The Alaska Companion Fare is a popular benefit of Alaska Airlines' co-branded credit card: once a year you can bring a travel companion along on a paid Alaska ticket for a steeply discounted second fare plus taxes and fees. This guide explains how the Alaska Companion Fare works, who's eligible, and how to use it without wasting it.
We're an independent travel agency — not the airline and not affiliated with or endorsed by any carrier. Policies vary by airline, fare type and route, and they change often, so always call to confirm before you fly. We book Alaska Airlines trips constantly and can help you apply your Alaska Companion Fare the smart way. Call +1 (855) 302-0422 (24/7) and an agent will walk you through it.
What is the Alaska Companion Fare?
It's a discounted second ticket: when you book a qualifying paid Alaska fare for yourself, your companion flies the same itinerary for a much lower companion price plus the usual taxes and fees. Unlike the Southwest Companion Pass (unlimited buy-one-get-one), the Alaska Companion Fare is typically a once-a-year certificate tied to holding the airline's credit card.
- One certificate per year for eligible cardholders.
- You buy a regular fare; the companion gets the discounted add-on seat.
- Both travelers fly the same flights on the same booking.
Who's eligible?
Eligibility generally requires holding the Alaska Airlines co-branded credit card in good standing; the certificate often posts after your card anniversary or after meeting a spend requirement. Exact terms vary by card and change over time, so confirm your specific eligibility before planning around it.
| Eligibility factor | What to know (varies — call to confirm) |
|---|---|
| Card membership | Must hold the qualifying Alaska co-branded credit card |
| Annual issuance | Certificate typically granted yearly, often after the anniversary or spend threshold |
| Eligible fares | Companion must travel on qualifying Alaska-operated flights |
| Taxes & fees | Companion pays the discounted fare plus government taxes and fees |
How to use it without wasting it
- Check the expiry date the moment the certificate posts.
- Book early — companion seats need availability on qualifying fares.
- Pair it with a trip you'd take anyway to capture the full discount.
- Mind route restrictions — it applies to Alaska-operated flights, not every partner.
Where the Alaska Companion Fare delivers the most value
Because the discount applies to the second ticket regardless of how pricey the route is, the Alaska Companion Fare shines on longer, more expensive trips rather than short cheap hops. Pairing it with a trip you were already going to take turns it into pure savings, and using it on a peak-priced route — where the full second fare would have stung — maximizes the benefit. Just remember the companion must travel on the same Alaska-operated itinerary as you, so plan both tickets together from the start.
- Best on longer, higher-fare routes where the second ticket would otherwise cost a lot.
- Book both passengers together on one Alaska-operated itinerary.
- Mind blackout and availability limits on the busiest travel days.
- Stack with elite perks if you have status, for seats and boarding.
Common mistakes that waste a companion certificate
The most common way to lose value is simply forgetting the expiry date and letting the certificate lapse — a calendar reminder the day it posts solves that. Others book too late and find qualifying seats gone, or try to use it on a route or partner airline it doesn't cover. A quick conversation before you plan avoids all three: we'll confirm what your specific certificate covers and find dates where it actually works.
Companion Fare vs Companion Pass vs certificate
These sound alike but behave very differently. The Alaska Companion Fare is a once-yearly discounted second ticket. The Southwest Companion Pass is unlimited buy-one-get-one travel for the life of the pass. A Delta companion certificate is yet another variation with its own fare-class and cabin rules. Knowing which you hold determines how you should plan.
Sorting out check-in for your Alaska trip? See our Alaska Airlines check-in & boarding guide.
Don't let a companion certificate expire unused. Call +1 (855) 302-0422 and our agents will find eligible flights and book your companion trip — available 24/7.