Compare the Features and Benefits of The Plum Card® and
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card

The Plum Card® is quite possibly the most unique card in the lineup of American Express business credit cards. As a full “No Preset Spending Limit” card (these used to be called charge cards by American Express, but that term is no longer used), it is really a great choice for extremely high spenders.

1.5% is a solid cash back rate for a card with no preset spending limit, though if you have spend that falls into the right bonus categories, you might want to first take a look at the American Express® Business Gold Card which is also a No Preset Spending Limit card (No Preset Spending Limit means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.).

The American Express® Business Gold Card earns 4X Membership Rewards points on up to $150,000 in total spend per calendar year, in the two qualifying categories where your business spends the most money every month out of 6 select business categories.

(Note that the Plum Card earns cash back, not rewards points).

Now if your business is often a bit behind with cash flow (perhaps all of your client payments come more than 30 days after you need to make your own payments, then the 60 day payment period offer on this card (instead of the early pay discount – i.e. the cash back) could really be a massive benefit. So while it’s a niche card product, it can knock the ball out of the park for certain business owners.

Rates and Fees for The Plum Card®

With an affordable $95 annual fee and a great introductory bonus to boot, there are many ways to justify keeping the Alaska Airlines card in your wallet. In fact, there are two types of travelers who would benefit from this airline credit card: one who’s loyal to the West Coast-based carrier and wants extra perks when flying, and the other who wants an easier way to earn Alaska Airlines miles for bucket-list, premium cabin redemptions.

Let’s talk about the first type of traveler: Alaska Airlines frequent flyers. To start, you get a free checked bag on every Alaska flight and get to board the plane soon after elite status holders. While potentially less utilized, the 20% discount for onboard purchases and a $100 statement credit toward a Lounge+ membership can still prove to be beneficial if you frequently fly on Alaska Airlines network.

Now, let’s discuss the second traveler: the travel optimizer. That’s because Alaska’s Mileage Plan loyalty program allow you to redeem miles at a reasonable rate for a broad range of global airline partners beyond just Alaska. From Oneworld alliance partners to highly-rated carriers like Singapore Airlines and Starlux, Alaska miles are easily some of the most valuable airline miles out there.

As well, Alaska miles can be quite difficult to earn compared to other airline miles — unless you open the Alaska Visa to earn both the bonus offer and miles on eligible card purchases. Fortunately, the Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card comes with a solid earning rate on Alaska flights and purchases (3x miles); everyday purchases including eligible gas, EV charging, cable, streaming services, and local transit (2x miles); and a standard 1x miles pr dollar spent on all other purchases.

No matter what your travel goals are with this credit card, the final component to discuss is Alaska’s famous companion fare, which you’ll earn as part of the welcome bonus — assuming you meet minimum spend from account opening. Essentially, you’re able to score a round-trip companion ticket from $99 (plus taxes and fees starting at $23), which can provide excellent value to many destinations. Best of all, cardholders get the opportunity to earn another companion ticket every single year by spending at least $6,000 on card purchases in the prior anniversary year.

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