Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - AS Visa Signature Questions

1) I've seen targeted offers of 10,000 bonus miles for a new card signup. I've only seen them via snail mail, however, and never web links. Does anyone know how to access such an offer or how to get targeted? Would much rather have 10k signup bonus than the standard 5k.

2) Does the $50 companion ticket come right away? It's unclear to me from the website whether it comes after card approval, or only after a year ('on the anniversary date') of the card?

3) How quickly do the club passes turn up?

4) Would there be any advantage to signing up for the Platinum card first and then upgrading to Signature?

Thanks! :)

1. dunno

2/3.If I recall correctly, that little packet of goodies shows up around the time of your first statement.. 4-6 weeks or so after approval?

4. I could be way off, but I think if you got the platinum, kept it for say a year..then "upgraded" you'd get another bonus. But for some reason I think the platinum is going to be the Canadian card...

I had platinum for awhile and then changed when the Signature product came out and got a new bonus (but it was maybe 2500 mi.

Was targetted by snail mail in late June for the 10K bonus and card was issued in early July. Along with the card came a welcome letter with a series of small square perforated coupons at the bottom of the letter with the $50 companion ticket voucher, and the two club passes.

My observations so far with the BofA signature card:
* Fraud department very, very aggressive. Took 3 weeks of talking to them almost on a daily basis for the calls to stop - several occasions were at the front desk of various hotels and once at SJC when I redeemed the $50 companion voucher.

* Apply _after_ zeroing out your corporate card/dedicated personal expense card. BofA were very conservative with the credit line and refused to take additional data (expense reports, letter from employer, bank statements, etc.) for reconsideration. Minimum 9 months of payment history required with BofA before any credit line increases will be considered.

* BofA Signature "no-limit" is a static ~10% pre-set overlimit amount. Transactions that fall into the ~10% overlimit area receive approvals about 50% of the time. The remainder require agent approval - this involves the sales clerk calling BofA and verifying your picture ID. Expect to have transactions above the 10% denied.

* BofA Visa Signature payments can be made online and will post midnight the same day if they're made by 12:30pm PST.

* Alaska Airlines silver printed logo on the card rubs off very quickly - I am very close to having my card look like the ultra-exclusive as yet to be announced Visa "Black" card :p

* Miles for purchases and any bonus Alaska activty post on the 11th of the month.

As always, YMMV - hope that helps!

I had platinum for awhile and then changed when the Signature product came out and got a new bonus (but it was maybe 2500 mi.

Didn't even think I could get sign up miles if I already had a BofA card. Is the fee the same? I know I got junk in the mail but I just threw it all away.

The new standard for the delivery of the $50 companion is with your first bill. It should be attached there. It used to be within a month, but that changed earlier this year. Be on the 'listen' on flights too because I have heard bonus miles offered on flights and I missed that boat.

1) I've seen targeted offers of 10,000 bonus miles for a new card signup. I've only seen them via snail mail, however, and never web links. Does anyone know how to access such an offer or how to get targeted? Would much rather have 10k signup bonus than the standard 5k.

2) Does the $50 companion ticket come right away? It's unclear to me from the website whether it comes after card approval, or only after a year ('on the anniversary date') of the card?

3) How quickly do the club passes turn up?

4) Would there be any advantage to signing up for the Platinum card first and then upgrading to Signature?

Thanks! :)