Claire Tsosie is an assigning editor for the team responsible for expanding NerdWallet content to additional topics within personal finance. She has edited articles on a variety of topics, including home improvement, Social Security, estate planning, Medicare, crypto and business software. Previously, she was a credit cards writer at NerdWallet. Her work was featured by Forbes, USA Today and The Associated Press.
Assigning Editor Erica Corbin
Assigning Editor
Erica Corbin is a former assigning editor at NerdWallet. Erica joined NerdWallet in 2020 as an assistant assigning editor at large. In 2023, she was promoted to assigning editor and helped lead the credit cards vertical at NerdWallet Canada. She previously wrote and edited content at companies such as GOBankingRates and Nasdaq. Her work has been syndicated to USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN and more.
Fact Checked Co-written by Erin Hurd Erin Hurd
Credit cards, rewards, personal finance
Erin is a former writer and assigning editor on the NerdWallet Content team who now heads NerdWallet's travel business. She's a credit card and travel rewards expert at NerdWallet, based in Baltimore, Maryland. She has spent nearly two decades showing readers unique ways to maximize their investments and personal finances. Prior to joining NerdWallet, Erin worked on dozens of newsletters and magazines in the areas of investing, health, business and travel with Agora Publishing. Her love of travel led to a passion for credit card and loyalty rewards to subsidize trips, and she thrives on teaching others how to harness the power of credit card rewards. When she's not helping NerdWallet readers find the best travel value, Erin is planning her next adventure for her family of four using points and miles.
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Learn MoreFor travelers who fly often on Seattle-based Alaska Airlines, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card can offer incredible value — but only if you’re able to take advantage of the card’s richest benefits.
Here’s a look at the card’s most important perks and how they work.
With the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card , you get an annual Companion Fare on your cardmember anniversary date when you spend $6,000 or more in the previous cardmember year. This benefit gets you a traveling partner’s round-trip economy ticket on an Alaska flight for as little as $122 ($99 plus taxes and fees starting from $23), if the trip is booked on your reservation. You can squeeze more value out of it by redeeming it on some of Alaska Airlines’ otherwise pricey itineraries.
Say, for example, your Alaska flight costs $1,000 per person with taxes and fees. With the Companion Fare, you’d pay $1,000 for yourself, but just $122 for your traveling partner on the same reservation, effectively saving you almost $880.
You can redeem this benefit by logging into your Alaska Airlines account on desktop, looking under the label “Discount and companion fare codes” on the left rail, and clicking “Valid.” Click through on your valid Companion Fare code to book the trip.
Note: If you've held the card since before January 2023, the $6,000 annual spending requirement for the Companion Fare might not apply. See here for more .
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card offers a solid sign-up bonus: Buy one ticket, get one for just the taxes and fees ($0 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) and get 50,000 bonus miles with this offer. To qualify, make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
Read about the benefits of other popular credit cardsCardholders will no longer have to stress about overhead bin space. Effective January 2023, Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card will get priority boarding when they book a flight with their card. That means one less thing to worry about as you walk through the terminal.
Most co-branded airline cards offer free checked bags for cardholders, and this one is no exception. With this card, you can check one bag free for yourself and up to six people on the same qualifying reservation when you pay for your trip with your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card . Authorized users can also book a trip with their card and get a free checked bag. This benefit can be used on flights operated by Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, SkyWest or PenAir.
With this card, you’ll get a 20% rebate on all in-flight purchases — including Wi-Fi, food and beverages — in the form of a statement credit. That could effectively make the fruit and cheese platter on Alaska’s menu almost $2 cheaper, once the credits hit your account. Rebates should post to your account within seven days of the transaction.
First checked bag free on Alaska Airlines flights for you and up to six other passengers on the same reservation.
In-flight savings: 20% back on in-flight purchases, such as food, beverages and Wi-Fi, made on flights owned and operated by Alaska Airlines.
Discounted lounge access: 50% off day passes for Alaska Airlines lounges.An annual Companion Fare , which allows you to get a ticket for a traveling partner for as low as $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees) once a year.
Does the Alaska Credit Card have travel protection?The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card offers a few travel protections through Visa Signature, like lost luggage reimbursement, rental car insurance, and travel and emergency assistance services. Check your benefits guide for more information.
Can I use Alaska miles on other airlines?Yes. Alaska Airlines is part of the oneworld® Alliance, that collectively flies to more than 1,000 destinations on 14 airlines, including American Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines and Qantas.
Does the Alaska Credit Card offer a free checked bag?Yes. The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card offers one free checked bag not just for you, but for up to six other passengers booked your same reservation.
How does the Alaska Airlines Companion Pass work?This annual benefit allows you to cover a companion's airline ticket for as low as $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees) on any one coach flight on Alaska Airlines booked through alaskaair.com. Plus, this benefit renews automatically each year on your account anniversary, regardless of how much you spend on the account.
What are the Alaska Credit Card's benefits?If you hold the
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
, which allows you to get a ticket for a traveling partner for as low as $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees) once a year.
Does the Alaska Credit Card have travel protection?Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
offers a few travel protections through Visa Signature, like lost luggage reimbursement, rental car insurance, and travel and emergency assistance services. Check your benefits guide for more information.
Can I use Alaska miles on other airlines?Yes. Alaska Airlines is part of the oneworld® Alliance, that collectively flies to more than 1,000 destinations on 14 airlines, including American Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines and Qantas.
Does the Alaska Credit Card offer a free checked bag?Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
offers one free checked bag not just for you, but for up to six other passengers booked your same reservation.
How does the Alaska Airlines Companion Pass work?This annual benefit allows you to cover a companion's airline ticket for as low as $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees) on any one coach flight on Alaska Airlines booked through alaskaair.com. Plus, this benefit renews automatically each year on your account anniversary, regardless of how much you spend on the account.
About the authorsYou’re following Claire Tsosie
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Claire is an assigning editor for NerdWallet. Her work has been featured by Forbes, USA Today and The Associated Press. See full bio.
You’re following Erin Hurd
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Erin is a former writer and and assigning editor on the NerdWallet Content team who now heads NerdWallet's travel business. She's a credit card and travel rewards expert at NerdWallet, based in Baltimore, Maryland. Her work has been featured in Yahoo, Nasdaq, TheStreet, International Living, the Daily Reckoning, Personal Finance and FinanceBuzz. Previously the director of strategic growth at a large financial publishing company, Erin is passionate about harnessing the power of credit card and loyalty rewards to travel the world. When she's not writing, she's planning the next adventure for her family of four using points and miles. Twitter: @ErinHurd1. See full bio.
Travel Cards from Our Partners
on Chase's website
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card NerdWallet RatingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Rewards rate5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.
Intro offerEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
on Chase's website
Chase Freedom Unlimited® NerdWallet RatingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Rewards rateEnjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Intro offerEarn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
on Capital One's website
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card NerdWallet RatingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Rewards rateEarn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Intro offerEnjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
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