saves $30 to $35 per round trip.
  • Points redeem at fixed rates for Alaska flights (roughly 5,000 to 12,500 points per domestic round trip), not variable pricing like some competitors.
  • The card includes priority boarding, a 20% discount on in-flight purchases, and companion ticket discounts during promotional periods.
  • You earn points on Alaska Airlines purchases made through the airline's website or phone, but not on third-party booking sites.

Checked bags, boarding, and in-flight perks

Beyond points, the card includes priority boarding on all Alaska Airlines flights. You board before general passengers, which matters most on regional aircraft where overhead bin space fills quickly. The cardholder and one companion both get this benefit.

You receive a 20% discount on in-flight purchases — food, drinks, and retail items — which adds up if you fly frequently or travel with family. Alaska also runs periodic promotions offering a companion ticket discount, typically $50 to $100 off a companion's ticket when you book a flight. These promotions are not automatic; you receive them by email and must book within the stated window.

The card does not include lounge access, seat upgrades, or travel insurance beyond what Visa provides to all cardholders. If lounge access is important to you, Alaska's premium card (the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature) offers access to Alaska's own lounges, though it carries a higher annual fee.

When the 3-point earning rate applies and when it does not

The 3-point rate applies only to purchases made directly through Alaska Airlines — their website, mobile app, or by phone. If you book through a third-party site like Kayak, Expedia, or Google Flights, you earn only 1 point per dollar, even though you are buying an Alaska flight. This is a common limitation across airline cards and is worth checking before you book.

The 3-point rate also applies to Alaska Airlines gift cards purchased directly from the airline. Buying gift cards through a retailer like Amazon or a grocery store earns 1 point per dollar. Seat upgrades, baggage fees, and other ancillary charges purchased directly from Alaska count toward the 3-point rate.

Restaurant and gas purchases earn 1 point per dollar only if you use the card at the merchant's location or website. Buying restaurant or gas gift cards earns 1 point per dollar, not the bonus rate. This matters if you plan to use the card primarily for everyday spending outside of flying.

How the sign-up bonus compares to other airline cards

The 40,000-point sign-up bonus is competitive for a $75 annual fee card. At Alaska's typical redemption rates, 40,000 points covers a domestic round trip for one person, or roughly half a round trip for two. The bonus requires $2,000 in spending within 90 days, which is a moderate threshold — most people hit it within two to three months of regular use.

Other airline cards in the same fee tier offer sign-up bonuses ranging from 25,000 to 60,000 miles or points, depending on the issuer and current promotions. The Alaska bonus is neither the highest nor the lowest. What matters more is whether you actually fly Alaska Airlines regularly. If you fly other carriers more often, a different airline card will earn you more value.

Alaska occasionally increases the sign-up bonus during promotional periods, sometimes to 50,000 or 60,000 points. If you are not in a rush to explore, checking the Alaska Airlines website or calling the bank directly can tell you whether a higher bonus is currently running.

Annual fee and whether it makes sense for your travel

The $75 annual fee is waived for the first year, so you can test the card without cost. After that, the fee renews every year unless you close the account. The free checked bag benefit alone saves $30 to $35 per round trip for two people, so if you take two Alaska Airlines round trips per year, the fee pays for itself.

If you fly Alaska only once a year or less, the annual fee is harder to justify unless you value the 20% in-flight discount or the companion ticket promotions enough to offset it. Some cardholders downgrade to Alaska's no-annual-fee card (the Alaska Airlines Visa) after the first year to keep earning 1 point per dollar without the fee, then upgrade again when they plan a trip and want the checked bag benefit.

Alaska does not publicly state a specific spending threshold at which the card "pays for itself," because it depends on your travel frequency and how you value points. A rough benchmark: if you spend $7,500 or more per year on Alaska Airlines tickets, the 3-point earning rate and checked bag benefit typically exceed the $75 fee.

Points expiration and transfer partners

Alaska Airlines points do not expire as long as your account has activity — a flight, a credit card purchase, or even a website login — at least once every 24 months. If your account goes inactive for 24 months, points are forfeited. This is more generous than some airline programs but stricter than others, so if you earn points and then stop flying, set a calendar reminder to log in or make a small purchase before the 24-month window closes.

You can transfer points to Alaska's partner hotels (including Hilton, Marriott, and others) and car rental companies (Hertz, Avis, Budget). The transfer rate is typically 1 point per $0.01 of value or less, meaning you lose value compared to redeeming points directly for flights. Transfer partners are most useful if you have leftover points that do not quite cover a flight and want to use them for a hotel night instead.

Points can also be donated to Alaska Airlines' charitable partner, or used to purchase gift cards. Again, these options typically offer less value per point than booking a flight.

Who should and should not get this card

This card makes sense if you fly Alaska Airlines at least twice a year and book directly through Alaska's website or phone. You will earn points quickly on flights, the checked bag benefit will save you money, and the annual fee becomes manageable. It also works well if you live in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, or California, where Alaska has dense route networks.

You should skip this card if you fly Alaska rarely, fly other carriers more often, or book through third-party sites most of the time. You should also consider alternatives if you value lounge access or travel insurance heavily — the base Alaska card does not include these, and adding them means paying for the premium version.

If you are deciding between this card and a general travel rewards card (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred), the Alaska card wins if you fly Alaska frequently and want to maximize points on those flights. A general travel card wins if you fly multiple carriers or want flexibility to book any airline without losing the bonus earning rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I earn points on Alaska Airlines tickets bought through Costco Travel or other discount sites?

No. You earn only 1 point per dollar on third-party bookings, even if the airline is Alaska. To earn the 3-point rate, book directly through alaskaair.com, the Alaska Airlines app, or by calling the airline. The discount from a third-party site may still be worth it depending on the price difference, but you will not earn bonus points.

Can I use my checked bag benefit if I book a connecting flight on another airline?

The benefit applies only to flights operated by Alaska Airlines. If you book a connecting itinerary where part of the flight is operated by a partner airline (like Delta or American), you get the free bag only on the Alaska-operated segments. Check your booking confirmation to see which airline operates each leg.

What happens to my points if I close the card?

Your points stay in your Alaska Airlines account and do not disappear when you close the card. You can still redeem them for flights or transfers. However, if your account goes 24 months without any activity (a flight, a purchase, or a login), the points will expire. Closing the card does not trigger expiration, but it does mean you will not earn new points unless you reopen it.

Is the sign-up bonus worth it if I only fly Alaska once a year?

Yes, if you can meet the $2,000 spending requirement. The 40,000-point bonus covers a domestic round trip, which is worth $300 to $500 in ticket value. Even after paying the $75 annual fee in year two, you come out ahead if you redeem the bonus for a flight. After the first year, you can downgrade to the no-fee card if you do not want to pay the annual fee.

Do I earn points on Alaska Airlines gift cards?

Yes, but only if you buy them directly from Alaska Airlines. You earn 3 points per dollar on gift cards purchased through alaskaair.com or by phone. Buying them through a retailer like Amazon or a grocery store earns only 1 point per dollar.