What the Alaska Premium Credit Card Is
The Alaska Premium Credit Card is a rewards card issued by Bank of America for people who fly Alaska Airlines regularly or want to earn miles toward Alaska flights. You earn Alaska Airlines miles on every purchase, get a sign-up bonus of miles after you spend a certain amount in the first few months, and receive benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding on Alaska flights. The card carries an annual fee, which the issuer deducts from your account each year.
This card is designed for frequent Alaska Airlines passengers or people who live in the Pacific Northwest, where Alaska Airlines operates most of its routes. If you rarely fly Alaska or prefer other airlines, a different rewards card may serve you better.
Key Takeaways
- You earn Alaska Airlines miles on purchases made with the card, and the sign-up bonus gives you a large number of miles upfront if you meet the spending requirement within the first few months.
- The card includes perks like one free checked bag per trip on Alaska Airlines flights and priority boarding, which save money if you fly Alaska regularly.
- An annual fee applies each year; the card issuer charges this fee to your account automatically.
- Miles earned through the card do not expire as long as your account remains open and you use the card at least once every 24 months.
- You can redeem miles for Alaska Airlines flights, upgrades, or transfer them to Alaska's partner airlines through their frequent flyer program.
How to Earn Miles and Bonuses
Every dollar you spend on the card earns a set number of Alaska Airlines miles. The earning rate varies depending on the category—groceries, gas, and restaurants typically earn more miles per dollar than other purchases. You can check the current earning rates on Bank of America's website or the card's terms document.
When you first open the card, you receive a sign-up bonus if you spend a required amount within a set timeframe, usually three months. This bonus is a large lump sum of miles meant to give you a head start toward a free flight. For example, if the bonus is 50,000 miles and the requirement is $2,000 in purchases within three months, you earn those 50,000 miles once you cross the $2,000 threshold.
Additional bonuses may be offered throughout the year for specific spending categories or during promotional periods. Bank of America notifies cardholders of these offers through email or your online account dashboard.
Annual Fee and When It's Charged
The Alaska Premium Credit Card has an annual fee that Bank of America charges to your account each year, typically on your card anniversary date. This fee is separate from any interest charges and applies whether or not you use the card. You can see the exact fee amount in the card's pricing and terms document before you open the account.
Some cardholders find the annual fee worth the cost because of the free checked bag benefit alone—if you fly Alaska Airlines twice a year, the checked bag savings can offset the fee. Others may decide the fee is not worth it if they do not fly frequently enough. You can close the account at any time to stop paying the annual fee, though closing the account may affect your credit score temporarily.
Free Checked Bags and Other Travel Benefits
Cardholders receive one free checked bag on Alaska Airlines flights. This benefit applies to you and one companion traveling on the same reservation. If you normally pay for checked bags, this alone can save $30 to $40 per round trip, depending on Alaska's current baggage fees.
The card also includes priority boarding, which means you board before most other passengers and can choose your seat earlier. Some versions of the card offer additional perks like discounts on Alaska Airlines purchases, lounge access, or travel insurance. Check your card's benefits guide to see the full list of what comes with your specific card.
These benefits explore only to Alaska Airlines flights. If you fly other airlines, you do not receive the same perks with this card.
How Miles Expire and When You Lose Them
Alaska Airlines miles do not expire as long as your account stays open and you use the card or your frequent flyer account at least once every 24 months. "Using" the account can mean making a purchase with the card, redeeming miles, or even just logging into your Alaska Airlines frequent flyer account online. This 24-month activity requirement is more forgiving than some airline programs, which expire miles after 12 months of inactivity.
If your account becomes inactive for more than 24 months, Alaska Airlines may close your frequent flyer account and you lose any miles you have not redeemed. You can reactivate a closed account by contacting Alaska Airlines, though they may not restore expired miles. To avoid this, set a calendar reminder to use your card or account at least once every two years.
Redeeming Miles for Flights and Upgrades
You redeem miles through the Alaska Airlines website or by calling their reservations team. Miles can be used to book Alaska Airlines flights, upgrade your seat from economy to first class, or book flights on Alaska's partner airlines like American Airlines, Delta, and United. The number of miles required depends on the route, the time of year, and how far in advance you book.
Short regional flights may cost 5,000 to 10,000 miles, while cross-country or international flights can cost 25,000 to 60,000 miles or more. Alaska Airlines uses a dynamic pricing model, meaning the mile cost changes based on demand—booking during off-peak travel times usually costs fewer miles than booking during peak seasons.
You can also use miles to pay for part of a flight and use cash for the rest, a feature called "pay with miles." This option is useful if you have some miles but not enough for a full award flight.
Comparing the Alaska Premium Card to Other Airline Cards
If you fly Alaska Airlines frequently, the Alaska Premium card may offer better value than a general rewards card because miles earned are worth more when redeemed for Alaska flights. However, if you fly multiple airlines or do not travel often, a cash-back card or a different airline card might suit you better.
Other airline cards, such as those from Delta, United, or American Airlines, offer similar structures: annual fees, sign-up bonuses, free checked bags, and priority boarding. The choice depends on which airline you fly most often and whether the specific benefits match your travel patterns. You can hold multiple airline cards if you fly different carriers, though managing multiple annual fees and rewards programs requires more attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Closing the card does not automatically cancel your Alaska Airlines frequent flyer account or delete your miles. Your miles remain in your frequent flyer account as long as you keep that account active. However, if you do not use the frequent flyer account for 24 months, Alaska Airlines may close it and you could lose your miles. You can keep the frequent flyer account open without holding the credit card.
Can I transfer miles to someone else?
Alaska Airlines allows you to transfer miles to another person's frequent flyer account, though there may be a fee for transfers. You can also use your miles to purchase a ticket for someone else. Contact Alaska Airlines directly to learn the current transfer fee and process.
Do I earn miles on the annual fee itself?
No. The annual fee does not earn miles. Only purchases made with the card earn miles at the stated rate.
What if I have a balance on the card—do I still earn miles?
Yes. Miles are earned on all purchases regardless of whether you carry a balance. However, if you carry a balance, you will pay interest charges on top of the balance, which can quickly exceed the value of the miles you earn. Paying your full balance each month avoids interest and maximizes the value of your rewards.
Can I use this card if I do not have an Alaska Airlines frequent flyer account yet?
Yes. When you open the card, you can create a frequent flyer account at the same time or link the card to an existing account. The card issuer will guide you through this process during sign-up.