Review of the Alaska Airlines Visa® Signature Credit Card
("Card issued by FIA Card Services, N.A.")

Summary -The Alaska Airlines Visa® Signature Credit Card is issued by Bank of America and is one of the better airline credit cards. Alaska's frequent flier program (the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan) is also considered one of the best program around. Members and frequent fliers should consider getting this if they have not gotten one yet.

Miles Formula - The Alaska Airlines Visa® Signature allows you to earn triple miles for every dollar you spend on the card on Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air tickets and vacation packages. You can earn unlimited miles. Miles expire in 3 years but do not expire if your account is active during a 3 year period.

Bonus Miles - When you are approved for this card, you will get 20,000 bonus miles. Furthermore, will also get 2 Board Room pass upon approval.

Anniversary Bonus - Every year, you will get $99 discount Companion Ticket upon approval and every year as long as you are a cardholder.

Annual Fee and APR - The Alaska Airlines Visa Platinum has an annual fee of $75.00.
 

Alaska Airlines Credit Card Peer Comparison

In terms of ability to earn points, the Alaska Airlines score highly on this count because you can earn triple miles. Most airline credit cards earn double miles. The annual companion ticket feature is also a nice one to have. However, it lacks other features like free bags check-in, priority boarding (which is actually a questionable value for elite members), discounts in in flight items and club lounge access (though you get 2 on approval) which other cards are beginning to offer and are becoming more common.

Other Ways To Earn Alaska Airline Mileage Plan Miles

Aside from flying with them and using the Alaska Airline Visa Signature card, you can also earn Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles with the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card. The reason is because Alaska Airlines is one of the over 30 airline partners. You can transfer starpoints to Alaska Airline miles on a one for one basis. And if you transfer 20,000 points, you can get 5,000 bonus miles!

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature - Triple Points is too good to pass up

Verdict - Frequent Flyer of Alaska Airlines should consider getting the Alaska Airlines Visa® Signature Credit Card to earn faster miles. The strengths of this card are that : you can earn triple miles, earn unlimited miles, get a $99 discount companion ticket every year, which goes quite a bit towards recouping the annual fee you have to pay. Yes, you do not have features like free checked bags, priority boarding (which should not be an issue if you were an elite member), discounts on in flight services and club lounge access. But the Alaska Mileage Plan is really a great program and this card will help you earn faster miles.

If you are not really a frequent flier but would like the option of using Alaska Mileage Plan miles, then the Amex Starwood credit card would be a much better alternative as you can earn and transfer points to your Mileage Plan account when you need it.