In the interest of full disclosure, OMAAT earns a referral bonus for anyone that’s approved through some of the below links. These are the best publicly available offers (terms apply) that we have found for each product or service. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, hotel chain, or product manufacturer/service provider, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Please check out our advertiser policy for further details about our partners, and thanks for your support!
Now is the best time to apply for the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card.
An airline credit card can be used to purchase a companion ticket for a certain amount. I wanted to take a closer look at the most valuable companion ticket offered by Alaska Airlines in this post.
The Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card can be used to earn this. As part of the welcome bonus, the card also offers an annual perk just for being a cardmember.
If you spend $4,000 in the first 90 days, you will get a best-ever welcome bonus of 70,000 Mileage Plan miles. There are many uses for mileage plan miles and this is one of them.
How to earn an Alaska companion fare
Two credit cards offer Alaska fares.
The Alaska Airlines Visa Business card and Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card have a companion fare starting at $121 per year. Every year you receive a companion ticket as part of the welcome bonus.
There is no requirement to spend money to earn the companion fare on your anniversary account. It doesn't have to post.
After your account anniversary, the Alaska companion fare will be deposited into your Mileage Plan account. It can take up to two billing cycles, but in my experience it usually posts much quicker than that.
The Alaska companion fare can be redeemed.
The companion fare is only valid for tickets booked in economy, though all economy fare classes are included; you can travel throughout Alaska Airlines’ route network, including to Alaska, Hawaii, and international destinations
Tickets booked with the Alaska companion fare are upgradeable, both for the primary passenger and companion (this includes using complimentary elite upgrades, Gold Guest upgrades, instant upgrade fares, etc.)
Both passengers booked with the Alaska companion fare earn miles for their tickets
The companion fare is valid for a year from when it’s issued, though that’s only the book-by date, while you can travel on a subsequent date
You’re allowed to use the companion fare code for two other people (in other words, the cardmember doesn’t need to be traveling), but you will need to use your Alaska Visa to pay for the ticket
Both passengers need to be booked in the same itinerary, travel on the same flights, and be ticketed at the same time
The companion fare is valid for roundtrip, one-way, and multi-city travel
The Alaska companion fare isn’t valid for award travel, or for travel that includes segments on any airlines other than Alaska or Horizon
You need to pay with your Alaska Credit Card to use your companion ticket, though fortunately the card offers triple miles on Alaska purchases, so it’s not a bad card to use anyway
Use the Alaska companion fare to travel to Hawaii
How to book a ticket with the Alaska companion fare
Booking a ticket with the Alaska companion fare is very simple. On the left side scroll down to the area that says "Discount and companion fare codes" and click "Valid."
If you see a section that lists all of your valid codes, just click the button and it will take you to the section.
There will be a discount or companion fare code in the box.
You can use this for a one-way ticket.
You can use it for a trip like the one from Los Angeles to Costa Rica, which is one ofAlaska's farthest international destinations.
This can be used to book a multi-city trip, like flying from Seattle to Maui with a stop there.
How to upgrade Alaska companion fare tickets
The good news is that the Alaska companion fare can be upgraded to first class. There are a number of ways to do this.
MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K members are eligible for complimentary space available upgrades for themselves and a companion, and those upgrades start clearing at 72-120 hours before departure, respectively (MVP members don’t receive companion upgrades); note that Saver fares, booked in the “X” fare class, are excluded
MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K members receive four Gold Guest Upgrades per year, each of which can be used to confirm a one-way upgrade at the time of booking, subject to upgrade availability; note that tickets booked in G, T, R, or X, fare classes aren’t eligible
Elite members receive complimentary upgrades at the time of booking when booking certain fare classes and when there is confirmable upgrade availability; MVP members get complimentary upgrades on Y, S, and Z fares, MVP Gold members get complimentary upgrades on Y, S, B, M, and Z fares, and MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K members get complimentary upgrades on Y, S, B, M, H, and Z fares
All Mileage Plan members can upgrade on a space available basis for 15,000 miles one-way, though need to book a ticket in the Y, S, B, M, or H, fare classes
Alaska companion fare tickets are upgradeable
Companion tickets that come with all kinds of restrictions are almost useless. Alaska's companion tickets are the most valuable out there due to the fact that the companion is treated like any other passenger.
Alaska credit cards are worth holding onto because of this. It is a good time to apply for the Alaska Airlines Visa Business Card because of the best-ever welcome bonus.
Meet Ben Schlappig, OMAAT Founder
