[Expired] Buy Alaska Airlines Gift Cards With a 10% Discount at Costco

Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available.

Do you love Costco as much as we do?

If you didn’t before, you will after learning that you can score 10% off Alaska Airlines eCertificates purchased through Costco!

Let’s see how to make the most out of this deal.

Promotion Details

Here’s what you need to know about the Alaska Airlines $500 eCertificate deal at Costco:

• You must purchase gift certificates online.
• Pay $450 for a $500 gift certificate with Alaska Airlines; this constitutes a 10% discount.
• You must be a Costco member to be eligible.
• Maximum of 5 purchases per membership.
• Valid while supplies last.
• Processing time of 24 to 48 hours or possibly more for weekends or holidays.
• Certificates can’t be used for purchases like Premium Class, exit row, or first class upgrades.

As you can see, there are some important requirements we shouldn’t overlook when considering this deal — let’s dig a bit deeper to see if this deal is right for you.

Is It Worth It?

When we see discounted gift cards for airlines, we tend to lunge. It’s a pretty rare find, especially with a discount as decent as 10%. Even more uncommon is the ability to purchase these online.

That said, this is something that aligns with those who are already on the move. If you’re not a frequent flyer with Alaska, or if you don’t already have upcoming trips to take with the airline, this purchase isn’t necessarily so tempting that you should buy for the sake of buying.

However, for those with upcoming travel plans, there are a few ways you can make the most out of these gift certificates.

If You’re Chasing Status

Alaska Airlines is running a promotion for double elite qualifying miles (EQM) for flights within California. This can be a great way to save money while earning status.

Here are the details of that promotion:

• Flights cannot leave the state of California.
• Flights must occur between August 15 and November 15, 2023.
• You must register before October 31, 2023, to be eligible.
• The promotion is not eligible for Saver flights, but this gift card can’t be used for upgrades either, so be prepared to fly economy unless you’re willing to shell out for premium class (or already have elite status).

If You’re Chasing Rewards

You’ll always want to use the best card to maximize your airline purchases, which means you should be paying with a card such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. More than this, however, is the opportunity to stack earnings for a pretty sweet return with the Capital One Venture card:

• Earn 2x Capital One miles on all purchases to maximize your gain. We value Capital One miles at 1.8 cents each, which brings these savings to 3.6%
• This is a double-dip purchase: The savings of 10% off the list price, in addition to 3.6% in earned points, brings us to a total of 13.6% in savings.
• If applicable, you can actually triple dip if you’re an Executive member with Costco. Executive members receive an additional 2% cash-back, for a grand total of 15.6% off your purchase.

Compare this to using The Platinum Card^® from American Express to purchase the flight directly without the gift card. Currently, the Amex Platinum card earns 5x Membership Rewards on flights booked directly with the airline or via AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year, then 1x). We value Amex points at 2.2 cents each, which would bring your return to 11%

It’s rare to find a deal that can out-value the Amex Platinum card, but in this instance, stacking rewards will allow you to get more from your money.

Final Thoughts

We’ve scoured the web for deals that will take your dollar further, and for the right person, this could be a serious saver. Combine discounted gift cards, double miles, and store-sponsored cash-back to rack up the discount to 15.6%.

If you’re looking to also gain elite status with Alaska Airlines, consider using the gift card on its double elite qualifying miles promotion for intra-California flights from August 15 to November 15, 2023.