For our review of the Alaska Airlines credit card, we may get compensation if you visit partner links on our site. We may not cover every available offer. Our relationship with advertisers may impact how an offer is presented on our website. However, our selection of products is made independently of our relationship to advertisers. Rates and bonuses checked as of June 16, 2025.
Fly to Fiji with an Alaska Airlines credit card? You may be surprised to learn that the airline's Mileage Plan™ rewards program can get you there. The program partners with 28 airlines, flying to more than 900 destinations.
When you sign up now, new cardholders can earn a 50,000-mile bonus and a $0 Companion Fare after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days. Bank of America customers get an extra little boost, too, bagging a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases. In addition, you can earn one elite-qualifying mile (EQM) for eery $3 spent, up to 30,000 EQMs total throughout 2025.
We recommend comparing this offer with other airline credit card bonuses with a free ticket.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Alaska Airlines credit card overview
- Sign-up bonus: Get 50,000 Bonus Miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ from $23 ($0 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening. You also get $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ Membership when you pay with your card. According to Bankrate, Alaska Airline miles are worth 1.1 cents each, making the value of this sign-up bonus $550.
- Bank of America benefit: Earn a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® (BOA) checking, savings or investment account. If you earn 1,000 miles, for example, you will earn another 100 miles as a BOA customer for a total of 1,100 miles.
- Interest rate: 20.24% to 28.24% variable APR for purchases and balance transfers.
- Annual fee: $95
- Foreign transaction fee: None, so this is a good card for international travel.
- Rewards: Earn three miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Earn two miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, cable, streaming services, and local transit purchases. Earn one mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Miles do not expire on active accounts.
- Other travel benefits: Free checked bag (plus free first checked bags for up to six guests on the same reservation), priority seating and annual companion fare.
- Redemption: Alaska Airlines flights with no blackout dates. With oneworld® Alliance member airlines and Alaska's Global Partners, you can use miles fly to over 1,000 destinations worldwide, including flights booked with American Airlines and other partners.
Should you get the Alaska Airlines credit card?
Here are some of the strongest arguments for signing up for the card.
You frequently fly to or from the U.S. West Coast.
If you live in or often travel to Alaska or the West Coast, this card is a no-brainer. But if you live in another part of the U.S., be sure to check that there are flights in your city. There are non-stop flights between Washington, D.C., and Seattle, for example, as well as New York City and San Francisco, but no flights between New York and D.C.
Moreover, Alaska Airlines does not have flights to smaller cities outside of the West Coast region. That said, you may be able to arrange a trip using one of Alaska's 28 partner airlines.
You are planning an expensive trip for two people.
Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ is a valuable perk; it allows you to purchase one round-trip coach companion fare on Alaska Airlines for a flat rate of $0 plus fees (starting at $23).
So, if you are flying to Hawaii or Costa Rica, the first traveler pays the regular fare and the second traveler just pays $0 plus fees. This offer is only good on Alaska Airlines, so make sure it travels to and from the destinations you want. It's also only good on economy tickets, so you would still need to pay extra to upgrade the companion fare to a premium class.
Note that cardholders will only get the annual companion pass on their account anniversary if they spent at least $6,000 on the card in the previous year. If getting that annual pass is a major reason you're signing up for the card, make sure you'll be able to meet that spending requirement each year to keep getting it.
You are a Bank of America customer.
You'll earn an extra 10% on all rewards if you're a Bank of America customer. So, if you have racked up 1,000 miles, you get an extra 100 miles just for being a BOA customer, for a total of 1,100.
You have an excellent credit rating and pay your credit card bills in full.
This is a great card for customers with solid finances who can pay their statement balance in full each month. Like most travel rewards credit cards, its interest rates are high and can quickly land you in large amounts of debt if you are unable to pay your credit card bill.
You travel with a pet.
Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines were among the top three airlines for traveling with pets and pet safety, according to AirAdvisor. Alaska's pet policy is to charge a $100 fee for pets traveling in the cabin, and a $150 for pets in cargo.
Rewards cards dos and don'ts
As with any rewards credit card, be sure to weigh these benefits against fees — a $95 annual fee in this case — and make sure you understand how to use the card effectively. That said, $95 is a relatively small price to pay if you max the benefits.
In addition, while reward credit cards are great if you use them wisely, always pay them off in full each month to avoid interest which can dwarf the gain. And only spend any more than usual to hit any trigger; otherwise, rewards cards can be a false economy as you’d be overspending.
As an independent publication dedicated to helping you make the most of your money, the article above is our view of the best deals and is not the opinion of any entity mentioned such as a card issuer, hotel, airline etc. Similarly, the content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of those entities.
More travel card deals
-
Does My Car Insurance Cover Rental Cars?Is it safe to decline the extra coverage car rental companies offer you when booking? Here's what you need to know.
-
Outsmarting the AI Job Algorithm: Why Older Women Need a StrategyWhen you're job hunting, AI may undermine your best efforts. Here's how older women can throw a wrench in the algorithm.
-
Does My Car Insurance Cover Rental Cars?
Is it safe to decline the extra coverage car rental companies offer you when booking? Here's what you need to know.
-
The Best (and Worst) Airlines for Flight Delays and CancellationsWhich airlines should you book and which should you avoid if you want to make it to your destination on time?
-
I Need to Free Up $1,000 in My Monthly Budget, and I've Already Given Up Starbucks and Dining Out. What Else Can I Do?Here are some creative ways to save up to $1,000 a month, even if you feel like you've already made all of the obvious cuts.
-
Pet-Friendly Hotels That Go Beyond 'Dogs Allowed'Here are some of the best destinations to take your pet on vacation.
-
No Passport? No Problem. Seven US Getaways That Feel Like an International VacationFrom Puerto Rico’s Caribbean flair to Santa Fe’s old world charm, these American destinations deliver a global travel experience — without the hassle of customs or currency exchange.
-
This Is How Much You'll Have to Pay to Share Streaming ServicesIt now costs more to share streaming services with family members who don't live with the account holder. Here's what Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and Disney+ charge.
-
Credit Cards That Actually Reward Your LoyaltyIf you have bank or investment accounts with your credit card issuer, you may qualify for extra cash back, waived fees and other benefits.
-
The 10 Most Valuable Vacation Destinations for Retirees in 2026Whether traveling within the U.S. or internationally, retirees can find a perfect blend of relaxation and excitement in these destinations, all while staying within budget.
