Great Card If
- You regularly fly with Alaska
- You want benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding
- You can take advantage of Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare each year
Don’t Get If
- You rarely fly with Alaska
- You prefer a card that earns transferable rewards
Alaska Airlines Business Card — Is It Worth It?
If you’re a business owner who frequently travels with Alaska Airlines, the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business credit card is very likely worth it.
For starters, you earn anywhere from 1x to 3x miles per $1 spent on your card purchases, including bonus categories like Alaska purchases, along with gas, EV charging stations, shipping, and local transit (including ride-sharing) purchases.
Plus, if you have an eligible Bank of America small business account, you receive a 10% rewards bonus, effectively increasing the number of miles you earn to 1.1x, 2.1x, and 3.1x, depending on the type of purchase.
Beyond the rewards you earn, the Alaska Airlines Business card comes with quite a few benefits frequent Alaska flyers love, including free checked bags, priority boarding, 20% back on Alaska inflight purchases, $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership, and an annual companion certificate (after spending $6,000 or more in the prior cardmember year).
Alaska Airlines Business Card Top Features and Benefits
Here is an overview of all of the best features and benefits of the Alaska Airlines Business card.
Annual Companion Certificate
Arguably one of the most valuable benefits of the Alaska Airlines Business card is its annual companion certificate. With it, you can book a companion fare flight for just $122 — a $99 fare plus taxes and fees starting from $23.
This certificate is valid for any round-trip economy ticket purchased through the Alaska website for anywhere Alaska flies (including internationally).
That said, you must spend $6,000 on your card in the previous calendar year to earn the companion certificate. Once you do, your certificate is valid for 12 months from its issue date.
Free Checked Bags and Priority Boarding
When you pay for your Alaska Airlines flight with your card, you and up to 6 guests traveling on your reservation receive free checked bags. With checked bag prices at $70 per round-trip ticket, this could save you up to $490 per trip if you often travel with a large party.
Priority boarding is a useful perk as well, as it allows you to be one of the first to board so that you can secure overhead bin space for your carry-on baggage and personal items.
Discount on Inflight Purchases
With your Alaska Airlines Business card, you can get a 20% rebate toward food, beverages, and Wi-Fi purchased on Alaska and Alaska-operated flights when you use your card to pay.
Discount on Alaska Lounge+ Membership
If you’re an Alaska Airlines frequent flyer and want to take advantage of Alaska Lounges when you travel, using your Alaska Airlines Business card to purchase your Alaska Lounge+ membership gets you a $100 discount.
For those who are already paying for an Alaska Lounge+ membership, this $100 benefit alone essentially covers the cost of the card’s annual fee and then some.
Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your Alaska Miles
It should come as no surprise that you should use your Alaska Airlines Business card for as many business expenses as possible to rack up Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles. This is especially true for purchases that fall within the card bonus categories of Alaska purchases and gas, EV charging stations, shipping, and local transit (including ride-sharing) purchases.
Of course, using your card isn’t the only way to earn more Alaska miles, so be sure you’re taking advantage of all options.
When it comes to redeeming your miles, Alaska Airlines offers one of the most valuable airline loyalty programs. With generous award pricing for its flights and its airline partners, the program offers no shortage of great ways to redeem Alaska miles.
Alternative Cards
If you’re not 100% committed to Alaska Airlines, a card that earns transferable rewards likely would be good for you.
With the Amex Blue Business Plus card, you earn 2x points on all purchases you make with the card (up to $50,000, 1x thereafter) throughout the year. It also comes with perks like purchase protection, extended warranty protection, and a $0 annual fee (rates & fees).
While American Express Membership Rewards points don’t transfer directly to Alaska Airlines, they do transfer to Marriott Bonvoy, which can then be transferred to Alaska at a 3:1 rate.
The Ink Business Preferred card is another great option for those looking to earn transferable rewards, thanks to the impressive collection of Chase transfer partners.
Additionally, the card is excellent at earning points on your business expenses. You can earn 3x points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites.
You also receive great travel and purchase coverage through cell phone protection, purchase protection, rental car insurance, travel accident insurance, and more.
Final Thoughts
If you’re an Alaska Airlines loyalist who owns a business, signing up for the Alaska Airlines Business card is a no-brainer, since it earns you valuable companion passes, points in one of our favorite loyalty programs, and other prerequisites.
If you’re not a frequent Alaska flyer, however, there are other business cards with easily transferable points that could be a better fit for you.
For the extended warranty benefit of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
For the purchase protection benefit of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
The information regarding Alaska Airlines Visa® Business Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.
