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Side-by-side

Blue Business Cash Card from American Express vs Alaska Airlines Visa Signature

Both are well-respected travel cards. The Blue Business Cash Card from American Express comes from American Express at $0/yr; the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature from Bank of America at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($800 more in estimated value) than the Blue Business Cash Card from American Express's. Get the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature first; revisit the Blue Business Cash Card from American Express after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureBlue Business Cash Card from American ExpressAlaska Airlines Visa Signature
Annual fee$0$95
Sign-up bonus$250 statement credit70,000 miles + Companion Fare
Bonus value (est.)$250$1,050
Min spend to unlock bonus$3,000 in 3 mo$3,000 in 90 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressBank of America
Card categorybusinesstravel
Best earning category (All_purchases_first_50k_per_year)2x1x
Transfer partnersNoneNone
Headline benefits
  • 2% cash back up to $50K/yr
  • $0 annual fee
  • 0% intro APR 12 months
  • Auto-credited to statement
  • Companion Fare annually
  • Free checked bag
  • 3x on Alaska
  • No foreign tx fees
Read the full review
Blue Business Cash Card from American Express
$0/yr · $250 statement credit
Read the full review
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature
$95/yr · 70,000 miles + Companion Fare

Editorial take: Blue Business Cash Card from American Express

The cash-back twin of the Blue Business Plus. Same 2% catch-all up to $50K/year, but you get automatic statement credit instead of Membership Rewards points. Simpler for businesses that don't want to manage a points balance; less ceiling than the Plus for transfer-partner redemptions.

Editorial take: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature

The Companion Fare is the hook, $122 + taxes/fees to bring a companion on any Alaska flight, even international business class. If you fly Alaska once a year with a partner, this pays for itself many times over.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Blue Business Cash Card from American Express or Alaska Airlines Visa Signature?
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature has the bigger bonus, 70,000 miles + Companion Fare, worth roughly $1,050, versus $250 statement credit (~$250) on the Blue Business Cash Card from American Express.
Is the Blue Business Cash Card from American Express's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature?
The Blue Business Cash Card from American Express has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature's $95 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature's benefits to clear $95 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Blue Business Cash Card from American Express.
Can I have both the Blue Business Cash Card from American Express and Alaska Airlines Visa Signature?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Bank of America) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the Blue Business Cash Card from American Express or the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Blue Business Cash Card from American Express: $3,000 spend in 3 months. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature: $3,000 in 90 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.