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Alaska Airlines Visa Signature review: Get an annual companion pass and free checked bags

Updated 6 min read

Based out of Seattle’s Sea-Tac airport, Alaska Airlines is the fifth largest airline in the U.S. by passenger volume. While the carrier primarily offers routes along the West Coast, even those who live elsewhere in the U.S. could benefit from the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature? card.

It offers a companion pass — a valuable perk that sets it apart from many other airline credit cards — plus, you can redeem your miles with Alaska Airlines and its Oneworld alliance partners.

Here’s what to know about the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card, its features, benefits, and who it’s best for.

Annual fee: $95

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 miles, and an Alaska Airlines companion pass ($99 fare plus taxes and fees) after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days

Rewards:

  • 3x miles for Alaska Airlines purchases

  • 2x miles for gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services, and local transit purchases

  • 1x miles on everything else

More details: Free checked bag and priority boarding; annual companion pass when you spend $6,000 annually; 10% miles bonus for eligible Bank of America account holders; bonus of 2,500 miles when you add an authorized user in first 90 days

The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card has a variable APR ranging from 20.24% to 28.24%.

This card has an annual fee of $95, but the cost can easily be offset if you earn its welcome bonus your first year as a card member. After that, taking advantage of the companion pass you get if you spend $6,000 on your card each year can offset its annual fee, too.

As an Alaska Airlines Visa Signature cardholder, you can earn 60,000 miles and an Alaska Airlines companion pass ($99 fare plus taxes and fees) after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days of account opening. Plus, get another 2,500 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the same timeframe.

While the exact value of your miles varies based on how you redeem them, even getting 1 cent per mile is quite lucrative. At that rate, the 60,000-mile bonus is worth $600. The $99 companion fare is a valuable bonus that could save you hundreds of dollars, especially given the recent fluctuations in airline prices.

Unfortunately, this card doesn’t have an introductory 0% APR offer. The card’s regular APR applies immediately to purchases and balance transfers.

  • 3x miles for Alaska Airlines purchases

  • 2x miles for gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services, and local transit purchases

  • 1x miles on everything else

You can maximize your rewards with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature by making flight purchases on Alaska. Every dollar spent with the airline will net you a generous 3x miles.

That said, this card also offers a decent earnings rate of 2x miles in popular categories like gas, cable, streaming services, and local transit. If you have an electric car, EV charging station purchases will also earn you 2x miles.

You’ll get 1x miles on every other dollar you spend. There’s no cap on the number of miles you can earn. As with other cards, you won’t earn any miles for balance transfers or cash advances.

Cardholders can redeem miles for Alaska Airlines flights or flights with any of its Oneworld partners, including:

  • American Airlines

  • British Airways

  • Cathay Pacific

  • Finnair

  • Iberia

  • Japan Airlines

  • Malaysia Airlines

  • Qantas

  • Qatar Airways

  • Royal Air Maroc

  • Royal Jordanian

  • SriLankan Airlines

If you spend $6,000 on your card in a given cardholder year, you’ll get an Alaska Airlines companion fare. With the companion pass, you can get one $99 round-trip fare (plus taxes and fees) for a family member or friend traveling with you.

When you use your card to book Alaska Airlines flights, you'll receive a free checked bag and priority boarding for you and up to six people on the same reservation.

There’s also the opportunity to earn a rewards bonus with this card. Eligible Bank of America account holders can get 10% more miles from every card purchase. So if you have a qualifying account and earn 10,000 miles with your card, that bonus will bring your total to 11,000 miles.

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature cardholders also get airline-specific savings. You can get 20% back on inflight purchases on Alaska and $100 off an Alaska Lounge+ membership each year you use your card to buy your membership.

Since the majority of Alaska Airlines’ routes depart from the West Coast, this card could be a great option if you live or frequently travel in that part of the country. With a reasonable annual fee and rewards in common categories outside of air travel, it could be an especially lucrative opportunity for travelers who live near Alaska Airlines hubs like Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

While it might be a better choice for West Coasters, it could also work if you live in another part of the U.S. and fly Alaska Airlines just once or twice annually. If that’s the case, the money-saving companion pass alone makes this card worth considering.

  • Has annual fee

  • No introductory APR offer

  • Most routes are based on the West Coast

The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card is widely accepted worldwide, so you likely won’t need to worry about issues with payments when traveling. Visa cards are accepted in over 200 global countries and territories.

  • Online via your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature account

  • By phone: 800-236-6497

  • Via mail:
    Credit card payments
    Bank of America
    PO Box 15019
    Wilmington, DE 19850-5019

  • In person at a Bank of America branch

The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card is issued by Bank of America, and you can reach their customer service team by calling 800-732-9194. You can also log into your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature account if you’d like to track your transactions, make a payment, and more.

If you’re not based on the West Coast and don’t typically fly Alaska Airlines, another travel credit card might be a better choice. Here are some alternatives to consider.

  • Annual fee
    $95
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months (that's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel?)
  • Card type(s)
    Travel
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    21.49% - 28.49% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent/Good
  • Rewards rate
    • 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel
    • 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
    • 2x points on all other travel purchases
    • 1x points on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel
    • Earn up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel
    • On every account anniversary, earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year

Why we like it: If you aren’t loyal to one particular airline, a general travel rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred might be a better choice. Points are worth 25% more when you use them for bookings in the Chase Travel portal.

When you spend with this card, you’ll earn 5x points on qualifying purchases through Chase Travel; 3x points on dining out, at online grocery stores, and on select streaming services; 2x points on other travel purchases; and 1x points on everything else. It has a $95 annual fee.

  • Annual fee
    $0 Intro for First Year, then $95.
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
  • Card type(s)
    Travel, Airline
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    21.99% - 28.99% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Good, Excellent
  • Rewards rate
    • 2x miles on dining, hotel stays, and United purchases
    • 1x miles on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
    • Free first checked bag
    • 25% back as a statement credit on food, beverage, and Wi-Fi purchases on United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks

Why we like it: Frequent United flyers might consider the United Explorer card as an alternative. Besides its generous welcome offer and solid rewards, this card comes with United-specific perks like priority boarding and a free checked bag. The annual fee is waived the first year, and it’s $95 after that.

Check out our full United Explorer review

  • Annual fee
    $149
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in first 3 months
  • Card type(s)
    Travel, Airline
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    21.49% - 28.49% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent/Good
  • Rewards rate
    • 3x on Southwest purchases
    • 2x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
    • 2x on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
    • 2x on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming
    • 1x on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • 7,500 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary
    • $75 Southwest travel credit each year

Why we like it: If you fly Southwest often, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card could be a good alternative. You’ll get 3x points on Southwest purchases; 2x points on local transit, commuting, internet, cable, phone, and select streaming services; and 1x points on everything else.

This card can also help you earn the coveted Southwest companion pass. To earn it, you’ll need 135,000 qualifying points or 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year. The points you earn with your welcome offer and card spending count toward qualifying points. This card has a $149 annual fee.

This article was edited by Alicia Hahn

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