Is the Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card good, or would you recommend something else?

Question

I don't know about you, but I've never seen a section entitled "credit cards." Travel was obviously the best option since I'm asking about air miles.

Answer 1

I've had one for 15 years. I run most everything through it and therefore get many free trips each year. Also, (depending on standard versus gold? or maybe all of them),you get a $50 companion fare voucher which lets you fly a companion along when you buy a regular-priced ticket (normal selling price, not a full-fare coach price) for about $80 ($50+taxes+security fee). That could save $400 to $1000.

As someone noted, if you're late in paying, you get dinged. That is true of all credit card companies. Don't spend more than you have, pay your bills on time, and take the perks. If you can't manage that, then the fewer credit cards you have, the better.

All mileage plans are basically evil. The encourage you to rack up miles, but they don't make it easy to book the free trips. Alaska's plan is less evil than most. The award levels are relatively low, they fly to cool places (literally, like Barrow but also MCO, MIA, SAN, DEN, BOS, EWR, SEA, PDX) SFO, LAX, DFW, PHX, etc). Plus Cacun, Mexico City and lots of West Coast Mexico.

If Alaska Airlines flies where you want to go, yes the card is a good one. The best that I know of. Their miles don't expire so you're not forced to use the miles before you want to. You can spend the miles on their plan partners (NW, Quantas, American, etc) so you go pretty much anywhere. But while domestic Saver Awards are 20,000 miles round trip (and can include a layover on route), overseas travel is 50,000-90,000 miles per person. Usually it is better to pay for foreign travel (and earn miles) and redeem your miles on expensive domestic routes.

Oh, and Alaska lets you book a one-way award for half as much (10,000 miles for domestic Saver, 20,000 for Peak). That's a nice option sometimes. It also simpflies the search and reservation process. You could, lacking enough miles, do award travel one way and pay to fly back.

7-8 years ago, I figured my Alaska miles were worth 1.5 to 1.7 cents each. That's about what I could save if I booked award travel instead of buying a ticket. Occasionally more, but that was my decision-point. Now, with airfares up all over, I'm using them if I save 2 to 2.3 cents per mile or better.

Answer 2

If you fly Alaska Airlines (or their partners) frequently the card is great IF you maintain no balance and pay off in full every month. If you are not 110% sure you can do this then run, don't hide from this card. The first time you go over your limit or are 5 minutes late making a payment your interest rate goes to 32% and stays there indefinitely. Their is no grace for such mistakes and no second chances. The mileage perks are outstanding, but they are paid for on the backs of anybody who is human and has ever made a mistake with a credit card payment.

Answer 3

i'm not familiar with that particular card, but i was a customer of bank of america from 2001 until last month. over the years, the company went more and more corporate and less interested in good customer care. i work with a smaller bank now.

the card might be a good idea if you get a low interest rate, no annual fees, and frequent flier miles. but really, how often will you fly on alaska airlines? that's the question.

Answer 4

seems some what the same. I would check the fine print on the contract. Is this a Travel question?