This is why Alaska loyalists want the AAdvantage Government

When interested by cobranded airline playing cards, it is simple to solely take into consideration the playing cards from airways you incessantly fly with. In spite of everything, a few of the key advantages of airline playing cards embrace precedence boarding, free checked luggage and a sooner path to elite standing with the affiliated airline.

I typically encourage folks to suppose past a card’s airline or resort accomplice when deciding whether or not it is sensible for them.

Take the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees), for instance. This card gives a complimentary Admirals Membership membership to assist cardholders justify its $595 annual fee. On the floor, it looks as if that might solely be helpful for American Airways’ greatest followers.

However an Admirals Membership membership provides one thing further: complimentary entry to Alaska Airlines lounges. This is how Alaska loyalists can maximize this card with out ever setting foot on an American Airways flight.

By the Admirals Membership membership you obtain together with your AAdvantage Executive, you will take pleasure in complimentary entry to Alaska lounges everytime you’re flying on a same-day American, Alaska or Hawaiian Airways flight. Be aware that this entry is not prolonged to authorized users, and you will need to have your bodily card with you to enter.

A normal Alaska Airways lounge membership prices $595 a yr, the identical as this card’s annual payment. By placing that cash towards the AAdvantage Government as an alternative of a lounge membership, you will take pleasure in Alaska lounge entry plus all of this card’s different advantages.

No matter whether or not you are flying with American, Alaska or a Oneworld airline, you can even get into Admirals Club lounges for no added payment.

To entry accomplice lounges with simply an Alaska Airways lounge membership, you’d should pay $795 every year for the Alaska Lounge+ membership, $200 greater than what the AAdvantage Government expenses.

Whereas an Alaska Lounge+ membership gives entry to a couple lounges that the AAdvantage Government would not, similar to three United Clubs, the vast majority of its accomplice lounges overlap with what you possibly can entry with this card.

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Each an Alaska Lounge+ membership and the AAdvantage Government present entry to The Qantas Membership and Admirals Membership places. I see no motive to pay $200 extra every year for a sliver of additional lounges to entry.

The AAdvantage Executive earns American Airways miles. Whereas which may initially appear ineffective to an Alaska loyalist, it is really the other.

American Airways miles can simply be used to book Alaska Airlines flights, which means chances are you’ll by no means even should step on American Airways steel to get extra worth out of this card past lounge entry. That mentioned, there are some nice itineraries that mix Alaska and American Airways flights.

For instance, you could possibly guide a one-way business-class ticket from Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) to Heathrow Airport (LHR) for 57,500 miles plus $5.60 in taxes and costs. In the event you have been to guide this itinerary with money, you’d pay $3,483. That is a worth of 6 cents per level.

In the event you typically fly domestically, there’s loads of availability there, too. You may guide a nonstop economic system flight on Alaska through American from Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS) to San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) for 12,500 miles plus $5.60 in taxes and costs.

In the event you have been to guide with money, this flight would price $304, netting you 2.4 cents per level in worth. That is nice for a home economic system flight.

To be taught extra about what American Airways miles are value, take a look at our full guide to the AAdvantage program.

How you can earn American Airways miles

For a restricted time, you possibly can earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first three months from account opening with the AAdvantage Government. That is a ton of miles to make use of towards Alaska flights, and even an American flight or two should you discover an important deal.

Other than its welcome bonus, this card provides easy incomes charges that can assist you rack up extra American miles. You will earn 10 miles per greenback spent on lodges booked via aadvantagehotels.com and automobile leases booked via aadvantagecars.com. Plus, you possibly can earn 4 miles per greenback spent on different American Airways purchases and 1 mile per greenback spent on everything else.

In the event you spend $150,000 a yr or extra on this card, you will earn 5 miles per greenback spent on American Airways purchases as an alternative of 4 via the tip of the calendar yr.

Whereas I typically do not suggest utilizing this card for non-American Airways purchases, if incomes miles towards award flights on Alaska is on the high of your precedence checklist, it could make sense to tug this card out for sure purchases. That is very true should you’re making a purchase order that does not fall below a bonus class lined by one of your other cards.

Associated: How I use Seats.aero every day to find the best airline award availability in seconds

Regardless of being an American Airways-branded card, the AAdvantage Executive has extra advantages you should use with out reserving a flight.

In the event you typically hire vehicles in your holidays, you will take pleasure in this card’s rental automobile assertion credit score. You may earn as much as $120 again yearly on eligible pay as you go leases from Avis or Budget. Simply understand that you will should guide your rental on-line to obtain the credit score.

If renting a automobile is not one thing you normally do, this card can nonetheless assist offset your transportation prices. You may obtain as much as $120 again every year for Lyft rides. You must take three rides to obtain your $10 month-to-month credit score, so this profit is greatest for many who naturally use Lyft a number of instances a month.

Lastly, you possibly can obtain as much as $10 every billing assertion for Grubhub purchases. That is nice for anybody who likes to order takeout, even simply on occasion. To make your credit score stretch additional, order pickup as an alternative of supply.

Whereas these credit are lifestyle-dependent, they will nonetheless present outsize worth for anybody who can simply reap the benefits of them.

A straightforward credit score for any traveler to make use of is that this card’s TSA PreCheck/Global Entry software payment credit score. Even when you have already got TSA PreCheck or World Entry, you should use your AAdvantage Government to pay for someone else’s application.

Lastly, this card provides a variety of important travel protections. You do not have to fly with American Airways to make use of these protections, to allow them to assist safeguard your subsequent flight with Alaska. Journey cancellation and interruption safety, misplaced baggage insurance coverage, and journey delay safety are a number of necessary advantages you could depend on.

To get Alaska lounge entry with a typical membership, you’d should pay $595 a yr. For a similar value, you may get Alaska, Admirals Membership and Qantas lounge entry; American Airways miles to make use of for Alaska flights; assertion credit; and journey protections with the AAdvantage Executive.

It is a no-brainer for any Alaska loyalist to noticeably think about making use of for the AAdvantage Government. It is a good way to supercharge your subsequent Alaska flight, particularly because it’s at present providing an elevated 100,000-mile welcome bonus. Plus, should you’re ever interested in making an attempt American Airways, this card is prepared in your pockets that can assist you out.

To be taught extra, take a look at our full review of the Citi / AAdvantage Executive.

Apply right here: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard