Best cards at Alaska Airlines
Discover it Cash Back earns the most at Alaska Airlines right now at 5%.
Rankings use issuer rates verified as of August 16, 2026.
#15%5%Discover it Cash Back
Discover · Discover · No annual fee · up to $1,500/qtr (combined) · Lower rate after the cap
#25x5xThe Platinum Card from American Express
American Express · Amex · $895/yr · up to $500,000/yr · Lower rate after the cap
#34x4xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
U.S. Bank · Visa · No annual fee
#44x4xU.S. Bank Business Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
U.S. Bank · Visa · Business · $95/yr · up to $150,000/yr (combined) · Lower rate after the cap
#54x4xWells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card
Wells Fargo · Visa · $95/yr
#64x4xChase Sapphire Reserve
Chase · Visa · $795/yr
#73x3xAtmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature
Bank of America · Visa · $95/yr
#83%3%AAA Travel Advantage Visa Signature Card
Bread Financial · Visa · No annual fee
#93%3%Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
Citi · Visa · No annual fee
#103%3%Costco Anywhere Visa Business Card by Citi
Citi · Visa · Business · No annual fee
Good to know at Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines takes cards from every major network, so acceptance never decides this one — the ranking does. The top rate is 5x from The Platinum Card from American Express, but it carries an $895 annual fee and a spending cap, with a lower rate after the cap. Discover it Cash Back also reaches 5% with no annual fee, though only in quarters you activate, and a combined cap applies.
Multipliers alone don't settle the middle of the list. The Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa Signature from Bank of America earns 3x, yet under conservative point valuations that works out to roughly a 3.9% cash-equivalent return — ahead of the flat 3% cards even though the headline numbers match. Its $95 annual fee is the tradeoff. The order is the same whether you book online or pay in person.
If none of the premium cards are in your wallet, the no-fee floor here is solid. Wells Fargo Autograph Card earns 3x with no annual fee and no caveats listed in this ranking, and both Costco Anywhere Visa cards from Citi pay a flat 3%. For someone who flies Alaska a few times a year, that steady 3x is usually the sensible stop before any annual fee enters the picture.
The math
Spend $250 a month at Alaska Airlines and Discover it Cash Back returns about $150 a year at our valuations — a flat 2% card returns $60.
Common questions
- What is the best credit card at Alaska Airlines?
- Discover it Cash Back earns the most at Alaska Airlines right now at 5%.
- How does SwipeCaddy pick the best card at Alaska Airlines?
- We rank each card by its reward rate times a conservative cash value of its points or miles — no inflated transfer valuations — and apply Alaska Airlines's card-acceptance rules, so the "best" card is one you can actually use at the register.
- What's the catch with the 5x rate on Alaska Airlines flights?
- The Platinum Card from American Express tops this list at 5x, but a spending cap applies and the rate drops after you hit it — all alongside an $895 annual fee. If that math feels tight, Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 4x for $795 a year with no caveats listed here.
- Can I earn 5% on Alaska Airlines without paying an annual fee?
- Yes, but with homework. Discover it Cash Back reaches 5% with no annual fee, though you must activate the category each quarter, a combined spending cap applies, and the rate drops after the cap. If you'd rather not track quarters, Wells Fargo Autograph Card pays a steady 3x with no fee.
Rates reflect each card's best case at this merchant and can change; check the issuer's terms before applying.