"Priority Boarding" on Alaska Airlines when ticket paid for with Alaska CC-New benefit (2024)

Yeah, priority compared to whom. Last time I had some sort of "priority" on another airline, it was behind about six categories of award holders, first class passengers, military, families with children, etc. In other words, just in front of "everyone else." Still, it does help with overhead storage, but I wouldn't pay for it.

The problem with airline miles is that it takes so many for an award, most casual fliers won't earn enough for years. It's just the credit card signup bonus that'll get you a usable slug.

isisdave said:

Yeah, priority compared to whom. Last time I had some sort of "priority" on another airline, it was behind about six categories of award holders, first class passengers, military, families with children, etc. In other words, just in front of "everyone else." Still, it does help with overhead storage, but I wouldn't pay for it.

The problem with airline miles is that it takes so many for an award, most casual fliers won't earn enough for years. It's just the credit card signup bonus that'll get you a usable slug.

Click to expand...

You described the priority perfectly:

Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card cardholders and up to six guests on the same reservation will receive priority boarding on Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, and SkyWest flights when they purchase their ticket with the card.

Cardholders can board before general boarding, but after Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan elite members, Oneworld alliance elite members, first or premium class ticket holders, and preboarding groups.

It looks like it would be hit-or-miss. In other words, how many people on that flight will be all the elites and pre-boarders. If there are a lot, there won't be much incentive. But, if there aren't as many, you may get in and get a good luggage spot in the above compartment before the rest enter.

TS

Luanne said:

A few years ago I saw a hysterical video about boarding. I wish I could find it. I found an SNL skit, but it wasn't the one I was looking for.

Click to expand...

Was it Comedy Central?

alwysonvac said:

Was it Comedy Central?

Click to expand...

No

isisdave said:

The problem with airline miles is that it takes so many for an award, most casual fliers won't earn enough for years.

Click to expand...

I would say that is exactly the point with airline miles. The more you fly, the faster you will get an award. Or do you think airlines should simply give out flights to flyer member regardless of how many miles they have flown?

I have a Starbucks account. I so seldom use it that the most I can ever hope for a free cup of drip coffee. No lattes or hot sandwiches for me. I don't have a problem with that.

If you were operating a business, wouldn't you give frequent customer rewards to the people who are frequent customers? And give more rewards to the people who are the most frequent customers?

sun starved Gayle said:

I flew Alaska yesterday and there was no call for priority boarding for people paying with an Alaskan CC.

Click to expand...

It should show up in the boarding group that is printed on the boarding pass. After boarding status frequent flyers and people who are in premium class, they start general boarding. Based on the above post by @davidvel, the first general boarding group should include flyers who purchased using an Alaska Air cc, but weren't included in one of the earlier boarding classes.

simpsontruckdriver said:

It looks like it would be hit-or-miss. In other words, how many people on that flight will be all the elites and pre-boarders. If there are a lot, there won't be much incentive. But, if there aren't as many, you may get in and get a good luggage spot in the above compartment before the rest enter.

TS

Click to expand...

If you are in the first group for general boarding you shouldn't have any problem finding overhead bin space. I fly Alaska enough to be a regular MVP Gold, and some years I make MVP Gold 75K. Off the top of my head, I would say that mandatory gate checking due to fully occupied bins occurs in no more than 20% of the flights I'm on.

What I do often see is flight attendants assisting the last boarders in finding OH bin space for the last boarders, so the last boarders often will not be able to stow carryon luggage overhead near their seat.

BTW - if there is something in your carry-on that you absolutely need to have with you, and you are not an early boarder, be sure to discuss your situation with the gate agent before boarding begins.

We use Alaska Air Visa for our main cabin seats and usually have group c on our ticket . We go up as soon as they call main cabin groups and have never had a problem.

Bill

I hope I am misreading the details, but it looks like a card holder has to spend at least $6,000 by the anniversary date in order to receive a code for the annual companion fare. If true that would be a new requirement and one that may make the card less beneficial unless one uses the red enough to qualify. Is my understanding correct?

Best regards.

Mike

Update- see later post that spend requirements only apply to new card holders.

mjm1 said:

I hope I am misreading the details, but it looks like a card holder has to spend at least $6,000 by the anniversary date in order to receive a code for the annual companion fare. If true that would be a new requirement and one that may make the card less beneficial unless one uses the red enough to qualify. Is my understanding correct?

Best regards.

Mike

Click to expand...

You made me look Mike. We use two Alaska Airlines credit cards so I will have to switch them up this summer to get $6000 on each. One thing I was disappointed by this year was Seattle and Portland lounges are no longer accessible for day passes.

Bill

easyrider said:

You made me look Mike. We use two Alaska Airlines credit cards so I will have to switch them up this summer to get $6000 on each. One thing I was disappointed by this year was Seattle and Portland lounges are no longer accessible for day passes.

Bill

Click to expand...

As I read it, that is only for new cardmembers.

easyrider said:

You made me look Mike. We use two Alaska Airlines credit cards so I will have to switch them up this summer to get $6000 on each. One thing I was disappointed by this year was Seattle and Portland lounges are no longer accessible for day passes.

Bill

Click to expand...

davidvel said:

As I read it, that is only for new cardmembers.

Click to expand...

I just called Alaska Airlines and they confirmed that the spend requirement only applies to new card holders. @davidvel was correct. That is good to know. I updated my original post.

Best regards.

Mike

easyrider said:

One thing I was disappointed by this year was Seattle and Portland lounges are no longer accessible for day passes.

Bill

Click to expand...

My hunch is that this is related to a couple of factors. One is that the use of lounges has increased significantly over, say, the last ten years. Probably a combination of increasing number of passengers overall, as well as increasing popularity of lounges. Added to that is the increasing number of ways for people to access lounges indirectly, whether through credit card or partner airline arrangements. It has only been in the last several years, starting just before pandemic, where I regularly saw the Alaska lounges with signs out front limiting capacity due to overcrowding.

A second big factor is probably the OneWorld Alliance. The Alliance increases the availability of the lounges to lounge members for Alliance airlines. Net result is that the Day Pass access is what gets squeezed out.

They make money on the day passes. So I don't think they're giving that up to cut costs.

FWIW - article from the Points Guy on the Alaska Visa:

Re bag check and boarding priority:

As previously mentioned, the card also offers a free checked bag for the cardholder and up to six other travelers on the same reservation when you use the card to pay for your flights. There are no foreign transaction fees, so you can use the card anywhere around the globe without incurring extra charges.

Cardholders will also enjoy priority boarding, similar to Group 4 or 5 boarding on American Airlines for its cobranded credit cardholders. You will board after first class, veterans, folks who need extra time, Oneworld and Alaska elite members and those in the premium cabin. Again, to access this benefit, you need to pay for your flight with your card.

Click to expand...

alwysonvac said:

Was it Comedy Central?

Click to expand...

I was wrong. It was this one I was thinking of. Thanks for the memory jogger.

T_R_Oglodyte said:

I would say that is exactly the point with airline miles. The more you fly, the faster you will get an award. Or do you think airlines should simply give out flights to flyer member regardless of how many miles they have flown?

I have a Starbucks account. I so seldom use it that the most I can ever hope for a free cup of drip coffee. No lattes or hot sandwiches for me. I don't have a problem with that.

If you were operating a business, wouldn't you give frequent customer rewards to the people who are frequent customers? And give more rewards to the people who are the most frequent customers?

Click to expand...

I agree. Before the Internet made business travel less imperative, and before I retired, I might fly enough to get a free ticket every two or three years. Now, there is no way I'd get enough by flying, which leaves the new card bonus as the only way I'll ever get a flight.

I'm not complaining about this. Originally, FF programs were to inspire loyalty -- if you're going to fly, do it on XX Airlines. Nowadays, I just use a 2% cash back card and try to find flights on sale.

Here is a good summary:

I never use the companion fare and would really enjoy it if they would make it 'one companion fare -or- one annual lounge pass'.

For boarding, I'm short, old, have back problems, and carry everything in a small but heavy backpack that is sometimes difficult to hoist up to the overheads. On occasion, when I'm feeling particularly contrary, I will board when they call for those that need extra time.