[ANALYSIS] MBNA Alaska Airlines MasterCard Companion Fare
The MNBA Alaska Airlines MasterCard has become a fairly popular credit card in Canada. One of its main selling features is its annual coach Companion Fare. Below are the highlights of this credit card are:
- $75 annual fee
- Earn 25,000 sign up bonus points upon approval
- Earn 3 points for every $1 spent on Alaska Airlines tickets, cargo purchases, in-flight purchases and vacation packages
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- 1 annual coach Companion Fare
The $75 annual fee is definitely justified during the first year when you receive the 25,000 sign up bonus point.
There is also a perk that helps justify paying the $75 annual fee year after year, which is the annual Companion Fare.
Basically the cardholder can purchase a round-trip coach companion fare on Alaska Airlines from $121 (USD) ($99, plus taxes and fees from $22) when traveling with another passenger on a paid published coach airfare on the same itinerary, booked at the same time.
Also note that the Companion certificate can only be used for a coach class seat on an Alaska Airlines operated flight with the purchase of another ticket on the same Alaska Airlines flight within or between the continental United States, Alaska, Canada, Hawaii or Mexico.
You forgot to mention that the Alaska Air points are very valuable in that you can use them to book flights on American and Delta. That’s why this is my back up card (behind my Amex Gold Rewards) for non-bonus spend based here in Calgary. Amex gives me Air Canada/United access and Alaska the rest for North America, so I have all my bases covered.
Also if you go to GreatCanadianRebates.ca you used to be able to get a $60 bonus rebate for sign up, but sadly today is only $25.
Thanks and happy points hunting!
Thanks for the mention. I wrote more about the Alaska Airlines program here: http://pointshogger.com/alaska-airlines-mileage-plan-canadians