Alaska Credit Card

[Timeshare Von]

The "catch" to the companion fare is that you do pay the same taxes associated with the regular fare. When we use the companion fare to Hawaii, we usually pay about $100.00 in taxes making the the ticket around $200.00.

Still a good deal.

This is exactly what we did for our trip to Hawaii last month. For me it was a work trip and the ticket MKE to HNL was $775. Used the companion fare for my DH to join me; it cost $170 for him.

It was a great deal for us and went smoothly.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Yes, the article also links to the old standby of pretending to book a ticket, and then punching out of the process once you receive the link for the card + $100 credit.

Either way, this is the best ongoing promo I know of with the card. I have seen flight attendants provide other bonuses in flight, but obviously YMMV.

-ryan

On our recent flight(s) they were only offering 1,000 bonus miles to sign up (in addition to the standard 25k).

 

[Timeshare Von]

<<SNIPPED>> but if u fly to Hawaii or Mexico, it can easily have a positive ROI.

Or Alaska!

 

[Timeshare Von]

For those considering from the Midwest Region, however, be aware that there are not many flight options out of your city to connect with Alaska at their hub (Seattle).

For us here in Milwaukee, just one each direction with their partner airline.

When we first booked our tickets to Hawaii via Seattle, it was all good with the connection. However, with a schedule change between MKE and Seattle a couple of months later, we had a missed connection, which resulted in having to overnight in Seattle.

Alaska Air was great about it and us up for the night, but it required us either (1) flying out of MKE a day earlier, or (2) arriving to Honolulu a day later. Both were inconvenient options, but we weren't going to lose a day in Hawaii!

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

For those considering from the Midwest Region, however, be aware that there are not many flight options out of your city to connect with Alaska at their hub (Seattle).

For us here in Milwaukee, just one each direction with their partner airline.

The companion fare tickets are not usable on Alaska partners. All flights on the itinerary must be operated by Alaska/Horizon.

 

[kwilson]

We live in Eugene and use Alaska almost exclusively. We use an Alaska CC and have been very happy with it for almost 20 years.

 

[Timeshare Von]

The companion fare tickets are not usable on Alaska partners. All flights on the itinerary must be operated by Alaska/Horizon.

Horizon *is* the partner airline that flies in/out of Milwaukee.

 

[DeniseM]

Horizon *is* the partner airline that flies in/out of Milwaukee.

Horizon isn't a partner airline - they are owned by Alaskan.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Hawaiian also has great airfares out of the west coast, but the companion pass for Alaska beats Hawaiian for total out-of-pocket cost.

Rick is sitting next to me right now, and he wants me to say this: "The companion pass as it was before spoiled us immensely. We flew First Class with the companion pass twice per year, and now we have to fly First Class and pay miles and full price cash because how could we go back to coach after that First Class service for all of those years?"

Like he said!

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Horizon *is* the partner airline that flies in/out of Milwaukee.

Yep. Horizon counts as Alaska metal, so the companion fare is good. The flights that it can't be used on are codeshares, where a carrier other than Alaska/Horizon operates the route.

 

[Rjbeach2003]

just booked

At my suggestion Bro in law and Sis in Law both got Alaska CC. Just helped them book HNL companion fares from PDX, each took a grandchild, and then each used their signup 25000 miles to book their son, one over, one back. The The other two in the group booked at full fare.

So son booked at no cost, 4 at average of $388 each, and final two for full $580 each.

Just as a hint, if you happen to do this, use 2 devices to book simultaneously so you can pick adjacent seats at the same time.

We did the same last year going to KOA.

We use Alaska for all purchases, and I got a business card to use exclusively for my business, receiving another 25000 miles, another companion fare and it's linked to my existing account.

 

[riverdees05]

How does the companion ticket work, and where do you see it on your account?

 

[rickandcindy23]

Your companion pass code will be in your Alaska account, not the Bank of America account. You just check under discount codes after you log in and go to your account on Alaska. It doesn't take long to appear. Our codes are no longer used. I cancelled Rick's account and am probably going to cancel mine as well.

This isn't like US Airways' companion pass restrictions. Any economy seats are good, and they are good at any time. Such a great deal.

 

[Luanne]

We had such a great experience flying Oakland to Kona that we're thinking we will fly Alaska more often, especially since we found we can use them to fly Albuquerque to Vancouver, BC. So I'm thinking applying for their credit card would be a good idea. Does anyone know if foreign transaction fees apply with this card?

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

We had such a great experience flying Oakland to Kona that we're thinking we will fly Alaska more often, especially since we found we can use them to fly Albuquerque to Vancouver, BC. So I'm thinking applying for their credit card would be a good idea. Does anyone know if foreign transaction fees apply with this card?

When you go the Alaska website, the fares are in $US (at least as a US resident; perhaps it's different in C-eh-n-eh-d-eh). So if you are in the US (in New Mexico), where would there be a foreign transaction fee? When we fly from to Mexico on Alaska, there's never a foreign transaction fee.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

One important thing to note is that if you make a reservation using the companion fare and you later change the reservation, be sure to contact reservations by telephone to be sure that you are issued a new companion fare discount code. If you do the transaction entirely on line, you might forfeit the code.

 

[Luanne]

When you go the Alaska website, the fares are in $US (at least as a US resident; perhaps it's different in C-eh-n-eh-d-eh). So if you are in the US (in New Mexico), where would there be a foreign transaction fee? When we fly from to Mexico on Alaska, there's never a foreign transaction fee.

What I'm asking is, if I use the credit card outside the US, like in Canada, will there be a foreign fee. I found the information by checking the fees for the card. There is a foreign fee.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

What I'm asking is, if I use the credit card outside the US, like in Canada, will there be a foreign fee. I found the information by checking the fees for the card. There is a foreign fee.

Ah, I understand now. Yes - foreign transactions fees are charged made in foreign currencies.

 

[Luanne]

Ah, I understand now. Yes - foreign transactions fees are charged made in foreign currencies.

I was looking to possibly replace my Capital One card, which doesn't have a foreign transaction fee. But since it also doesn't have a yearly fee I'll just continue to use it when traveling outside the U.S. and get the Alaska card as well.

 

[riverdees05]

Got my Alaska Credit Card, do they send you the companion fare information on do you have to go on line to your credit card or Alaska Air Account to get it?

 

[presley]

Got my Alaska Credit Card, do they send you the companion fare information on do you have to go on line to your credit card or Alaska Air Account to get it?

It's in your Alaska Air Miles account under discount codes.

 

[klpca]

Got my Alaska Credit Card, do they send you the companion fare information on do you have to go on line to your credit card or Alaska Air Account to get it?

It's located where Presley said, but if you just received your card the discount code may not be there yet. Mine took a week or two to show up, IIRC. I was anxious to use it and I believe that I called Alaska customer service and they told me that it was a BofA thing and that they couldn't expedite anything on their end.