Good morning everyone.  Yesterday, I wrote August 2016: Which Annual Fees did I Pay & which Credit Cards did I Close?  In that post, I shared my thoughts on the Bank of America Alaska Airlines Credit Card and what to do when the $75 annual fee posted to my account.  When I saw the $75 annual fee post to my account, I had to make a decision whether or not to keep the credit card and pay the $75 annual fee or to call Bank of America and close the credit card to avoid paying the $75 annual fee.  To complicate my thought process, I knew that the Alaska Airlines companion pass code would post to my Alaska Airlines account shortly after the $75 annual fee billed to my credit card (that is the best perk of the card, in my opinion).  For those who are unfamiliar with the Alaska Airlines companion pass code, it allows you to buy any paid Alaska Airlines operated flight and bring a companion for as little as $120 (taxes and fees may vary, depending on your destination).

I was hopeful that the companion pass code would post soon, that way I could keep the companion pass code and still close the credit card without paying the $75 annual fee.  So the question is, “How long does the Alaska Airlines companion pass code take to post to my Alaska Airlines account after the annual fee is billed?”  Let’s find out below…

After logging into my Bank of America online account, I can see that the $75 annual fee posted on July 30, 2016.  My statement for this credit card closed on August 8, 2016 (10 days between dates, if I include the beginning and end date in the calculation).  My payment due date is September 5, 2016, so I have to make a decision by then, otherwise I will be hit with a late fee.

I patiently checked my Alaska Airlines account everyday for the next 2 weeks and I am happy to report that the Alaska Airlines companion pass code posted on August 14, 2016, with an expiration date of August 14, 2017.  The companion pass code posted 7 days after my statement closed and 16 days after the annual fee posted (if I include the beginning and end date in both calculations).  I’m not sure if the exact number of days will apply to everyone or if the codes are processed on a specific day of the week/month, but those data points should help you narrow down exactly when your companion pass code will post to your Alaska Airlines account.

To see your Alaska Airlines companion pass code, log into your Alaska Airlines account and click the Valid link under the Discount Codes header.

If you want to read the complete terms and conditions of the Alaska Airlines companion pass code, please check out the terms below.  Now that you know where to find your Alaska Airlines companion pass code, the next thing to do is use your companion pass.  Luckily, I have a very detailed (but slightly out of date) tutorial on how to use your companion pass code.

If you have any questions about earning or redeeming your Alaska Airlines companion pass code, please leave a comment below.  Have a great day everyone!