The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card and the United Explorer Card are two popular airline credit cards that offer generous sign-up bonuses, ongoing rewards, and other perks to frequent travelers. Let's compare them side by side:
General Comparison
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Rewards Battle: A Side-by-Side Analysis
|  | |
|---|---|---|
Spend Per Category | Alaska Airlines Visa Signature | United Explorer |
$15,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 15,000 miles | 15,000 miles |
$5,000 – Restaurants
| 5,000 miles | 10,000 miles |
$5,000 – Airline | 15,000 miles | 10,000 miles |
$5,000 – Hotels | 5,000 miles | 10,000 miles |
$4,000 – Gas | 8,000 miles | 4,000 miles |
Total Miles | 48,000 miles | 49,000 miles |
Estimated Redemption Value | 1 mile ~ 1.3 cents | 1 mile = ~1.2 cents
|
Estimated Annual Value | $624 | $588 |
With the United Explorer Card, you can turn your miles into travel experiences. Use miles for flights with United or its partners, covering destinations worldwide. Additionally, explore options beyond flights, such as hotel stays, car rentals, and merchandise.
With the Alaska Airlines credit card, you can redeem miles for flights on Alaska Airlines and its partner airlines worldwide. It includes not only flights but also upgrade your seat or travel with a friend using the Companion Fare benefit. Beyond flights, explore various redemption options like hotel stays, car rentals, and even magazine subscriptions.
Which Card Provides Better Travel Perks & Insurance?
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature
- Annual $99 Companion Fare: Earn a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees) annually by spending $6,000 or more in the previous year, applicable to all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com.
- Free First Checked Bag: Cardholders and up to 6 additional guests on the same reservation can check their first bag for free when purchasing airfare with the card.
- Priority Boarding: Enjoy priority boarding for faster access to your seat when using the card to pay for your flight.
- 10% Rewards Bonus: Receive a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases with an eligible Bank of America® account.
- 20% Back On Inflight Purchases: Get 20% back on all Alaska Airlines inflight purchases.
- $100 Lounge Membership Discount: Obtain a discount on an annual Alaska Lounge+ Membership when paying with the card.
United Explorer
Global Entry/TSA Precheck® Reimbursement: Receive a $100 statement credit every four years to cover Global Entry, TSA Precheck®, or NEXUS application fees, streamlining your airport security experience.
25% Back on In-Flight Purchases: Enjoy a 25% statement credit on food, beverages, and Wi-Fi when paying with the Explorer Card on United-operated flights, saving you money during your travels.
Priority Boarding: Board United-operated flights before general boarding, ensuring a smoother departure for you and your companions on the same reservation.
Earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP): Accumulate PQP to enhance your travel experience and work towards MileagePlus Premier® status with United Airlines.
Free First Checked Bag: Save up to $140 per roundtrip by receiving a complimentary checked bag for you and a companion when flying with United, reducing your travel expenses.
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Decline rental company insurance, charge the full cost to your card, and get primary coverage for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: Get reimbursed for pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares in covered situations like sickness or severe weather.
- Trip Delay Reimbursement: Cover unreimbursed expenses for delays over 12 hours or overnight stays during common carrier travel, including meals and lodging for you and your family.
- Visa Concierge: Access complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge Service for assistance with event tickets, dinner reservations, and more.
- Purchase Protection: Enjoy coverage against damage or theft for new purchases for 120 days.
- Baggage Delay Insurance: Get reimbursed for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing due to baggage delays exceeding 6 hours by a passenger carrier.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Receive coverage for damaged or lost luggage, whether checked or carried on, for you or an immediate family member.
When You Might Prefer The United Explorer Card?
Here are the main reasons why you may prefer the United Explorer Card:
Dedicated United Flyer: If you are a frequent flyer with United Airlines and prefer the perks and familiarity of a specific airline, the United Explorer is tailored to United's ecosystem, offering exclusive benefits within their network.
Better Travel Insurance: For superior travel insurance, the United Explorer outshines the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card, making it a preferable option if robust coverage is your priority.
You Have High Spend On Hotels and Dining: The United Explorer card offers higher rewards ratio when it comes to hotels and dining purchases. So, if you use your card mainly on these categories, it may be a better fit.
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When You Might Prefer The Alaska Visa Signature Card?
Here are the main reasons why you may prefer the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card:
You Frequently Fly Alaska Airlines: If you're a frequent Alaska Airlines traveler, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature is your go-to, offering a superior points rewards ratio and tailored perks for Alaska enthusiasts.
You Have High Spend On Gas And Airline: For those with substantial spending on gas and airline purchases, the Alaska card shines with a higher rewards ratio in these categories. If your card usage centers around these expenses, it could be the more fitting choice than the Explorer card.
Compare The Alternatives
If you're looking for an airline credit card with travel rewards – there are some good alternatives you may want to consider:
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|
| |
|---|---|---|---|
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card | Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite | |
Annual Fee | $150, $0 intro first year. (See Rates and Fees.) | $99 | $99 (waived for the first 12 months)
|
Rewards |
1X – 2X
2X miles on delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide (including take-out and delivery in the U.S) and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1x miles on all other eligible purchases
| 1X – 3X
3X points on Southwest® purchases,2X on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners, local transit and commuting, including rideshare, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming and 1X points on all other purchases.
|
1X – 2X
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
|
Welcome bonus |
40,000 Miles
40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months
| 50,000 Points
50,000 points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
|
50,000 Miles
50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0. See Rates and Fees. | $0 | $0 |
Purchase APR | 20.99%-29.99% Variable | 21.49%–28.49% variable
| 21.24% – 29.99% (Variable) |
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