How to maximize your Alaska Airlines companion fare
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Among the most popular benefits of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card is the annual companion fare. This is a discounted fare from $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees from $22) that can be used on just about any Alaska Airlines or Virgin America itinerary. Cardholders also enjoy a free checked bag for themselves and up to six other passengers (so a total of seven) in their reservation, triple miles on Alaska purchases, and one mile for every dollar spent on everyday purchases.
There are many ways to maximize the value of the companion fare and potentially save hundreds of dollars on air travel each year.
Because the companion fare has a flat price, you can use it to travel anywhere Alaska flies, including Hawaii and Costa Rica. The primary traveler must pay the prevailing fare, but the companion still pays just $99 plus taxes and fees.
You don’t need to worry about “eligible” fare classes or limited inventory. As long as there are still two seats for sale in the economy cabin your companion fare is good to go! Best of all, both travelers will still earn miles with Alaska Airlines and are eligible for complimentary elite upgrades.
Don’t worry if you aren’t traveling round-trip or are planning a stop-over. One-way and round-trip itineraries with one stop-over can also be booked using the companion fare as long as every flight is operated by Alaska Airlines, Virgin America or Horizon Air. If you need to connect on a partner airline and still want to use your companion fare discount, then you’ll need to break your itinerary into separate reservations.
How to book the companion fare
The companion fare will be delivered into your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account each year within two billing cycles after your anniversary date. Visit the “Discount Codes” section of your account.
Either click on the link to begin a search, or visit the Alaska Airlines home page and type the code into the corresponding field.
Results will display separate prices for each flight: the first amount is the normal price charged to the primary traveler, and the second amount is the discounted price charged to the companion traveler. Remember, companions still need to pay taxes and fees, so the cost of each flight could be higher for some destinations. A red “e” symbol will confirm that you’ve found an eligible flight.
When entering passenger information, you’ll be asked to identify the primary and companion passengers. Be careful if you think your plans might change. The primary passenger must travel to maintain the discount, although the companion is permitted to miss his or her flight. The member who received the companion fare discount code can be identified as either passenger.
Each companion fare code is only valid for one calendar year, so plan ahead to ensure that it doesn’t go to waste. As long as you book your flights before the expiration date, travel can take place after the code expires.
Save on first class travel with the companion fare
Although the companion fare can only be used to book flights in the economy cabin, there are still ways to use it and save on first class travel. Complimentary elite upgrades are available close to departure, and some fares can be upgraded further in advance. Alaska Airlines makes it easy to search for these upgradeable fares during the booking process.
On the same front page where you enter your companion fare discount code, select an “upgrade type” from the menu. Why does this choice matter? Only certain economy fares are eligible, and they may not be the least expensive for that trip. Each type of upgrade has different restrictions. Remember that the companion fare doesn’t change; only one passenger needs to pay this premium.
There are three types of advance upgrades:
- Anyone can upgrade by redeeming 15,000 miles in each direction of travel. Eligible fares include Y, B, S, M, and H.
- Four MVP Gold guest upgrade codes are issued each year to MVP Gold and 75K members, who may use them for themselves or share with a friend. Eligible fares include Y, S, B, M, H, Q, L, V, and K.
- Travelers with elite status may be eligible for an instant upgrade without redeeming anything. MVP members can upgrade Y or S fares, MVP Gold can upgrade Y, S, B or M fares, and 75K members can upgrade Y, S, B, M, or H fares.
Consider that the difference between the cheapest fare and an upgradeable fare may be a small amount — it could be $10 or $100 or perhaps more. But you only need to pay that amount for the primary traveler. The companion still pays just $99 plus taxes and fees. Because the companion is booked into the same fare, both can benefit from an instant upgrade. (The companion still needs to redeem miles, redeem a guest upgrade, or have elite status.)
If an advance upgrade isn’t available at the time of booking, you should still add yourself to the complimentary upgrade waitlist. If you’re lucky, more upgrades will become available later, and at that time you can call an agent to process the advance upgrade manually.
Now you know all the best tips to maximize the value of your annual companion fare. Learn more about the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card here.
This credit card program is issued and administered by Bank of America, N.A. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.
Comments
If I book a flight utilizing a companion fare and my companion decides not to go on the trip, could I switch the name of my companion and still maintain the flights?
Hi Margo. Reservations can help answer your question! Just call 1-800-252-7522.
There are three of us traveling together but I can only book two tickets when purchasing with a companion fare (for my 3 year old). How can I get all three of us to sit together?
Reservations can help you sort this out. They can be reached at 1-800-252-7522.
Can you use 2 companion tickets at the same time? If I use mine and I get another one from someone else?
Can my companion and I have different returning dates
Unfortunately not. The reservation must be made for two people booked in the same itinerary, traveling together, and ticketed at the same time.
Can you book the trip with companion fare using the app or do I need to use the full site?
Hi there,
I have two credit cards open through Alaska – both actively in use by me. Can I use my two companion fares for a total of 4 people under my name? Or does the credit card holder always have to be one of the two involved in the companion fare? Thank you.
Hello Kristian. I currently have one signature card and was hoping to obtain a second one. Did you have any difficulties getting a second card? I had my current card for a year.
Also I remember being told by a representative when I first got the card that I could use the companion fare to purchase tickets for my daughter and a friend to fly. She is going to college in the fall, hence his suggestion and my hope to get an additional card.
How about premium class? Can I use companion on this class?
Just want to make sure I understand everything correctly…If I am purchasing 4 tickets to Hawaii, can I use miles for 1 ticket, purchase 2, and use the companion fare for the 4th? Thank you for your help!!
Yes, that should work. You might have to do it in separate transactions.
If travel with 4 ppl, does that mean I buy 2 tickets and get 2 free? Or is it restricted to only 1 free ticket only?
Hi Kat, You get only one companion fare per year – so just one ticket.
We have a companion fare that expires in May. If we purchase tickets using that fare for flights in December, will we be able to use another companion fare (issued after May)? We’re trying to get four tickets to Hawaii for December using companion fares.
Thanks
Can the companion fare be used if I purchase a ticket using miles plus cash?
No, it’s only valid for use with a purchased fare. Sorry.
Can you fly departing airport and a different airport on return. Also are two stops allowed itineraries.
Why are non-stop options not available when trying to use companion fare or miles?
Why are non-stop options not available when trying to use companion fare or miles?
Does one of the travelers have to be the cardholder who has the companion fare benefit? Can I allow two different people to use my companion fare or do I have to travel with one of them?
Hello! I am new to Alaska Airlines Mileage rewards and Companion Fare. Is it my understanding the Companion Fare can only be redeemed when a ticket is purchased as opposed to a ticket obtained with Mileage Rewards?
Thanks for clarification.
Bill
Is my companion allowed to change the date of her return flight if I keep my original date? Thank you.
I have the same questions
No, you have to travel together with your companion.
Problem (for me) is Alaska changed their policy a while back and no longer allows passengers to purchase first class companion fares. Wife and I normally fly first class so I haven’t used a companion fare in years and don’t fly Alaska as much as I used to.
It’s still possible to upgrade flights booked using a companion fare. I made an effort to provide an example of this on a trip to Hawaii.
Sometimes the cheapest fare is already eligible, and sometimes you may need to pay slightly more to confirm your upgrade in advance. Fortunately the companion’s discounted fare remains unchanged even if the primary traveler pays more.
If 2 persons (both with Alaska Mileage Plan Accounts) are booked using the companion fare discount and are upgraded using the 15k miles each way upgrade option, will the 60k miles needed for the round trip for two be deducted from the primary traveler’s account or can 30k miles be deducted from the primary traveler’s account and 30K miles from the companion’s accounts?
Hi Beverly – When redeeming your miles for a First Class upgrade, you’ll need to call Alaska Airlines reservations to process the request. Each member can use their own balance toward an upgrade as long as there are enough miles in each member’s account. Be sure that you book a qualifying fare and a flight with upgrade space. You can check this by selecting “Mileage upgrade” as your upgrade preference option when shopping for flights.
Outstanding info! Very helpful! Thanks!
Jennifer
Jennifer E. Roseman
Sisters of Providence
Director, Communications & Development
9 East 9th Ave
Spokane WA 99202
(509) 474-2395 or (509) 994-5032
http://www.sistersofprovidence.net
I’ve been using our companion fares for years…..when did you add that I could pack a free suitcase? and my copanion????
Hi Joan – we added that feature to the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card last July. Learn more here!
How do you get elite standing?
Hi Sandy – you can learn more about our MVP tiers at this link.
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