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FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Jan 16, 2017, 9:36 am by rrggBefore applying, please note
B of A's restrictions (2-3-4 rule, UPDATED: as of Sept 28,2019 possibly 3/12 for new customers and 7/12 for existing customers. See thread for ongoing discussion) on approving applications:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cred...24-months.html
Nestled in the terms and conditions of all of the personal Alaska Airlines credit card offers:
"This card will not be available to you if you currently have or have had the card in the preceding 24 month period. This does not apply to the business credit card product."
More info on the COMPANION FARE cert can be found here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...-fare-faq.html
This thread is a continuation from THIS discussion (2012-2016)
Concurrent discussion here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...017-later.html
As additional resources for these cards, see the following threads in the Alaska Airlines forum- Alaska Airlines Visa
- Retention/conversion offers & discussion thread
- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...017-later.html
Please do not delete non working offers because sometimes they start working again. Instead move them to the prior offers section.
PERSONAL CARDS
Current offers:
65k offer: https://apply.uscreditcardguide.com/credit-card/boa-alaska/apply/
60K offer: https://www.alaskaair.com/content/cr...B&gclsrc=aw.ds
Prior offers:
72K offer: 72K offer
70K offer: https://www.alaskaair.com/content/cr...B&gclsrc=aw.ds
70K + $100 statement credit: click on the direct link to offer in the DoC article...https://www.doctorofcredit.com/bank-...0-miles-offer/
50k miles + companion fare, $75 AF, $2k spend (Live Jan 2021 to May 2021)
40k miles + $100 + companion fare, $75 AF, $2k spend
As of December 2018, Bank of America no longer gives you a lower bonus if you're approved for Platinum instead of Signature.
Make sure to opt-in to "Partner Offers" within your Mileage Plan account if you wish to be targeted for single-use application links with increases bonuses.
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Check Personal Card application status online here:
https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit...status-form.go
Personal card Recon Lines:
1-800-354-0401 (8am-7pm ET Mon-Fri) direct, referring agent from another BofA line called it their "credit department"
or 888-230-6262
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BUSINESS CARDS
Current offers:
Now 50k $95 AF $100 Stmt credit $4k spending https://www.alaskaair.com/content/cr...-business-card
Prior offers:
40K>70K
Read post 844 for tips on being approved for the business card.
It may be easier to get approved for a new business with 0 years and $0 gross income.
Also see the Applying for Business Credit Cards [Consolidated] thread (not-BofA-specific) for general tips on applying for business cards.
Business card Recon Line:
April 2024: BOA Biz Recon (Small Biz Lending, Credit Analyst) 888-782-7717, 888-569-4439 (M-F 8am-7pm EST), both answered by live human in 2-4 minutes. (Both numbers confirmed multiple times in the past 2-3 days.)
866-695-6598 (8-7pm EST M-F)
Biz card status line: 888 663 6262 (not working)
Biz Card credit analyst line: 888-782-7717
Biz card expedited shipping: wait 24 hours after approval for a card number to generate then call 800-901-9830 and a person will answer. If 1st Rep says "no" ask him/her to ck. with a supervisor. This worked for me.
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Credit Inquiries
Credit Inquiries for Personal cards come from BofA. Inquiries for business cards come from FIA.
Credit bureaus usually merge inquiries from the same requester made on the same day.
Inquiries from BofA and FIA will not be merged.
Does one have to call BoA to lower a card's credit limit?
Yes, there is no longer any way to contact BOA online. Phone is the only method currently.
When do the initial bonus miles post? You will get the miles after the statement closes for the cycle in which you meet your minimum spend. Usually AS points show up the Sunday evening after your statement closes, but sometimes it takes an additional week.
If there's a statement credit, when does it post?
It seems to be batch-processed. It will post automatically. Can be on the same statement or the next statement. It does not appear to be based on the statement close date.
Can you send a secure message through your account online?
No. BOA has removed the secure message functionality, even for Preferred members. The only way to contact BOA now is to call them.
Can I apply for another personal Alaska card if I have one open already?
Some people still can, but these days many people get denied. If you don't want to risk getting denied, it's probably better if you close any existing personal Alaska cards before applying for another one. But be sure to lower credit limit as low as possible at least a few business days before you close the card (though the earlier you can do it the better), because credit limit that's left on the card when you close it stays unavailable to new card applications for a year or more (while credit limit that's lowered as a separate step becomes available to new card applications much sooner)!
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Use or earn Mileage Plan miles with Alaska's Global Partners
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...tners-overview
Quote:
You are not ready to apply for another if you haven't reduced the credit limit yet. You should reduce the credit limit as soon as possible after opening a BofA card, as opposed to waiting until you're ready to apply for another card.Originally Posted by mak101
My last AS personal card was approved in Nov 16, I am ready to apply another one. Should I keep old card open or reduce the limit and close account before applying new one. I already have chekcing/saving/other no fee card and AS business card with BofA.
Many people lately are getting denied for another personal card if they have even one open. I would think that should tell you whether you should close after reducing credit limit.
But people who have too much credit "tied up" with BofA may only get approved for a Platinum card (5k bonus) instead of signature. And credit can get "tied up" at BofA if you don't reduce credit limit before cancelling or if you don't wait long enough after reducing credit limit before applying for another card.
So reduce your credit limit immediately. But I'm not sure how long you need to wait after that to close and apply again (with low risk).
Quote:
Spend $250, get $75 credit towards my next Alaska flight.
Can that credit be used in conjunction with using the discount code for a companion fare?Originally Posted by winjitsu
Just wanted to share I got a targeted mailer ...Spend $250, get $75 credit towards my next Alaska flight.
Quote:
Many people lately are getting denied for another personal card if they have even one open. I would think that should tell you whether you should close after reducing credit limit.
But people who have too much credit "tied up" with BofA may only get approved for a Platinum card (5k bonus) instead of signature. And credit can get "tied up" at BofA if you don't reduce credit limit before cancelling or if you don't wait long enough after reducing credit limit before applying for another card.
So reduce your credit limit immediately. But I'm not sure how long you need to wait after that to close and apply again (with low risk).
I have a AS personal card and have already gotten the 2.5k retention offer for it last month (opened for more than 4 months ago). If I don't want to pay the annual fee by month 12, is there any benefit for me to wait and not close the account now (e.g. another retention offer before month 12 perhaps?)Originally Posted by sdsearch
You are not ready to apply for another if you haven't reduced the credit limit yet. You should reduce the credit limit as soon as possible after opening a BofA card, as opposed to waiting until you're ready to apply for another card.Many people lately are getting denied for another personal card if they have even one open. I would think that should tell you whether you should close after reducing credit limit.
But people who have too much credit "tied up" with BofA may only get approved for a Platinum card (5k bonus) instead of signature. And credit can get "tied up" at BofA if you don't reduce credit limit before cancelling or if you don't wait long enough after reducing credit limit before applying for another card.
So reduce your credit limit immediately. But I'm not sure how long you need to wait after that to close and apply again (with low risk).
Quote:
My first AS personal was instantly approved in Dec 2016. I have never lowered my credit limit and after reading posts here, I decided to apply for the Business version instead of another personal. I got approved for 2 AS Business cards on the same day earlier this month.Originally Posted by mak101
My last AS personal card was approved in Nov 16, I am ready to apply another one. Should I keep old card open or reduce the limit and close account before applying new one. I already have chekcing/saving/other no fee card and AS business card with BofA.
Quote:
So I guess they really like you. Originally Posted by hightide
My first AS personal was instantly approved in Dec 2016. I have never lowered my credit limit and after reading posts here, I decided to apply for the Business version instead of another personal. I got approved for 2 AS Business cards on the same day earlier this month.
Or you got really lucky.
I suggest not encouraging others to try the same thing though. Especially since we don't know why you managed to pull that off. A/S cards have been YMMV for years....
Quote:
Many people lately are getting denied for another personal card if they have even one open. I would think that should tell you whether you should close after reducing credit limit.
But people who have too much credit "tied up" with BofA may only get approved for a Platinum card (5k bonus) instead of signature. And credit can get "tied up" at BofA if you don't reduce credit limit before cancelling or if you don't wait long enough after reducing credit limit before applying for another card.
So reduce your credit limit immediately. But I'm not sure how long you need to wait after that to close and apply again (with low risk).
Yeah I should have don it long back but got lazy but anyway I am calling now and requesting to reduce it and may be I will apply after 3/4 weeks. Should I cancel the first card before applying new one?Originally Posted by sdsearch
You are not ready to apply for another if you haven't reduced the credit limit yet. You should reduce the credit limit as soon as possible after opening a BofA card, as opposed to waiting until you're ready to apply for another card.Many people lately are getting denied for another personal card if they have even one open. I would think that should tell you whether you should close after reducing credit limit.
But people who have too much credit "tied up" with BofA may only get approved for a Platinum card (5k bonus) instead of signature. And credit can get "tied up" at BofA if you don't reduce credit limit before cancelling or if you don't wait long enough after reducing credit limit before applying for another card.
So reduce your credit limit immediately. But I'm not sure how long you need to wait after that to close and apply again (with low risk).
Thanks.
Quote:
Please re-read the second paragraph of what you just quoted and you should have your answer.Originally Posted by mak101
Should I cancel the first card before applying new one?
Quote:
Many people lately are getting denied for another personal card if they have even one open. I would think that should tell you whether you should close after reducing credit limit.
But people who have too much credit "tied up" with BofA may only get approved for a Platinum card (5k bonus) instead of signature. And credit can get "tied up" at BofA if you don't reduce credit limit before cancelling or if you don't wait long enough after reducing credit limit before applying for another card.
So reduce your credit limit immediately. But I'm not sure how long you need to wait after that to close and apply again (with low risk).
Is it truly a YMMV situation anymore with these cards? I have 1 Biz and 1 personal AS card (that's all I have with BoA) and I really do want to apply for another of each. But based on all of the data out there, I really am having trouble predicting how that will shake out (I do have a lot of new accounts in the last 24 months).Originally Posted by sdsearch
You are not ready to apply for another if you haven't reduced the credit limit yet. You should reduce the credit limit as soon as possible after opening a BofA card, as opposed to waiting until you're ready to apply for another card.Many people lately are getting denied for another personal card if they have even one open. I would think that should tell you whether you should close after reducing credit limit.
But people who have too much credit "tied up" with BofA may only get approved for a Platinum card (5k bonus) instead of signature. And credit can get "tied up" at BofA if you don't reduce credit limit before cancelling or if you don't wait long enough after reducing credit limit before applying for another card.
So reduce your credit limit immediately. But I'm not sure how long you need to wait after that to close and apply again (with low risk).
Quote:
I've usually waited at least a week (after verifying that the new lower credit limit was showing online).Originally Posted by shimps1
So how long should someone wait to close an account, after lowering the credit limit?
But that does not mean you can apply two days after and have a good chance of being approved with a decent credit limit on the new card. It's probably better to wait a month or more between lowering credit limit and applying for the next card.
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I suggest you do one at a time.Originally Posted by PumpkinSmasher
Is it truly a YMMV situation anymore with these cards? I have 1 Biz and 1 personal AS card (that's all I have with BoA) and I really do want to apply for another of each. But based on all of the data out there, I really am having trouble predicting how that will shake out (I do have a lot of new accounts in the last 24 months).
I don't know about YMMV, and I'm not sure why it should matter.
Most people are denied if they apply for another personal card while still having one open. Do you really care whether it's "all" people or "most" people, if you can't predict which camp you'll fall into? Just assume it's "all" people.
I don't know whether we have enough data points on business cards. I assume the same might apply for business card, because I'm risk averse.
But other datapoints suggest BofA is paying more attention perhaps to inquiry counts than before.
So I would suggest a couple things:
1. End up with a BofA card which you'll "never' cancel. You might want to therefore convert your personal Alaska card to a no-AF BofA card (it doesn't much matter which one, just use it once every year or so for something small to make sure they don't close it for "inactivity"). I don't think you can convert the business card, only the personal card probably.
2. Don't close both cards at the same time. Keep one card open while you close the other card, and then try applying for the other card. If you succeed on the other card, then sometime later repeat with the first card.
3. Remember, with a business card application you'll be either approved or denied. With a personal card application, you can be approved for Signature at 30k bonus, or approved for Platinum with the dreaded 5k bonus (more likely than being denied outright).
4. And, of course, remember to lower your credit limit right away (if you haven't already), no matter when you plan to cancel (or convert) each card.
Quote:
Wrong question. What you should do is lower the cl as soon as you meet the min spnd. Then when you want to cancel/reapply later you don't have to worry about "how long". Originally Posted by shimps1
So how long should someone wait to close an account, after lowering the credit limit?
I understand in your current situation you now have to worry about "how long". And since I do the above I don't know the answer to that. But my advice above is for your next app.
Quote:
I don't know about YMMV, and I'm not sure why it should matter.
Most people are denied if they apply for another personal card while still having one open. Do you really care whether it's "all" people or "most" people, if you can't predict which camp you'll fall into? Just assume it's "all" people.
I don't know whether we have enough data points on business cards. I assume the same might apply for business card, because I'm risk averse.
But other datapoints suggest BofA is paying more attention perhaps to inquiry counts than before.
So I would suggest a couple things:
1. End up with a BofA card which you'll "never' cancel. You might want to therefore convert your personal Alaska card to a no-AF BofA card (it doesn't much matter which one, just use it once every year or so for something small to make sure they don't close it for "inactivity"). I don't think you can convert the business card, only the personal card probably.
2. Don't close both cards at the same time. Keep one card open while you close the other card, and then try applying for the other card. If you succeed on the other card, then sometime later repeat with the first card.
3. Remember, with a business card application you'll be either approved or denied. With a personal card application, you can be approved for Signature at 30k bonus, or approved for Platinum with the dreaded 5k bonus (more likely than being denied outright).
4. And, of course, remember to lower your credit limit right away (if you haven't already), no matter when you plan to cancel (or convert) each card.
Good advice, thank you for that. Obviously, no one likes applying for cards and being denied. I have other cards I could apply for that I think my success rate would be higher with, but I also don't want them as much as the AS cards. So that's my dilemma is all I meant. That and BoA seems very unpredictable these days. Originally Posted by sdsearch
I suggest you do one at a time.I don't know about YMMV, and I'm not sure why it should matter.
Most people are denied if they apply for another personal card while still having one open. Do you really care whether it's "all" people or "most" people, if you can't predict which camp you'll fall into? Just assume it's "all" people.
I don't know whether we have enough data points on business cards. I assume the same might apply for business card, because I'm risk averse.
But other datapoints suggest BofA is paying more attention perhaps to inquiry counts than before.
So I would suggest a couple things:
1. End up with a BofA card which you'll "never' cancel. You might want to therefore convert your personal Alaska card to a no-AF BofA card (it doesn't much matter which one, just use it once every year or so for something small to make sure they don't close it for "inactivity"). I don't think you can convert the business card, only the personal card probably.
2. Don't close both cards at the same time. Keep one card open while you close the other card, and then try applying for the other card. If you succeed on the other card, then sometime later repeat with the first card.
3. Remember, with a business card application you'll be either approved or denied. With a personal card application, you can be approved for Signature at 30k bonus, or approved for Platinum with the dreaded 5k bonus (more likely than being denied outright).
4. And, of course, remember to lower your credit limit right away (if you haven't already), no matter when you plan to cancel (or convert) each card.
I do have some interest for sure in the Merrill+ (if I can still get the 50K offer), but I'd put that behind the AS card(s) in fear of either being turned down or not getting the personal signature card like you suggested. Do you think applying for the Merrill+ first and keeping that then slowly closing the other AS cards is the way to go? Thanks again for your insights.
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I don't personally see the point of Merrill+ cards (they're just cashback so that's just $500, isn't it) compared to AS cards. Zillions of banks have cashback cards, but only BofA has AS cards*. And it seems far riskier to first apply for another card with BofA than to convert a card you already have. What if they're only going to approve you for one more card in the next 6 months, then what? You'll have lowest priority card and 0 new AS cards (and be out at least one old AS card), is that worth $500? Originally Posted by PumpkinSmasher
I do have some interest for sure in the Merrill+ (if I can still get the 50K offer), but I'd put that behind the AS card(s) in fear of either being turned down or not getting the personal signature card like you suggested. Do you think applying for the Merrill+ first and keeping that then slowly closing the other AS cards is the way to go? Thanks again for your insights.
Plus, converting the card you already have will give BofA a card with more "age and history" than applying for a new card will. It's the closest thing possible to "going back in time" and opening your BofA "keeper" card account "in the past". The point is not just to get a BofA "keeper" card account, it's to have one with the longest history possible.
*Well, that's not 100% true, in that merger partner Virgin America still has a separate program and is with another bank (Comenity), but the signup bonus there is not so good
Quote:
Plus, converting the card you already have will give BofA a card with more "age and history" than applying for a new card will. It's the closest thing possible to "going back in time" and opening your BofA "keeper" card account "in the past". The point is not just to get a BofA "keeper" card account, it's to have one with the longest history possible.
*Well, that's not 100% true, in that merger partner Virgin America still has a separate program and is with another bank (Comenity), but the signup bonus there is not so good
What's great about the Merrill+ is no annual fee and if you redeem for flights, you can redeem for 2 flights up to $500 each. And if the flights are over $500, you can pay the difference. With how cheap economy tickets are to Europe right now, that could add up to two roundtrippers or if there is a last minute/holiday booking domestically (which often runs pricey), you could also get tickets free that way or heavily discounted. It's quite a good deal. Originally Posted by sdsearch
I don't personally see the point of Merrill+ cards (they're just cashback so that's just $500, isn't it) compared to AS cards. Zillions of banks have cashback cards, but only BofA has AS cards*. And it seems far riskier to first apply for another card with BofA than to convert a card you already have. What if they're only going to approve you for one more card in the next 6 months, then what? You'll have lowest priority card and 0 new AS cards (and be out at least one old AS card), is that worth $500? Plus, converting the card you already have will give BofA a card with more "age and history" than applying for a new card will. It's the closest thing possible to "going back in time" and opening your BofA "keeper" card account "in the past". The point is not just to get a BofA "keeper" card account, it's to have one with the longest history possible.
*Well, that's not 100% true, in that merger partner Virgin America still has a separate program and is with another bank (Comenity), but the signup bonus there is not so good
It's true, I prefer AS to Merrill+, but it's not like the Merrill+ is a bad card to pick up. I misunderstood your original suggestion though. It sounds like you favored downgrading one of the AS cards and keeping that one, yes? If so, is there any time frame you'd suggest on that? I think I opened my cards in August of last year. Do you think they'd let me convert it to Merrill+?
Anyway, truly, thanks for your suggestions. I greatly appreciate it.