Showing posts with label visa signature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label visa signature. Show all posts

50,000 Miles for the Chase MileagePlus Explorer Credit Card with $50 Statemen Credit

For now until 9/2/14 Chase is offer the Chase MileagePlus Explorer Visa Signature card with 50,000 bonus points instead of the regular 30,000 bonus points. You will also get a $50 statement credit as well. If you were thinking of signing up for a new credit card this could be a great option.

The Chase MileagePlus Explorer Visa Signature card comes with:


  • 50,000 points after $2,000 in purchases in first 3 months
  • $50 Statement Credit
  • Free Checked Bag
  • Priority Boarding
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 5,000 bonus points for add an authorized user
So after making the $2,000 minimum spend and adding an authorized user you would have 57,000 United miles. That is enough for two round trip domestic flights.

The Chase MileagePlus Explorer Visa Signature was one of the first credit cards I applied for when entering the miles and points hobby. I used these miles for a one way trip from the USA to Bangkok.

Best Credit Card for Alaskans

Living in Alaska we have limited options for which airlines service our state or our city. Many blogs advertise the Southwest Credit Card or the Virgin America credit card to their readers. These are great credit cards... if you live in an area serviced by one of these airlines. So what are the best credit cards for people living in Alaska?

I think it is probably just a gimme, but most Alaskan educated on the subject would suggest that the Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card is the top credit card for Alaskans. Alaskan Airlines has the largest presence in Alaska with flights as far north as Barrow and as far south as Ketchikan This credit card offers:

  • 30,000 Alaska Airlines miles after first purchase
  • valuable $99 companion fare
  • 3x miles on Alaska Airlines purchases
  • $75 fee is NOT waived for the first year
Most of the offers publicly available are for only 25,000 miles so this offer is 5,000 miles greater. Yes, the $75 fee is not waived for the first year, but 25,000 miles is sufficient for a round trip domestic ticket. This is well worth the $75 fee.

The $99 companion ticket is also quite valuable. It works like this:

  • Works only flights on  Alaska Airlines flights only
  • Purchase one ticket and received the second for $99 plus tax
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card was my first credit card and I have kept it ever since. Some people find that they are not able to use the $99 companion ticket before the 1 year expiration date (you get a new $99 companion ticket every year you have the credit card).  I see that many people sell their Alaska Airlines companion ticket on craigslist. The going rate is around $175. A reminder that this practice is not completely legitimate from the perspective of Alaska Airlines, but many people do it.

So if you do not have this credit card already, you should definitely consider signing up!