"Priority Boarding" on Alaska Airlines when ticket paid for with Alaska CC-New benefit

[sun starved Gayle]

​	What's new?​ With your Alaska Airlines Visa® card in your wallet, you'll now enjoy:
​	Priority boarding​ when you book with your card, so you can get settled sooner.
​	2 miles for every dollar spent​ on eligible gas, local transit (including ride share), cable and select streaming services.
​	$100 off​ an annual Alaska Lounge+ membership purchased with your new card.
​	10% bonus miles​ on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account.
​	A free checked bag​ for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation, when you pay for your flight with your card.
​	Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™​ Every year on your credit card account anniversary, you'll receive a companion fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23).
​	3 miles for every dollar spent​ on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
​	20% back​ on Alaska Airlines inflight purchases when you use your card to pay.

 

[sun starved Gayle]

Can anyone confirm this new benefit of priority boarding?

 

[isisdave]

Yeah, priority compared to whom. Last time I had some sort of "priority" on another airline, it was behind about six categories of award holders, first class passengers, military, families with children, etc. In other words, just in front of "everyone else." Still, it does help with overhead storage, but I wouldn't pay for it.

The problem with airline miles is that it takes so many for an award, most casual fliers won't earn enough for years. It's just the credit card signup bonus that'll get you a usable slug.

 

[Luanne]

A few years ago I saw a hysterical video about boarding. I wish I could find it. I found an SNL skit, but it wasn't the one I was looking for.

 

[davidvel]

Yeah, priority compared to whom. Last time I had some sort of "priority" on another airline, it was behind about six categories of award holders, first class passengers, military, families with children, etc. In other words, just in front of "everyone else." Still, it does help with overhead storage, but I wouldn't pay for it.

The problem with airline miles is that it takes so many for an award, most casual fliers won't earn enough for years. It's just the credit card signup bonus that'll get you a usable slug.

You described the priority perfectly:

Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card cardholders and up to six guests on the same reservation will receive priority boarding on Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, and SkyWest flights when they purchase their ticket with the card.

Cardholders can board before general boarding, but after Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan elite members, Oneworld alliance elite members, first or premium class ticket holders, and preboarding groups.

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

It looks like it would be hit-or-miss. In other words, how many people on that flight will be all the elites and pre-boarders. If there are a lot, there won't be much incentive. But, if there aren't as many, you may get in and get a good luggage spot in the above compartment before the rest enter.

TS

 

[alwysonvac]

A few years ago I saw a hysterical video about boarding. I wish I could find it. I found an SNL skit, but it wasn't the one I was looking for.

Was it Comedy Central?

 

[sun starved Gayle]

I flew Alaska yesterday and there was no call for priority boarding for people paying with an Alaskan CC.

 

[Luanne]

Was it Comedy Central?

No

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

The problem with airline miles is that it takes so many for an award, most casual fliers won't earn enough for years.

I would say that is exactly the point with airline miles. The more you fly, the faster you will get an award. Or do you think airlines should simply give out flights to flyer member regardless of how many miles they have flown?

I have a Starbucks account. I so seldom use it that the most I can ever hope for a free cup of drip coffee. No lattes or hot sandwiches for me. I don't have a problem with that.

If you were operating a business, wouldn't you give frequent customer rewards to the people who are frequent customers? And give more rewards to the people who are the most frequent customers?

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I flew Alaska yesterday and there was no call for priority boarding for people paying with an Alaskan CC.

It should show up in the boarding group that is printed on the boarding pass. After boarding status frequent flyers and people who are in premium class, they start general boarding. Based on the above post by @davidvel, the first general boarding group should include flyers who purchased using an Alaska Air cc, but weren't included in one of the earlier boarding classes.

 

[sun starved Gayle]

That makes sense. We were in exit row seats and were in boarding group C. I think perhaps that would be the group we boarded in regardless of using the Alaskan CC.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

It looks like it would be hit-or-miss. In other words, how many people on that flight will be all the elites and pre-boarders. If there are a lot, there won't be much incentive. But, if there aren't as many, you may get in and get a good luggage spot in the above compartment before the rest enter.

TS

If you are in the first group for general boarding you shouldn't have any problem finding overhead bin space. I fly Alaska enough to be a regular MVP Gold, and some years I make MVP Gold 75K. Off the top of my head, I would say that mandatory gate checking due to fully occupied bins occurs in no more than 20% of the flights I'm on.

What I do often see is flight attendants assisting the last boarders in finding OH bin space for the last boarders, so the last boarders often will not be able to stow carryon luggage overhead near their seat.

BTW - if there is something in your carry-on that you absolutely need to have with you, and you are not an early boarder, be sure to discuss your situation with the gate agent before boarding begins.

 

[easyrider]

We use Alaska Air Visa for our main cabin seats and usually have group c on our ticket . We go up as soon as they call main cabin groups and have never had a problem.

Bill

 

[mjm1]

I hope I am misreading the details, but it looks like a card holder has to spend at least $6,000 by the anniversary date in order to receive a code for the annual companion fare. If true that would be a new requirement and one that may make the card less beneficial unless one uses the red enough to qualify. Is my understanding correct?

Best regards.

Mike

Update- see later post that spend requirements only apply to new card holders.

 

[easyrider]

I hope I am misreading the details, but it looks like a card holder has to spend at least $6,000 by the anniversary date in order to receive a code for the annual companion fare. If true that would be a new requirement and one that may make the card less beneficial unless one uses the red enough to qualify. Is my understanding correct?

Best regards.

Mike

You made me look Mike. We use two Alaska Airlines credit cards so I will have to switch them up this summer to get $6000 on each. One thing I was disappointed by this year was Seattle and Portland lounges are no longer accessible for day passes.

Bill

 

[davidvel]

You made me look Mike. We use two Alaska Airlines credit cards so I will have to switch them up this summer to get $6000 on each. One thing I was disappointed by this year was Seattle and Portland lounges are no longer accessible for day passes.

Bill

As I read it, that is only for new cardmembers.

 

[mjm1]

You made me look Mike. We use two Alaska Airlines credit cards so I will have to switch them up this summer to get $6000 on each. One thing I was disappointed by this year was Seattle and Portland lounges are no longer accessible for day passes.

Bill

As I read it, that is only for new cardmembers.

I just called Alaska Airlines and they confirmed that the spend requirement only applies to new card holders. @davidvel was correct. That is good to know. I updated my original post.

Best regards.

Mike

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

One thing I was disappointed by this year was Seattle and Portland lounges are no longer accessible for day passes.

Bill

My hunch is that this is related to a couple of factors. One is that the use of lounges has increased significantly over, say, the last ten years. Probably a combination of increasing number of passengers overall, as well as increasing popularity of lounges. Added to that is the increasing number of ways for people to access lounges indirectly, whether through credit card or partner airline arrangements. It has only been in the last several years, starting just before pandemic, where I regularly saw the Alaska lounges with signs out front limiting capacity due to overcrowding.

A second big factor is probably the OneWorld Alliance. The Alliance increases the availability of the lounges to lounge members for Alliance airlines. Net result is that the Day Pass access is what gets squeezed out.

They make money on the day passes. So I don't think they're giving that up to cut costs.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

FWIW - article from the Points Guy on the Alaska Visa:

Big 70,000-mile bonus: A review of the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card - The Points Guy

See whether the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card is a good choice for you by reading up on its benefits and the value you can get from its miles.

thepointsguy.com

Re bag check and boarding priority:

As previously mentioned, the card also offers a free checked bag for the cardholder and up to six other travelers on the same reservation when you use the card to pay for your flights. There are no foreign transaction fees, so you can use the card anywhere around the globe without incurring extra charges.

Cardholders will also enjoy priority boarding, similar to Group 4 or 5 boarding on American Airlines for its cobranded credit cardholders. You will board after first class, veterans, folks who need extra time, Oneworld and Alaska elite members and those in the premium cabin. Again, to access this benefit, you need to pay for your flight with your card.

 

[Luanne]

Was it Comedy Central?

I was wrong. It was this one I was thinking of. Thanks for the memory jogger.

 

[isisdave]

I would say that is exactly the point with airline miles. The more you fly, the faster you will get an award. Or do you think airlines should simply give out flights to flyer member regardless of how many miles they have flown?

I have a Starbucks account. I so seldom use it that the most I can ever hope for a free cup of drip coffee. No lattes or hot sandwiches for me. I don't have a problem with that.

If you were operating a business, wouldn't you give frequent customer rewards to the people who are frequent customers? And give more rewards to the people who are the most frequent customers?

I agree. Before the Internet made business travel less imperative, and before I retired, I might fly enough to get a free ticket every two or three years. Now, there is no way I'd get enough by flying, which leaves the new card bonus as the only way I'll ever get a flight.

I'm not complaining about this. Originally, FF programs were to inspire loyalty -- if you're going to fly, do it on XX Airlines. Nowadays, I just use a 2% cash back card and try to find flights on sale.

 

[DeniseM]

Here is a good summary:

 

[1Melanie]

I check airfarewatchdog to get a better fare than Alaska’s website. If Alaska comes up in my search, I like to use my card to book so I get free checked bags. Sometimes the companion fare is worth it, sometimes it’s not. I shop on line through my frequent flyer account then use my card to pay. I get miles for shopping as well as credit card miles. Sometimes, Depending on what you buy, miles rack up faster than flying. I always try to use one of the airlines that have reciprocal programs. I last flew American and got Alaska miles. They have a dining program too and have tried it a few times but none of my favorite restaurants are on the list. I pay any bill I can with my credit card to get as many points as I can. My utility company, grocery store, doctors etc. let me pay with a credit card. I treat my card like an extension of my checking account and pay it off every month. If I need to buy anything on credit, the last think I would use is my credit card. I always look for “same as cash” financing instead.
If I’m going on a long trip, I check my bags. I usually get an aisle seat, then I get on the plane as late as possible to avoid the mad rush. They really do honor their 20 minute baggage arrival. A few times, I’ve gotten points when the bags arrived 30 minutes after arrival. I hate doing carry on luggage. The most I carry on is my lunch and my purse.

 

[bjones9942]

I never use the companion fare and would really enjoy it if they would make it 'one companion fare -or- one annual lounge pass'.

For boarding, I'm short, old, have back problems, and carry everything in a small but heavy backpack that is sometimes difficult to hoist up to the overheads. On occasion, when I'm feeling particularly contrary, I will board when they call for those that need extra time.