How to use Alaska Airlines Companion Fare (2024)

Travel doesn’t have to break the bank, especially when you’re armed with an Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™. This tool offers a fantastic way to save on airfare by allowing you to bring a companion along at a fraction of the cost. It’s great for couples or families looking to stretch their travel budgets further and save both money and miles while traveling together.

So what is the Alaska Companion Fare and how do you get your hands on it? In this guide, we’ll dive into the intricacies of the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare and how to make the most of this credit card benefit. Here’s everything you need to know:

What is the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare?

The Alaska Airlines Companion Fare is a unique benefit offered to Alaska Airlines credit cardholders. Once issued, it’s valid for 12 months and allows eligible cardholders to book one companion ticket for just $99 (plus taxes and fees from $23). It is a one time use certificate.

The Companion Fare can be applied to paid economy class fare on one-way or round-trip flights operated by Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air or SkyWest. This provides plenty of flexibility, as Alaska Airlines has an extensive route network spanning North and Central America.

The Alaska Airlines Companion Fare is valid on paid fares only and can be redeemed online. The process is straightforward, though you must use your Alaska credit card to pay the primary fare and taxes and fees to qualify. Considering Alaska credit cards earn 3 miles per $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, this isn’t such a bad stipulation and can help you accrue some valuable rewards.

Both the primary flyer and Companion Fare flyers will earn miles on their flights, as they would on any other paid itinerary. The Companion Fare is reissued every year cardholders spend $6,000 and renew a qualifying card, helping some cardholders justify the annual fees on their eligible cards. Those who qualify will receive their Companion Fare within the first two billing cycles following their cardmember anniversary.

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How it works

You can use the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare on one-way or round-trip flights operated by Alaska Airlines and its subsidiaries. It’s issued as part of the welcome bonus and an annual benefit for meeting a spending requirement.

Once you’ve obtained your Companion Fare (either through the welcome bonus or for spending $6,000 the previous year), you can apply it to a one-way or round-trip flight. You’ll pay just $99 plus taxes and fees, which start at $23. This perk can unlock substantial savings on airfare on both domestic and international flights, since Alaska flies to a number of destinations within the U.S. and Central America.

The Companion Fare can offer tremendous value during times when airfare is high and you want to be able to save money. The ability to use it on one-way flights is especially handy if you want to redeem miles for one segment.

How to earn the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare

You can earn the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare with the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card*The information for the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. or the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business credit card*The information for the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.. Both cards offer this benefit as part of the welcome bonus and an annual perk. Many cardholders won’t have a problem spending $6,000 on their credit card during the first year. After all, the spending requirement alone is $3,000 to earn each respective welcome bonus.

• Alaska Airlines Visa credit card: 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days account opening.
• Alaska Airlines Visa Business credit card: 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.

Beyond the first year, the Companion Pass can still be within reach for those who spend $500 on their credit cards every month. By simply charging household bills and everyday expenses, you can requalify for this benefit every year.

How to book with the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare

Booking airfare with the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare is straightforward. You can apply it to any eligible online booking. As long as you select two travelers during your flight search, your Companion Fare discount code will automatically apply to your booking. Here’s a step-by-step guide to redeeming the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare:

1. Locate your Companion Fare discount code by logging into your Mileage Plan account. Click on your profile and select the “Discounts and companion fare codes” link.
2. If you’re starting on the Alaska Airlines homepage, select the “Use discount or companion fare code” link under the flight search box. Or simply visit the flight booking page.
3. Enter your Alaska Airlines discount code in the designated box and provide your travel preferences. Be sure to select at least two passengers for the flight.
4. To find an eligible fare, look for a red symbol next to some of the fares on the results page. Select your fare and proceed with booking your flight as usual.
5. Remember to enter the Alaska Mileage Plan number of both travelers so everyone earns miles and makes progress towards elite status.
6. On the checkout page, review the final cost and ensure the Companion Fare has been applied. Remember, you’ll pay just $99 plus the cost of taxes and fees for the second traveler.
7. Lastly, remember to use your Alaska Airlines credit card to pay for the flights.

Rules for booking

While the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare provides plenty of flexibility, it’s also subject to a few rules. You can get fantastic value out of this perk, but keeping these rules in mind ensures you won’t be in for any surprises when it’s time to book your flights.

It’s non-transferrable

The Alaska Airlines Companion Fare is not transferable, meaning the person who earns the pass must also travel on the itinerary. However, unlike the Southwest Companion Pass, there’s no restriction on who the companion must be. You don’t have to designate a specific person – you can book a flight for anyone as long as you’re also traveling on the same itinerary.

It’s valid on flights operated by Alaska and its subsidiaries only

For starters, it’s only valid on flights operated by Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air or SkyWest. That means its use is a bit more limited than if you were able to use it on one of Alaska’s many Oneworld Alliance partners.

For example, the only international flights Alaska Airlines operates are to Central America – while that can still present tremendous savings on airfare, it’s not ideal if you prefer to travel to Asia, Europe or other regions covered by Alaska’s partners.

It expires after 12 months

The Companion Fare is valid for 12 months from the issue date and must be redeemed before this date. Your flight can take place after the expiration date, providing a bit more flexibility.

It’s valid on economy class tickets only

The Companion Fare is only valid on economy class tickets. If you are looking for a companion pass that applies to first class travel, consider instead a card like the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (terms apply), which offers an annual Companion Certificate valid for a roundtrip flight in First Class, Delta Comfort+ or the Main Cabin on flights within the U.S., as well as Caribbean or Central American roundtrip flights each year upon card renewal (payment of government-imposed taxes and fees is required: no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and $250 for roundtrip international flights).

You must book with your Alaska Airlines credit card

Lastly, you must use your Alaska Airlines credit card to pay for your flights – a fairly new stipulation Alaska Airlines has added to its booking rules. However, considering cardholders earn 3 miles per $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, this rule ultimately works out well for Mileage Plan members who want to earn valuable miles for future award flights.

Maximizing your Companion Fare

Strategic planning is key to maximizing the Alaska Companion Fare. One of the best ways to maximize value is by applying it on flights costing more than $122 – that’s the minimum cost you’ll incur when redeeming one. However, you should try to aim even higher to make it worthwhile. In fact, since you’re paying an annual fee of either $70 per company and $25 per card for the Alaska Airlines Business credit card or $95 for the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card, it would be ideal if you offset that cost as well. In other words: Try to use it on flights costing at least $200.

One great way to get your money’s worth is by using the Alaska Companion Fare during peak travel season. When demand is high, airfare can get costly and even award tickets will cost more than usual. In these scenarios, you’ll get tons of value by applying a Companion Fare to your reservation.

For example, Thanksgiving week 2024 fares between Los Angeles (LAX) and New York (EWR) can top $886 round-trip per person. With an Alaska Airlines Companion Fare, you’ll pay just $99 plus around $90 in taxes and fees. This reduces your cost for two tickets to $1,075, saving you nearly $700 on a second ticket.

You can also get more value for your Companion Fare by using it for international travel. Alaska Airlines operates flights to Belize and Costa Rica, which can get pricey during peak season. As long as the Companion Fare helps you stay within your travel budget and doesn’t cost you more than a stand-alone ticket, you’re sure to save money.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)