Just applied for a new (another) Alaska Airlines Visa card

[T_R_Oglodyte]

On recent flights, Alaska has been offering 62,000 miles bonus for signing up for a new Visa signature. The minimum value of 62k miles is about $682 at $0.011/mile - that's about what you can get if you use the miles with their miles and money option for ticket purchases. When cashing them in for tickets, miles generally go for about $0.01/mile, but I've seen occasional situations where tickets priced at about $500 for purchase can be snagged for 20k or 25k miles.

So for for 62k miles, I decided to apply for another ticket. Meanwhile, I'll just retire one of my existing cards so I'll have the same number of cards, same number of companion fare certificates, same everything else, but with an extra 62,000 miles in my FF account.

What's not to like????

 

[mjm1]

One recent flights, Alaska has been offering 62,000 miles bonus for signing up for a new Visa signature. The minimum value of 62k miles is about $682 at $0.011/mile - that's about what you can get if you use the miles with their miles and money option for ticket purchases. When cashing them in for tickets, miles generally go for about $0.01/mile, but I've seen occasional situations where tickets priced at about $500 for purchase can be snagged for 20k or 25k miles.

So for for 62k miles, I decided to apply for another ticket. Meanwhile, I'll just retire one of my existing cards so I'll have the same number of cards, same number of companion fare certificates, same everything else, but with an extra 62,000 miles in my FF account.

What's not to like????

Interesting. I thought they would only allow each person to have 2 cards. It sounds like you would have three for a short period of time. I was onboard a flight a couple years ago and the flight attendant encouraged me to apply for a second card, which I did. I hope it works out for you.

Best regards.

Mike

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Interesting. I thought they would only allow each person to have 2 cards. It sounds like you would have three for a short period of time. I was onboard a flight a couple years ago and the flight attendant encouraged me to apply for a second card, which I did. I hope it works out for you.

Best regards.

Mike

I'm not aware of any limit on the number of cards. I'm not disputing, just saying I'm not aware.

For many years we had three Alaska Air Visa cards, with my name as the primary. One I used for business. One was a joint card for DW and I. The other was one I used personally. We've migrated so that now we have a general cash back card for joint expenses. DW has an Alaska card with her as the primary, which we don't use much but which gives her two free pieces of checked baggage when she is traveling Alaska without me. And we get the companion fare on that card. I still have my personal card, which gives us another companion fare. I've moved my business card over to a corporate account, so that there is a more clear distinction between business and personal activities. But that one also generates a companion fare.

I could simply add the new account to the mix, and we would generate four companion fare certificates per year, but that is more than we can effectively use. So it's not worth paying the $75 annual card fee to produce a certificate we may not be able to use. So after the new card is issued I will close the existing account that is my personal card, and make the new card my new personal card, Same total annual card fees. Still get three certs per year. But will have added $628 of value in my FF account.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

It sounds like you would have three for a short period of time.

I had three with me as the primary card holder for quite a few years. As mentioned, we converted one to DW as primary so that she could get the checked luggage benefit. The business card still shows me as the primary holder.

 

[bizaro86]

It might make sense to cancel the new one before the annual fee comes up to keep the average age of account high on your credit report.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

It might make sense to cancel the new one before the annual fee comes up to keep the average age of account high on your credit report.

canceling depends on the card renewal date (when the companion fare cert issues).

 

[Passepartout]

We bit on the offer last month. We were not getting the use and benefits from a Southwest card that the Alaska card offered. Not thrilled that it's issued by B of A, but for different reasons.

With the 'kids' in Seattleland, and nearly hourly flights it's something usable. Good connections to Mexico's West coast doesn't hurt either.

 

[buzglyd]

I've been MVP Gold for the last few years and Alaska's increased presence in San Diego was really steering my flying toward them. Now, with all the cutbacks, I'm maybe gonna make MVP this year. I've got the Southwest companion pass this year and next and Gold for life on United so I still have options. Alaska is my favorite though. I hope they bring back the Florida flights from Southern California.