Can you buy a flight with a combo of gift card & Alaska Visa and still get free bags?
Mar 1, 2021, 11:37 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan
Posts: 22
Can you buy a flight with a combo of gift card & Alaska Visa and still get free bags?
I'm considering purchasing a few gift cards from Costco ($500 for $450) for a trip to LIH. Tickets will be around $600 each, so I plan on paying $500 of cost with the gift card then the balance with my Alaska Visa (~$100)
Does anyone know if that transaction would still qualify for free checked bags? Thanks!
Does anyone know if that transaction would still qualify for free checked bags? Thanks!
Mar 1, 2021, 11:40 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: AS MVPG, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 1,445
The AS Visa free bag benefit is tied to your MP #, so it is applied regardless of how the transaction is purchased (mileage award redemption, gift cards, other credit cards, etc), so long as your AS Visa is active.
Mar 1, 2021, 11:45 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan
Posts: 22
Mar 1, 2021, 12:14 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
Also, 1 free checked bag benefit also applies to all those on your reservation, up to 6 people. So, if family or couple are traveling , as long as you are one of the travelers, all will get 1 checked bag.
Now I just wish there was a way to get this benefit for family of four who use 2 companion codes to travel. Cannot combine PNR's. So, only 2 get free checked bag.
Now I just wish there was a way to get this benefit for family of four who use 2 companion codes to travel. Cannot combine PNR's. So, only 2 get free checked bag.
Mar 1, 2021, 12:28 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan
Posts: 22
Ha, that was going to be my next question. We are using a companion pass but there are three of us, and only I have the Visa. I wish there was a way to book more than two seats at a time when using the companion pass, but looks like we'll have to pay for bags for the third ticket.
Mar 1, 2021, 2:05 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
Ha, that was going to be my next question. We are using a companion pass but there are three of us, and only I have the Visa. I wish there was a way to book more than two seats at a time when using the companion pass, but looks like we'll have to pay for bags for the third ticket.
Mar 1, 2021, 2:36 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AS, UA, WN, IHG Diamond Elite, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, CET 7*
Posts: 3,299
I can positively confirm that nice works, and it helps to have an agent on the other side that's also in a good mood and appreciates nice. With AS, that's not hard to do.
Mar 2, 2021, 2:56 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan
Posts: 22
Bought the gift cards from Costco yesterday afternoon and got them this morning. Booked our flights and saved $150, great deal...except the total hotel cost went up $250 overnight lol. Guess it's better to pull the trigger when you're ready.