Quick Points: Use the Alaska Airlines Companion Fare for the iconic Milk Run
One of the most highlighted perks of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card and Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card is the ability to earn an Alaska Airlines Companion Fare. The Companion Fare lets you bring another guest with you on a round-trip or one-way paid published coach airfare on Alaska Airlines for just a $99 …
One of the most highlighted perks of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card and Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card is the ability to earn an Alaska Airlines Companion Fare. The Companion Fare lets you bring another guest with you on a round-trip or one-way paid published coach airfare on Alaska Airlines for just a $99 base fare plus taxes and fees (which start at $23).
The Alaska Airlines Companion Fare is valid for many trips, but one of the most iconic is the Alaska Milk Run.
What is the Alaska Milk Run?
Alaska Airlines describes the Milk Run as “the daily circuit of Alaska Airlines flights that hop between towns in Southeast Alaska, serving as a lifeline for the communities that aren’t always connected by roads to the outside world.”
Alaska operates six Milk Run flight numbers:
- Flight 61: Seattle to Juneau, Yakutat, Cordova and Anchorage
- Flight 62: Fairbanks to Anchorage, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Seattle
- Flight 64: Anchorage to Juneau, Petersburg, Wrangell, Ketchikan and Seattle
- Flight 65: Seattle to Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Juneau and Anchorage
- Flight 66: Anchorage to Cordova, Yakutat, Juneau and Seattle
- Flight 67: Seattle to Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau and Anchorage
The intended purpose of Milk Run routes is to connect small towns to each other and larger cities. As such, Alaska often blocks you from booking these routes if there’s a more direct option.
Related: The best Alaska cruises for every type of traveler
Using a Companion Fare on the Alaska Milk Run
You can search for and book an Alaska Companion Fare online. Log in to your account, click on your name in the upper right-hand corner and select “Discounts and companion fare codes.” If you have a Companion Fare, you should see it here. Click “Shop” and then search for your flights as normal.
You could book a round-trip Milk Run, such as Seattle to Petersburg. You’ll stop in Ketchikan and Wrangell each way but may not be able to leave the plane.
Or, if you want to fly through more Milk Run airports, you could book a multicity trip. Consider which Milk Run destinations appeal to you most, but here’s an example itinerary.
As you can see, booking the Alaska Milk Run isn’t cheap. But you and your favorite travel companion can save money on an epic AvGeek experience by using the Alaska Companion Fare.
Related: These are the best times to visit Alaska
How to earn an Alaska Airlines Companion Fare
If you apply for the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card, you can currently earn 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days from opening your account.
Meanwhile, if you apply for the Alaska Airlines Visa Business card, you can get 70,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $4,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days from opening your account. Both of these offers will be available for a limited time.
If you already have one of these cards, you can get a $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year.
