Updated: October 21, 2024
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The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card and the Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard® offer excellent airline loyalty rewards and no foreign transaction fees. The Alaska Airlines Card is the better option, providing a higher value per mile on airline purchases, a Companion Fare and free checked bags.
However, the Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Card offers higher rewards on Spirit flights, dining and groceries, along with a lower annual fee (waived in the first year).
The Alaska Airlines Signature Card works best for frequent Alaska flyers who can use the Companion Fare and free checked bags. It helps you earn more miles on Alaska flights. But if you rarely fly with Alaska, the annual fee might not be worth it, and rewards on other purchases are limited.
The Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Card is likely to be better for frequent flyers who want high rewards on Spirit flights and dining. It offers a $100 companion flight voucher each year, which can offset its $79 annual fee after the first year. However, it doesn't include free checked bags, which may not suit travelers with luggage. This card is less appealing to those seeking flexible rewards across multiple airlines.
A point-by-point comparison helps you see how each card fits your needs. For instance, if you're focused on rewards, Alaska Airlines offers three miles on Alaska purchases, while Free Spirit gives three points on Spirit flights.
Both cards have a regular APR range of 20.74%–28.74% variable.
The Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Card has no annual fee for the first year, then $79. The Alaska Airlines Signature Card has a $95 annual fee.
Neither card offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers.
The Alaska Airlines Signature Card offers three miles per dollar on Alaska Airlines purchases and two miles on gas, EV charging, cable, streaming and transit. The Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Card offers three points on Spirit Airlines purchases and two points on groceries and dining.
The Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Card provides 50,000 bonus points and a $100 companion voucher after spending $1,000. It offers a higher return on investment than the Alaska Airlines Signature Card's 50,000 miles and a companion fare after spending $3,000.
Both cards require a good to excellent credit score of 670–850.
Both cards have similar penalties and fees. They charge up to $40 for late payments and a 29.99% penalty APR. The Alaska Airlines Signature Card has a 4% cash advance fee, while the Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Card charges 5%. Neither card has foreign transaction fees.
Bank of America issues both cards, so they share the same issuer satisfaction score.
The Alaska Airlines Signature Card provides a companion fare valued at $462 and free checked bags worth $210. The Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Card offers lower overall value with a $100 companion voucher and a 25% inflight discount.
The Alaska Airlines Signature Card offers a higher value per mile at around 1.4 cents, while Spirit points are valued at about 1 cent each. This makes the Alaska Airlines Signature Card more rewarding for those who frequently fly with Alaska Airlines or its partners.
Both cards provide bonus rewards in specific categories. The Alaska Airlines Signature Card gives two miles per dollar on gas, EV charging, cable, streaming services and local transit. The Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Card offers two points per dollar on groceries and dining.
The table below compares the rewards for both cards.
Category | Alaska Airlines Signature | Free Spirit Travel More World Elite |
|---|---|---|
Alaska Purchases | 3X miles | 1X point |
Spirit Purchases | 1X mile | 3X points |
Gas | 2X miles | 1X point |
EV Charging | 2X miles | 1X point |
Internet and Cable | 2X miles | 1X point |
Streaming Services | 2X miles | 1X point |
Taxi, Ride Share and All Other Transit | 2X miles | 1X point |
Groceries | 1X mile | 2X points |
Dining | 1X mile | 2X points |
All Other Purchases | 1X mile | 1X point |
The Alaska Airlines Signature Card offers more flexible redemption options. Miles can be used for flights with Alaska Airlines and oneworld Alliance partners, with no blackout dates. In contrast, the Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Card's points are limited to Spirit flights and select partners, which may not suit all travelers.
The Alaska Airlines Signature Card offers better benefits for travelers, with its Companion Fare and free checked bags providing big savings. Both cards offer priority boarding, but Alaska's version is more valuable. The Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Card's in-flight discount and companion voucher appeal to budget-conscious users, providing ongoing savings.
Travel Perks
Credits and Discounts
All Other Perks
Travel Perks
Credits and Discounts
The Alaska Airlines Signature Card has a $95 annual fee, while the Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Card has a $0 intro fee, then $79.
Both airline credit cards offer 3X rewards on purchases made with their respective airlines.
Neither card charges foreign transaction fees, making them great for international travel.
The Alaska Airlines Signature Card offers 60,000 bonus miles and a Companion Fare, while the Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Card gives 50,000 bonus points and a $100 companion voucher.
The Alaska Airlines Signature Card offers free checked bags, while the Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Card provides priority boarding and a 25% inflight discount.
MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the 'Airline' category. Several factors determine this score:
For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
