The MBNA Alaska Airlines Mastercard is a really good credit card as Alaska Miles has one of the best points evaluations in Canada at 2.3 CPP that is converted to CAD from the USD evaluation on 1.8 CPP that is the most commonly agreed evaluation by the community. Alaska Airlines has partnerships with some of the best airlines in the world like Cathy Pacific, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates.

Annual Fee & Signup Bonus

• $75
• 20,000 Alaska Miles when you spend $1000 in the first 90 days

Earning rates + Bonuses

• 3x miles per dollars spent Alaska Airlines
• 1x mile per dollar spent on everything else
• $121 US Alaska Airlines companion fare ($99 base fare plus $22 to pay for taxes and fees)
• Minimum 10% off Avis and Budget in Canada and the US and minimum 5% international

Redemption Options

• Redeem miles for flights on Alaska Airlines and their partner airlines
• Alaska Airlines companion fare for a second ticket on the same flight for flights in Canada, Continental US, Alaska, Hawaii, and Mexico

Insurance

• Common Carrier Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefits up to $1,000,000
• Unexpected Return Home up to $2000
• Coverage against loss, theft, or damage to personal effects for the duration of a vehicle rental period $1,000 per insured/ $2,000 per account
• Purchase Assurance Lifetime total accumulative limit of $60,000 per account
• Extended Warranty Benefits 1 year

Thoughts

As mention at the begging of the article, Alaska Miles has a very high point evaluation because you can book flights with many of the world's best airlines. Another thing that makes Alaska Miles even more valuable is that usually the piece to fly to Asia from Canada is really expensive out of pocket yet for as little as 50k Miles for Business on Cathay Pacific or Hainan Airlines or for 70k First Class on Cathay Pacific or Japan Airlines.

For example: A flight in First Class on Cathay Pacific from Canada to Asia, does not matter from where, costs 70k Alaska Miles and a flight from JFK to HKG has a moderately normal price of 25.4k CAD.

CPP = (ticket price ÷ points needed)*100

CPP = (25,409÷70,000)*100 = 36.3. This is one of the best redemptions you can get with Alaska Miles and shows you that just because the program has an evaluation of 2.3 CPP does not mean you can’t get some outstanding redemptions. This one trip gives you 36.3 cents per point spent but even without this exact flight, you can still get flights for over 20 CPP when redeeming flights to Asia in premium classes.

The companion fare can only be booked on Alaska Airline flights in Canada, the US including Alaska and Hawaii, and Mexico in economy. The fact that this companion fare is valid to trips to Alaska and Hawaii is going to be the best redemptions as these are flights that usually cost the most to fly to.

You can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy Points to Alaska Miles at a ratio of 3:1 and when you transfer 60k Marriott Points Marriott will give you a bound 5k Alaska Miles.