20 cards ranked
Best credit card to use at Alaska Airlines.
AirlinesTravel
Alaska Airlines is the West Coast's dominant carrier and runs the Mileage Plan program, prized for its generous partner award chart and a unique stopover-on-one-way rule. Alaska tickets code as airfare on every card we track. Alaska's co-branded Visa offers a Companion Fare each year that's often the single biggest reason cardholders keep it, plus a free checked bag. General travel cards usually win on cash-equivalent earn, but the Companion Fare can outweigh that for a once-a-year long-haul booking.
- #1American Express5x points on airlines (up to $500,000/year, then 1%)Booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, up to $500,000 per calendar year6.0%5x points
- #25.0%4x points
- #35.0%4x points
- #4FNBO5x points on travelAirlines, hotels, car rental, cruise lines, travel agencies, transit, taxis, tolls, and timeshares by merchant category code5.0%5x points
- #5Discover it Cash Backthis quarterDiscover5% on airlines this quarter (Q3 2026) (up to $1,500/quarter, then 1%). Activation required each quarter.Activation required each quarter5%
- #6Discover it for Studentsthis quarterDiscover5% on airlines this quarter (Q3 2026) (up to $1,500/quarter, then 1%). Activation required each quarter.Activation required each quarter5%
- #7Discover it Securedthis quarterDiscover5% on airlines this quarter (Q3 2026) (up to $1,500/quarter, then 1%). Activation required each quarter.Activation required each quarter5%
- #8NHL Discover itthis quarterDiscover5% on airlines this quarter (Q3 2026) (up to $1,500/quarter, then 1%). Activation required each quarter.Activation required each quarter5%
- #94.0%4x points
- #10PenFed Credit Union4x points on travel4x with PenFed Honors Advantage (military or Access America checking); 3x otherwise4.0%4x points
- #114.0%4x points
- #124.0%4x points
- #134.0%2x points
- #144.0%4x points
- #154.0%4x points
- #16World of Hyatt Businessif it’s your top categoryChase2x points on airlines if it's your top eligible spend category that cycleAutomatically 2x total in your top three spend categories each calendar quarter, from dining, shipping, airline tickets bought directly with the airline, local transit and commuting, social media and search engine advertising, car rental agencies, gas stations, and internet/cable/phone services4.0%2x points
- #17Chase3x points on travel (up to $150,000/year, then 1%)Travel, shipping, internet/cable/phone, advertising on search engines and social media (combined $150,000/yr cap)3.8%3x points
- #183.6%3x points
- #19American Express7x points on airlinesFlights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com3.5%7x points
- #20Bank of AmericaCo-branded Alaska Airlines cardAlaska and Hawaiian Airlines purchases3.0%3x points
Last updated September 14, 2026