Alaska Airlines Visa Card Named Best Loyalty Credit Card at Frequent Traveler Awards

SEATTLE, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card was named "Best Loyalty Credit Card" in North America at the Frequent Traveler Awards, held Thursday night in Houston. Based on votes cast by more than 1 million frequent fliers, these awards recognize the best airline, hotel and travel loyalty programs. Winners are determined based on the overall merits of each program as ranked by voters.

"This recognition is especially meaningful to us since it comes directly from our customers," said Rick Rasmussen, Alaska Airlines' director of customer loyalty and marketing programs. "We'd like to thank our loyal Mileage Plan members and Visa Signature cardholders, as well as our partners at Visa and Bank of America, who share in this honor."

The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card comes with 25,000 miles upon approval, as well as an annual companion certificate (plus applicable taxes and government fees), that can be used with any fare with no travel restrictions or blackout dates. Cardholders earn three miles for every $1 spent on Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air tickets or Vacations packages, and one mile for every $1 of other purchases on the card.

Launched this year, the Frequent Traveler Awards replaced InsideFlyer magazine's consumer-generated Freddie Awards. Alaska Airlines has been a perennial favorite among frequent fliers over the years, winning 21 Freddie awards for:

• Frequent Flier Program of the Year: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
• Best Elite Level Frequent Flier Program: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Best Frequent Flier Program Web Site: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Best Frequent Flier Program Member Communications: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008

More information about the Frequent Traveler Awards is available at www.ftawards.com.

Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan offers some of the industry's most attractive award levels when booking online, with Super Saver Awards starting at 7,500 miles one way and 15,000 miles round trip. Additionally, online innovations at alaskaair.com make it easy for customers to see all award-seat options for one-way and round-trip itineraries on Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, including Saver and Peak award seats, coach and first class seats, and award sale seats.

About Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve more than 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008, 2009 and 2010 North America Airline Satisfaction Studies(SM). For reservations, visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

About the Frequent Traveler Awards

The Frequent Traveler Awards represent excellence in frequent travel programs worldwide, rating the best frequent flier and frequent guest programs. The Frequent Traveler Awards are voted on by frequent travelers worldwide, allowing them to rate airline and hotel programs from their point of view. The merits of what each program offers determine the winners. Frequent flier and frequent guest programs compete in five categories, with voters selecting programs in one of three global regions: Americas, Europe/Africa, and the Middle East/Asia and Oceania.

SOURCE Alaska Airlines