One of the best saving strategies is to always check other airlines prices for the route you need to travel.  Recently in pricing a trip we compared full price (for two people) on three other airlines to an Alaska Airlines round trip using a "companion" discount.  I had been paying just under $100/year for their credit card, hoping to benefit from the discount.  The saving?  $16.  So, had I bought at that time, we'd have been behind by $86.  The tickets aren't bought yet so that could change - prices seem to change more often than most people change their socks.  But when that credit card reaches renewal date it's gone.