Alaska Airlines Credit Card is a “luxurious” travel card with plenty of benefits to satisfy the consummate holiday adventurist. While 2023 came in with a troubled economy and climbing inflation, enthusiasts continue to visit destinations throughout the world. 

Travel credit cards like the  Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card help ease the expenses and improve the experience.  

With cards like these, each “swipe” means rewards culminating in outstanding sign-on bonuses, complimentary hotel stays, discounted or free flights, lounge access, priority boarding, free baggage check, and so on. 

Anyone with a penchant for frequent or occasional travel will appreciate the many perks. The only difficulty is deciding if a travel card is the most suitable option for you. In doing so, weighing the benefits against any potential downsides is essential. Let us examine a few. 

What Are the Benefits and Downsides of a Travel Credit Card 

A travel credit card with the provisions offered by the Alaska Airlines Visa card ensures the holiday experience will be considerably more pleasant and cost-efficient. Rewards points are granted with each use leading to discounts, promotions, and complimentary perks associated with the trip. Find out what travel cards involve at https://www.livemint.com/money/do-you-need-it-1555322227254.html. 

You might question whether this type of credit card suits your lifestyle and particular circumstances. Let us weigh a few pros and some downsides with the cards. 

• The rewards are centered around traveling. 

The reward categories are exceptionally appealing to frequent or even occasional travelers since the bonus points and miles focus on flights, trains, hotels, rental cars, transport, and on. Some cards offer the potential for up to “10 times the points for each dollar spent on travel-related purchases.” 

Many people collect their points/miles to use the rewards to pay for worldwide holidays. Some have traveled extensively using credit card points, whether these allow for a complimentary luxurious hotel stay or perhaps a flight. 

Those who dread long layovers will appreciate the perks of a travel card that can make the experience more bearable with lounge access, or you can be granted elite status. Hotels accommodate elite guests with benefits such as “food credits, late checkout, free room upgrade, and complimentary breakfast.” 

Airlines treat elite passengers to complimentary upgrades, priority boarding, and free baggage checks. Some travel card perks like early boarding, complimentary check bags, and hotel benefits come with being a cardholder. 

• The rewards value with travel cards is maximized. 

Some have the misperception that cash-back cards are the way to go since there is the potential to earn considerable cash based on your usage. But considering the amount you can potentially save on airfare and hotels ranging as much as thousands, the value proposition for a travel card can be far more. 

Also, if you are granted elite status with either a hotel or airline, maybe both, the benefits exceed what you could ever receive as a cash-back cardholder. Go here for guidance on optimizing credit card rewards. 

• Authorized users often get to reap the rewards. 

Some travel cards extend benefits offered to the cardholder to authorized users, with these individuals receiving many comparable perks like lounge access. Some cards charge to add another user, but others will not. Before applying, it is wise to check the possible fees and charges to find the ones with the least. 

• The sign-on and welcome bonuses can be exceptional for travel cards. 

Check the welcome or sign-on bonus before applying for a new travel card. Some can be extremely valuable, but you must meet the criteria before earning these benefits. That could mean spending several thousand dollars within six months, equating to roughly $1000 on travel with some cards. 

What Are the Cons That Come with Travel Cards 

It is important to remember when you weigh the benefits of a travel card; you also need to consider the potential downsides. One of these is the annual fees that are attached to the cards. 

• High annual fees 

Some premium travel credit cards usually have hefty annual fees attached, some ranging as high as roughly $700. The priority when comparing cards is to look at the potential value of the benefits and how often you travel. Many cards will well exceed their annual fee based on the rewards and perks. 

It is also important to remember that not all valuable travel cards come with a high fee; some do not come with this fee at all. Comparing cards against your travel frequency and lifestyle is essential. 

Final Thought 

Before applying or even comparing different cards like the Alaska Airlines Visa credit card, you should review your creditworthiness since most issuers will check your score and history before granting a new card. 

It makes sense to obtain a travel credit card if you are a frequent or even occasional adventurist who spends a lot of time planning out your next holiday. You will undoubtedly reap many rewards along with your traveling companions depending on your card’s criteria for an authorized user. 

With cards like these, you could find yourself on a complimentary flight to a dream destination, perhaps staying in a luxurious resort location thanks to an accumulation of points and miles. It just takes some shrewd “swiping.”