Canadians looking for a credit card that offers great rewards might want to consider the Alaska Airlines credit card. Here’s an overview of some of the benefits, perks and costs to help determine if its right for you.
Alaska Credit Card Overview: This is a MasterCard credit card issued by MBNA and has a $75 annual fee. Upon signing, you get a bonus 25,000 Alaska miles. I’m not normally huge on one-time bonuses, but 25,000 miles is huge. Plan members earn 1 mile for every dollar spent on the card. Say you spend $3,000 per month on average, you can earn 36,000 miles + 25,000 bonus = 61,000 miles in the first year. Travellers also get an annual companion fare, which allows you to purchase a ticket for just $99 when a regular priced ticket is bought on any of Alaska’s routes.
Companion Fare: I love the Alaska Airlines companion fare. One a $50 companion fair, the $99 companion fare remains a great deal. Here’s how it works: When you purchase a regular fare, your companion ticket flies for just $99 plus tax. This only works once, so its best to use the companion fare for a round trip and, ideally, for the most expensive trip you have planned. For instance, there is better value using the companion fare on an $800 trip to Mexico or Hawaii than a $69 flight to Las Vegas.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: I am a big plan of the Mileage Plan. Each persons situation is unique, so its worth assessing whether the Mileage Plan offered by Alaska Airlines is best for you. For many Canadians, this is a great program, especially for those who live in cities serviced by Alaska or Horizon Airlines, and who do not have access a major airport. As someone who lives in Victoria, the Alaska Airlines program is perfect: Flying out of Vancouver or Seattle is a pain in the butt — it involves an expensive ferry ride and quite often an overnight at a Seattle or Vancouver Airport hotel.
The program also works well for those who like to fly to Alaska Airlines destinations. While they do not offer exotic locations like Europe or Asia, Alaska flies to Mexico, Florida, and Hawaii.
Program Changes: One thing I have noticed about the Alaska Mileage Plan is the change in the program over the years. Specifically, its getting harder and harder to find great flights for 25,000 miles (round trip). More often, it is requiring 35,000 or even 40,000 miles. Flights for just 25,000 miles can still be found but they are becoming rare, often only available if you are willing to accept an overnight connecting flight. I’ve also seen changes to the credit card program itself. For instance, when I first joined the program, the companion fare was just $50 and you received a free pass to Alaska’s Board Room executive lounge.
Credit Card Summary: The Alaska Airlines Mastercard is idea for some Canadians. For those who like to travel to Southern Florida, Mexico, or Hawaii, the annual companion fare alone is well worth the $75 annual fee. Depending on how much you spend, travellers can rack up tens of thousands of points each year, which may be good for 1 or 2 free flights.
Additional Traveller Resources for Canadians
- Hotwire Hotel Lists: Looking to book a hotel on Hotwire and want to reveal the name of your hotel before you bid, check out the list of hotels known to be on Hotwire that can help you figure out what hotel you’ll get.
- Travel Discussion Forum: Chat with fellow travellers and Canadians about travel, saving money, Hotwire and Priceline.
- Las Vegas Travel: Several articles to help travellers make the most of their trip to Sin City.
Erosion of benefits: I have been a cardholder of the Alaska Airlines mastercard for several years.