Alaska Airline's Credit Cards Update Features, Limitations, and Hiked Yearly Fee
TRashed News: Huge alterations loom for Alaska Airlines cardholders 🚨
In a swift shift, Alaska Airlines has announced major updates for owners of the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card and the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card. Here's the lowdown:
Hold up! Good news first: The eagerly awaited companion ticket perk continues to be alive and kicking on each anniversary, but potential new cardholders will have to spend $6,000 or more in a year to claim it, except for existing cardholders—forever protected from this requirement.
Now, the changes:
- The annual fee for the personal card is seeing a bump from $75 to $95. The effective date hasn't been revealed yet for new cardholders, while existing customers will see this increase on their next renewal after Feb. 28.
- The ability to purchase Alaska Lounge day passes, a handy perk enjoyed in the past, will no longer be offered. Instead, cardholders will receive a $100 discount on an annual Alaska Lounge membership.
- Starting March 1, booking tickets with your Alaska card is an essential step to reap the rewards of the free checked bag perks.
But don't despair! There's more to celebrate! Along with these enhancements, Bank of America and Alaska have added some delightful perks to the card that might justify the higher annual fee.
Starting Jan. 5, you'll be able to earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on gas, public transit, and ride-sharing, along with certain streaming services. Additionally, cardholders will receive priority boarding, likely similar to Group 4 or 5 boarding on American Airlines for their cobranded credit cardholders.
Tempted yet? Wait, there's more! The free checked bag and the newly introduced perks for authorized users—even when traveling separately—now apply when using the Alaska Visa to pay for your ticket. Plus, they'll have the benefit of priority boarding. However, some cardholders may grumble when they learn that airline purchases won't earn perks if they don't use the card to pay.
One more sweetener to pique your interest: a 10% rebate on miles earned annually if you have other accounts at Bank of America.
As you may have noticed, we've faced significant devaluations on Alaska late last year, amping up our worries about further devaluations in the future. However, there are still plenty of reasons to adore Alaska:
- Bonus stops on most awards can be added for free.
- You still earn miles for every mile you fly on Alaska, unlike major U.S. airlines that award extra miles based on ticket price.
Stay tuned for more on the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card—we're wary about the direction Alaska is taking, but for now, there's still much to love!
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Enrichment Data:
Overall:The current changes and benefits for holders of the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card include the following:
- Key Benefits of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card
- Sign-up Bonus: New cardholders can earn a substantial welcome offer of 50,000 bonus miles, plus a "buy one ticket, get the second for just taxes and fees" deal[1][2][4].
- Free Checked Bags: Cardholders receive one checked bag free for themselves and up to six others on the same reservation, which is more generous compared to other airlines[1][5].
- Annual Companion Fare: Each year on your account anniversary, you receive a companion fare ticket for as low as $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees). This benefit renews automatically without a minimum spend requirement[1].
- In-Flight Savings: 20% back on in-flight purchases like food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on Alaska Airlines operated flights[1].
- Travel Protections: Visa Signature travel protections, including lost luggage reimbursement, rental car insurance, and travel assistance services[1].
- Earning Miles: The card offers 2 miles per $1 spent on everyday purchases like gas, EV charging, cable, local transit, and streaming services, along with 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases[5].
- No Complimentary Status Upgrades: Unlike some airline credit cards, this card does not include automatic Alaska Airlines MVP® elite status or perks like preferred seating or second free checked bag; status must be earned through flying miles[5].
- No TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Credit: The card does not provide a credit for these application fees, which some competitors offer[5].
- The annual fee for Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card holders is increasing, moving from $75 to $95.
- Cardholders can now earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on gas, public transit, ride-sharing, and certain streaming services.
- Alaska Airlines cardholders will no longer be able to purchase Alaska Lounge day passes; instead, they will receive a $100 discount on an annual Alaska Lounge membership.
- Starting March 1, booking tickets with an Alaska card is necessary to claim free checked bag perks.
- The new Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card offers priority boarding, likely similar to Group 4 or 5 boarding on American Airlines for their cobranded credit cardholders.
- The free checked bag and new perks for authorized users, even when traveling separately, now apply when using the Alaska Visa to pay for the ticket.
- The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card still offers a significant welcome offer of 50,000 bonus miles, along with a companion fare ticket each year on the account anniversary.
