Information about Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 and our 737-9 MAX fleet

NTSB issues preliminary report on Alaska Flight 1282

Latest update: 1 p.m. Pacific, Feb. 6

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report today, Feb. 6, involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. This is part of the NTSB’s established process during an investigation that it continues to lead.

Alaska’s safety and technical representatives, along with Boeing representatives, remain in close contact with the NTSB. Since this remains an ongoing investigation, we are limited in the details we can release or confirm. We defer questions to the NTSB.

Safety is always our top priority. As this investigation moves forward, we have full confidence in the safety of our operation and aircraft.

Photos by Ingrid Barrentine / Alaska Airlines

Our first 737-9 MAX planes return to service as final inspections continue 

9:30 a.m. Pacific, Jan. 26

Alaska Airlines has completed final inspections on our first group of 737-9 MAX aircraft as we move forward to return the fleet to commercial service. We’ll resume flying the 737-9 MAX with Flight 1146 from Seattle to San Diego on Friday afternoon, Jan 26.  

On Jan. 24, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the detailed inspection and maintenance process for the 737-9 MAX to return to flying. Our Alaska technicians began the inspections that night. We expect inspections on our 737-9 MAX to be completed by the end of next week, allowing us to operate our full flight schedule. 

Each of our 737-9 MAX will return to service only after the rigorous inspections are completed and each plane is deemed airworthy according to FAA requirements. The individual inspections are expected to take up to 12 hours per aircraft.  

We remain extremely grateful to our skilled Maintenance and Engineering team that is shouldering the inspection work and safely returning the planes to service, along with gratitude to all our employees who continue to help support our guests. 

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Previous Updates

8 a.m. Pacific, Jan. 25

Final inspections of our 737-9 MAX fleet underway to safely return the aircraft to service 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday, Jan. 24, approved a thorough inspection and maintenance process for the 737-9 MAX aircraft. Alaska Airlines is now performing these detailed inspections of our planes. 

Each of our aircraft will only return to service once the rigorous inspections are completed and each aircraft is deemed airworthy according to the FAA requirements. We have 65 737-9 MAX in our fleet. The inspections are expected to take up to 12 hours for each plane.   

Following these inspections by our skilled Alaska Maintenance technicians, we expect to bring our first few planes back into scheduled commercial service on Friday, Jan. 26. 

At the request of the FAA, our Maintenance technicians completed preliminary inspections on 20 of our 737-9 MAX aircraft two weeks ago. The data we collected was provided to the FAA for further analysis. Those findings informed the FAA’s final orders for thorough inspections of the door plug on each of our 737-9 MAX aircraft. We are now implementing those final orders. 

With the first of our 737-9 MAX set to resume flying on Friday, we’ll add more planes back into service every day as inspections are completed and each aircraft is deemed airworthy. We expect inspections on all our 737-9 MAX to be completed over the next week.  

We greatly appreciate the FAA’s diligence and commitment to safety to get the 737-9 MAX safely back in the air. 

5 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 24

Final inspections of our 737-9 MAX fleet begin to safely return the aircraft to service 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday, Jan. 24, approved a thorough inspection and maintenance process for the 737-9 MAX aircraft. Alaska Airlines is ready to perform these detailed inspections of our planes. 

Each of our aircraft will only return to service once the rigorous inspections are completed and each aircraft is deemed airworthy according to the FAA requirements. We have 65 737-9 MAX in our fleet. The inspections are expected to take up to 12 hours for each plane.   

Following these inspections by our skilled Alaska Maintenance technicians, we expect to bring our first few planes back into scheduled commercial service on Friday, Jan. 26. 

At the request of the FAA, our Maintenance technicians completed preliminary inspections on 20 of our 737-9 MAX aircraft two weeks ago. The data we collected was provided to the FAA for further analysis. Those findings informed the FAA’s final orders for thorough inspections of the door plug on each of our 737-9 MAX aircraft. We are now ready to implement those final orders. 

The first of our 737-9 MAX will resume flying on Friday, Jan. 26, with more planes added every day as inspections are completed and each aircraft is deemed airworthy. We expect inspections on all our 737-9 MAX to be completed over the next week.  

We greatly appreciate the FAA’s diligence and commitment to safety to get the 737-9 MAX safely back in the air. 

5 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 20

Our Maintenance and Engineering technicians completed preliminary inspections of a group of our 737-9 MAX aircraft as requested by the FAA. We provided the data to Boeing, which will share it with the FAA for further analysis and consultation.

We’re awaiting the next steps based on this collection of new information, including the final inspection orders so we can begin safely returning our planes to service.

The ongoing grounding of the 737-9 MAX continues to impact our operations with all 737-9 MAX paused. This remains a dynamic situation and we greatly appreciate the patience of our guests. We are notifying those whose flights are canceled and working to reaccommodate them. We also have a Flexible Travel Policy in effect.

Alaska has 65 737-9 MAX planes in our fleet of 231 737 aircraft.

10 a.m. Pacific, Jan. 18

Our Maintenance and Engineering technicians completed preliminary inspections of a group of our 737-9 MAX aircraft as requested by the FAA. We provided the data to Boeing, which will share it with the FAA for further analysis and consultation.

We’re awaiting the next steps based on this collection of new information, including the final inspection orders so we can begin safely returning our planes to service.

The ongoing grounding of the 737-9 MAX continues to have a tremendous impact on our operation. We’ve extended the cancellations of our 737-9 MAX flights through Sunday, Jan. 21. This remains a dynamic situation and we greatly appreciate the patience of our guests. We are notifying those whose flights are canceled and working to reaccommodate them. We also have a Flexible Travel Policy in effect.

Each day of 737-9 MAX cancellations for Alaska impacts between 110 to 150 flights, depending on the flight schedule for a given day. Our sister regional carrier, Horizon Air, continues to help get our guests to their destinations by flying some routes that Alaska would normally fly with the 737-9 MAX.

Alaska has 65 737-9 MAX planes in our fleet of 231 737 aircraft.

12:15 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 17

Our Maintenance and Engineering technicians completed preliminary inspections of a group of our 737-9 MAX aircraft as requested by the FAA. We provided the data to Boeing, which will share it with the FAA for further analysis and consultation.

We’re awaiting the next steps based on this collection of new information, including the final inspection orders so we can begin safely returning our planes to service.

The ongoing grounding of the 737-9 MAX continues to have a tremendous impact on our operation. We’ve extended the cancellations of our 737-9 MAX flights through Friday, Jan. 19. This remains a dynamic situation and we greatly appreciate the patience of our guests. We are notifying those whose flights are canceled and working to reaccommodate them. We also have a Flexible Travel Policy in effect.

Each day of 737-9 MAX cancellations for Alaska impacts between 110 to 150 flights, depending on the flight schedule for a given day. Our sister regional carrier, Horizon Air, continues to help get our guests to their destinations by flying some routes that Alaska would normally fly with the 737-9 MAX.

Alaska has 65 737-9 MAX planes in our fleet of 231 737 aircraft.

7:20 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 13

Alaska Airlines began preliminary inspections this weekend on a group of our 737-9 MAX aircraft.  

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requiring more data from Boeing before approving the manufacturer’s proposed inspection and maintenance instructions that will be used to conduct final inspections on all 737-9 MAX and safely return the planes to service. Up to 20 of our planes could undergo preliminary inspections. 

Moving forward 

Aviation safety is based on having multiple levels of quality control and safety assurance, much like system redundancies that are built into an aircraft for operational safety. Together, these layers have made the U.S. aviation industry the safest in the world. 

Last week’s incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was an extremely sobering reminder that these layers require continuous strengthening and improvement. 

Boeing leadership has publicly said that this incident is the result of a “quality escape.” This week, we engaged in a candid conversation with Boeing’s CEO and leadership team to discuss their quality improvement plans to ensure the delivery of the highest quality aircraft off the production line for Alaska. 

We welcome and appreciate the FAA’s recently announced steps to audit and review all safety processes in the production of the 737-9 MAX aircraft, and more broadly at Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, Boeing’s supplier that builds the fuselage for the planes. 

In addition to the FAA’s review and oversight, Alaska Airlines will initiate and enhance our own layers of quality control to the production of our airplanes:  

  • Our quality and audit team began a thorough review of Boeing’s production quality and control systems, including Boeing’s production vendor oversight, and will partner with our maintenance team on the design of enhanced processes for our own quality control over aircraft at Boeing.  
  • Starting this week, we will also enhance our own quality oversight of Alaska aircraft on the Boeing production line, expanding our team with additional experienced professionals to validate work and quality on the Boeing 737 production line.  

Over many decades, we have cultivated a strong partnership with Boeing. With a commitment to transparency and candor, we are dedicated to working together to uphold the utmost quality and safety of our airplanes for our employees and guests. 

6 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 12

 Today, the FAA communicated its instructions for preliminary inspections of some of our 737-9 MAX aircraft.  

Data collected from these inspections will inform the FAA’s ultimate issuance of a global Method of Compliance (MOC) and the process to complete inspections of the full fleet – a required step to safely return the aircraft to service. Read more from the FAA here. 

Alaska has 231 737 aircraft in our fleet. 65 of those planes are 737-9 MAX. 

Additional 737-9 MAX flight cancellations through Tuesday 

With the grounding of the 737-9 MAX still in place, we’ve made another difficult decision to cancel additional flights that were scheduled with that aircraft.  

We’re working as quickly as we can to notify our guests of cancellations through Tuesday, Jan. 16. This equates to between 110-150 flights per day. The decision allows us to give our guests further clarity and begin notification and reaccommodation processes.  

More information for impacted travelers can be found at the bottom of this page.  

We’ll begin repositioning some of our 737-9 MAX aircraft for inspection 

In the coming days, we will begin repositioning designated 737-9 MAX aircraft to our primary maintenance bases. This will allow us to perform the required inspections as soon as the approvals are given. Key points to keep in mind: 

  • Any 737-9 MAX maintenance flying is authorized and permitted under the FAA’s Emergency Airworthiness Directive. 
  • These special flight permits are not new or unique. They are a regular activity in aviation. 
  • Flights are flown by our specially trained functional check flight crews. 
  • No passengers or flight attendants will be on the maintenance flights. 
  • These flights will be designated with a four-digit flight number beginning with a 9, such as AS 9834. 

Horizon Air helps keep our guests moving 

During the grounding of the 737-9 MAX, Alaska’s sister regional carrier Horizon Air is helping to get our guests to where they need to go. 

Through Sunday, Jan. 14, nearly 5,000 guests will fly on 90 flights to destinations across our network on a Horizon E-175 jet instead of a 737-9 MAX aircraft they were originally scheduled to be on.  

Horizon even recently flew a nonstop flight to Dallas-Ft. Worth – an airport the airline does not usually serve. The airline also added 23 flights to and from Las Vegas for the popular CES conference this week.  

10 a.m. Pacific, Jan. 12

As of today, Friday, Jan. 12, Alaska Airlines continues to wait for documentation from Boeing and the FAA to begin inspection of our 737-9 MAX fleet.   

We regret the significant disruption that has been caused for our guests by cancellations due to these aircraft being out of service. However, the safety of our employees and guests is our highest priority and we will only return these aircraft to service when all findings have been fully resolved and meet all FAA and Alaska’s stringent standards.   

We have made the decision to cancel all flights on 737-9 MAX aircraft through Sunday, Jan. 14, while we conduct inspections and prepare fully for return to service. This equates to between 110-150 flights per day. We hope this action provides guests with a little more certainty, and we are working around the clock to reaccommodate impacted guests on other flights. More information for impacted travelers can be found at the bottom of this page.  

As a reminder, three things must be in place prior to beginning inspections: 

  • A final Multi-Operator Message (MOM) provided by Boeing, providing inspection details for the 737-9 MAX aircraft as approved by the FAA.  
  • A global Method of Compliance (MOC) published by the FAA with details for approval of operators’ inspection processes to ensure compliance with their Airworthiness Directive. As a party to the NTSB investigation, the FAA works to ensure that inspection details address findings that may have surfaced during this process, even if not yet shared with the public.  
  • Detailed inspection instructions and processes developed by Alaska Airlines for our maintenance technicians to follow to conduct thorough inspections per the FAA’s specifications.   
10 a.m. Pacific, Jan. 10

As of today, Wednesday, Jan. 10, Alaska Airlines continues to wait for documentation from Boeing and the FAA to begin inspection of our 737-9 MAX fleet.  

We regret the significant disruption that has been caused for our guests by cancellations due to these aircraft being out of service. However, the safety of our employees and guests is our highest priority and we will only return these aircraft to service when all findings have been fully resolved and meet all FAA and Alaska’s stringent standards.  

As of this morning, we have made the decision to cancel all flights on 737-9 MAX aircraft through Saturday, Jan. 13 while we conduct inspections and prepare fully for return to service. This equates to between 110-150 flights per day. We hope this action provides guests with a little more certainty, and we are working around the clock to reaccommodate impacted guests on other flights. More information for impacted travelers can be found at the bottom of this page. 

As a reminder, three things must be in place prior to beginning inspections: 

  • A final Multi-Operator Message (MOM) provided by Boeing, providing inspection details for the 737-9 MAX aircraft as approved by the FAA. 
  • An Alternate Method of Compliance (AMOC) published by the FAA with details for approval of operators’ inspection processes to ensure compliance with their Airworthiness Directive. As a party to the NTSB investigation, the FAA works to ensure that inspection details address findings that may have surfaced during this process, even if not yet shared with the public. 
  • Detailed inspection instructions and processes developed by Alaska Airlines for our maintenance technicians to follow to conduct thorough inspections per the FAA’s specifications.  

We will continue to provide updates as progress is made.  

12:45 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 9

We continue to await inspection and maintenance instructions from Boeing and approval for the procedures from the FAA. Until then, the Boeing 737-9 MAX fleet will remain grounded. 

When we are able to proceed with the formal inspection process, all aircraft will be thoroughly inspected in accordance with detailed instructions provided by the FAA in consultation with Boeing. Any findings will be fully addressed in a matter that satisfies our safety standards and FAA compliance. The formal inspections will also require documenting all findings and those will be reported to the FAA. No aircraft will be returned to service until all of these steps are complete. The safety of these aircraft is our priority and we will take the time and steps necessary to ensure their airworthiness, in close partnership with the FAA. 

As these steps remain pending, we continue to experience disruption to our operation with these aircraft out of service. As of 12:30 pm. Pacific, we have cancelled roughly 109 flights for today due to the 737-9 MAX grounding.

6:50 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 8

We continue to wait for final documentation from Boeing and the FAA before we can begin the formal inspection process.  

As our maintenance technicians began preparing our 737-9 MAX fleet for inspections, they accessed the area in question. Initial reports from our technicians indicate some loose hardware was visible on some aircraft.  

When we are able to proceed with the formal inspection process, all aircraft will be thoroughly inspected in accordance with detailed instructions provided by the FAA in consultation with Boeing. Any findings will be fully addressed in a matter that satisfies our safety standards and FAA compliance. The formal inspections will also require documenting all findings and those will be reported to the FAA. No aircraft will be returned to service until all of these steps are complete. The safety of these aircraft is our priority and we will take the time and steps necessary to ensure their airworthiness, in close partnership with the FAA. 

10 a.m. Pacific, Jan. 8

This morning, Boeing issued a multi-operator message (MOM) which provided inspection details for the 737-9 MAX aircraft, which have been approved by the FAA. Two additional steps must occur before inspections can begin:

  • FAA must approve operators’ inspection processes to ensure compliance (called an Alternate Method of Compliance, or AMOC);
  • Alaska must develop detailed inspection instructions and processes for our maintenance technicians to follow.

As we await further information from the FAA and work through these important steps, our technicians have prepared each aircraft to be immediately ready for the required inspection when instructions are finalized.

We recognize that additional questions remain about the details surrounding Flight 1282 that we are unable to address at this time. Because this is an active investigation, we must receive permission from the NTSB to provide information about the aircraft and its prior maintenance. We will provide information as soon as the NTSB permits us to do so.

As these steps remain pending, we continue to experience disruption to our operation with these aircraft out of service. As of 8:30 a.m. Pacific, we have cancelled roughly 140 flights for Monday due to the 737-9 MAX grounding.

6:30 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 7 

While we await the airworthiness directive (AD) inspection criteria from the FAA and Boeing, our maintenance teams are prepared and ready to perform the required inspections of the mid exit door plugs on our 737-9 MAX fleet.

The 737-9 MAX grounding has significantly impacted our operation. We have cancelled 170 Sunday flights and 60 cancellations for Monday, with more expected. Cancellations will continue through the first half of the week, and we encourage guests with travel plans to continue to check their email and alaskaair.com for updates.

We will continue to share information as we’re able.

2:30 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 7

As we navigate the impacts of the 737-9 MAX grounding on our operation, we have cancelled 170 Sunday flights affecting roughly 25,000 guests. We expect additional significant cancellations through the first half of the week.

We are awaiting further instruction from both the FAA and Boeing to begin the required inspections on the door plug of our 737-9 MAX fleet and will share information as we’re able.

6 p.m. Pacific, Jan. 6

The investigation into what happened on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Friday, Jan. 5, is underway. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has now assumed the lead role in the investigation. Alaska’s safety and technical teams, along with representatives from Boeing, are closely involved in supporting the NTSB.    

At this early stage, here are details that we can share:  

  • As we shared last night, Alaska made the decision to temporarily ground its 737-9 MAX fleet pending inspections which began early this morning. 

  • Today, the FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive (EAD), requiring all operators of the 737-9 MAX aircraft to conduct specific inspections before returning the aircraft to service.  We are working with the FAA to ensure that our inspections meet their detailed requirements and comply with the EAD, but this process will take more time.  

  • Our voluntary temporary grounding of our 737-9 MAX fleet and ongoing work to comply with the FAA’s EAD has impacted travel plans for many of our guests. As of 4pm PT today, we have cancelled 160 total flights, affecting roughly 23,000 guests. We are identifying necessary cancellations for tomorrow and expect the disruption to last through at least mid-week. A flexible travel policy is in place for guests to change or cancel their flights. Guests should visit alaskaair.com for rebooking options. We are deeply sorry for the disruption this has caused our guests. 

  • Eighteen of Alaska’s 737-9 MAX aircraft received in-depth inspections as part of heavy maintenance checks and continued in service today until we received the FAA’s EAD. These aircraft have now also been pulled from service until details about possible additional maintenance work are confirmed with the FAA. We are in touch with the FAA to determine what, if any, further work is required before these aircraft are returned to service.  

  • The aircraft involved in flight 1282 was delivered to us on Oct. 31, 2023. The part of the aircraft involved in this event is called a plug door – a specific panel of the fuselage near the rear of the aircraft.  

  • Several guests onboard experienced injuries that required medical attention. All guests have now been medically cleared. 

We will continue to share information as we learn more. Thank you to our guests for their understanding as we safely return our fleet of 737-9 MAXs to service.  

12:00 p.m. Pacific, Jan 6

Early this morning, our maintenance team began a detailed inspection process in connection with our decision to temporarily ground our fleet of Boeing 737-9 aircraft. Of the 65 737-9 aircraft in our fleet, it was determined that 18 had in-depth and thorough plug door inspections performed as part of a recent heavy maintenance visit. These 18 aircraft were cleared to return to service today.  

The inspection process of the remaining 737-9 aircraft is expected to be completed in the next few days. We will provide additional updates on the progress of our inspections. 

9:00 a.m. Pacific, Jan. 6 

As of this morning, inspections on more than a quarter of our 737-9 fleet are complete with no concerning findings. Aircraft will return to service as their inspections are completed with our full confidence.  

We deeply apologize to our guests whose flights have been impacted. Guests whose travel has been impacted can go online to view flight options and rebook travel, place the value of their ticket in their Mileage Plan Wallet for future use, or request a refund.

For Pacific Northwest Travelers: We’ve been receiving many questions from guests traveling to Texas. Flights on Saturday and Sunday from Seattle to Houston are not impacted. Return flights next week are also not affected.

11:42 p.m. Pacific time, Jan. 5
A statement from Alaska Airlines CEO, Ben Minicucci:

At Alaska Airlines, safety is our foundational value and the most important thing we focus on every day. Following tonight’s event on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft. Each aircraft will be returned to service only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections. We anticipate all inspections will be completed in the next few days.

I am personally committed to doing everything we can to conduct this review in a timely and transparent way.

We are working with Boeing and regulators to understand what occurred tonight, and will share updates as more information is available. The NTSB is investigating this event and we will fully support their investigation.  

My heart goes out to those who were on this flight – I am so sorry for what you experienced. I am so grateful for the response of our pilots and flight attendants. We have teams on the ground in Portland assisting passengers and are working to support guests who are traveling in the days ahead.

-Ben

7:55 p.m. Pacific time, Jan. 5

Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California, experienced an incident this evening soon after departure. The aircraft landed safely back at Portland International Airport with 171 guests and 6 crew members. The safety of our guests and employees is always our primary priority, so while this type of occurrence is rare, our flight crew was trained and prepared to safely manage the situation. We are investigating what happened and will share more information as it becomes available. 

Timeline of 737-9 MAX return to service:

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The careful work we’re doing during the inspections 

With the approval and direction of the FAA, Alaska technicians will begin the required, detailed inspections.   

For the inspection process, the 737-9 MAX has two door plugs – one on the left-hand side of the plane and one on the right in the middle of the cabin. Both door plugs must be inspected according to the FAA-approved inspection guidance. We’ve put together a summary of the inspection checklist:  

  • Before opening the mid-cabin door plug, we will confirm it was properly installed by ensuring all hardware is in place and all clearances are measured and recorded 
  • We will then open the door plug and inspect for any damages or abnormalities to the door and seal components, including the guide fittings, roller guides and hinges, and inspect nut plates and fasteners  
  • We will resecure each door plug and ensure it is sealed properly per approved FAA guidance before the aircraft is returned to service  
  • Each inspection, including recording detailed measurements of hardware location, could take at least 12 hours for each aircraft 

We’re grateful to our skilled maintenance and engineering team members who are undertaking the inspections and safely returning our fleet to service.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Maintenance and Engineering teams will continue to inspect the two door plugs at least every 24 months when each plane undergoes heavy maintenance checks as part of our standard protocol. In addition, we will inspect the door plugs on new 737-9 MAX aircraft we receive right after delivery. 

We currently have a Flexible Travel Policy in place through Feb. 2 for our guests to make other travel arrangements. For guests who are not comfortable flying on a 737-9 MAX right now, we’ll work with them. If they request it, we can move them to a different flight on another aircraft. We take great pride in our customer service and want everyone to have a great flight. 

The aircraft type is shown in the “Details” tab when booking a flight on alaskaair.com. After booking, it’s found in the guest’s reservation under “Flight Details.” 

Our first 737-9 MAX flight was on March 1, 2021. It was a flight from Seattle to Los Angeles.

Our 737-9 MAX carries 178 passengers with a seating configuration of 16 First Class seats, 24 Premium Class seats and 138 seats in the main cabin. 

A message from Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci

Our next steps with the Boeing 737-9 MAX and aircraft quality assurance. 

Full Video Transcript

Hi everyone, I’m Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Airlines.  

On January 5, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 was involved in an alarming incident when a door plug was ejected from the Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft. 

I am so incredibly grateful to the crew who responded with extraordinary professionalism and returned the flight and all aboard safely to Portland. And I sincerely apologize to everyone on board the flight for what you experienced.  

That evening, I made the decision to voluntarily ground all our 737-9 MAX fleet, pending further information and inspection. The next day, the 737-9 MAX aircraft across the U.S. were grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

As a loyal guest of Alaska Airlines, I know these issues impact you, and you may have questions about what this means not just for your travel plans, but for the safety of you and your loved ones.  

Please know there is nothing more important to all of us at Alaska Airlines than the safety of our employees, and you – our guests. Owning Safety is our number one foundational value, and one that is deeply personal. This value guides our actions today, and every day.   

With that in mind, here is an update on what has transpired since last Friday – and some next steps: 

  • We have 65 Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft, which make up about 20% of our fleet. Since Alaska Airlines and the FAA have grounded these aircraft, that means we are canceling between 110 to 150 flights every day.  
  • We will return these aircraft to service ONLY when all findings have been fully resolved and meet the stringent standards of Boeing, the FAA and Alaska Airlines.   
  • With respect to the cancellations, I’ve asked our team to give guests as much advance notice as possible, and our Reservations team is working around the clock to re-accommodate people on other flights. To all who have been impacted by these disruptions, I am sorry. When you make plans, you put your trust in us, and we haven’t been able to deliver.  

We’ve started inspections 

  • Over the past week, I’ve spent time with our teams, including the excellent Maintenance & Engineering professionals in our Seattle hangar. They walked me through a 737-9 MAX aircraft that was prepared for inspection. I witnessed firsthand the rigor they bring to their work – how they pay attention to every detail and follow their processes to ensure the safety of our aircraft.  
  • We began inspections on January 13, in response and according to the FAA’s instructions and we are making good progress.   The findings from these inspections, and those of other airlines, will be compiled by Boeing and FAA to determine the appropriate next steps in order to return the 737-9 MAX Fleet safely back to service. At this time, we do not yet know how long this process will take but will keep you updated as much as we can.  

Additional actions we’re taking 

  • Aviation safety is based on having multiple levels of quality control and safety assurance, much like system redundancies that are built into an aircraft for operational safety. Together, these layers have made the U.S. aviation industry the safest in the world. 
  • Flight 1282 was an extremely sobering reminder that these layers require continuous strengthening and improvement.  
  • We engaged in a candid conversation with Boeing’s CEO and leadership team to discuss their quality improvement plans to ensure the delivery of the highest quality aircraft off the production line to Alaska Airlines.  
  • We welcome the FAA’s added review and oversight in response to this situation, and the specific steps that Boeing announced to strengthen quality controls and assurance in their operations.  
  • In addition to these steps, Alaska Airlines will initiate and enhance our own layers of quality control to the production of our airplanes:  
  • Last week, our quality and audit team began a thorough review of Boeing’s production quality and control systems, including Boeing’s production vendor oversight. They will partner with our maintenance team on the design of enhanced processes for our own quality control over aircraft at Boeing.  
  • And, starting this week, we will enhance our own quality oversight of Alaska aircraft on the Boeing production line, adding more experienced professionals to the teams that validate work and quality on the  production line for the 737.   
  • Alaska has flown Boeing aircraft since 1966. In the many decades since, we have cultivated a strong partnership with Boeing based on accountability, transparency and candor.  
  • It’s on this foundation that we are dedicated to working together with Boeing to uphold the utmost quality and safety of our airplanes and for our employees and guests. 
  • “Proudly all Boeing” is not just a tagline, it’s a commitment. It’s our pledge to you that when you choose an Alaska flight, the aircraft you are on is safe. And as the leader of this company, I’m putting all my energy toward ensuring this remains true.  

Closing 

  • In closing, I want to thank all of you for your patience and understanding through this difficult time. Thank you for your loyal support of our airline and thank you for being kind to our employees.  
  • My personal thanks also to the Alaska and Horizon team members who are working long hours conducting inspections and navigating through disruptions in our operations while taking good care of all of you who are traveling.  
  • Our collective commitment to safety is unwavering, and we will ensure we are even safer and stronger going forward.  
  • Thank you.  
Overview:

Flight 1282:

On Friday, Jan. 5, Alaska Airlines temporarily grounded its fleet of 65 737-9 MAX after a door plug detached during flight 1282 from Portland, OR to Ontario, CA. This was a harrowing flight for our guests and crew, and we’re grateful that all individuals have been medically cleared. 

Quality Control:

Alaska Airlines will initiate and enhance our own layers of quality control to the production of our airplanes. Learn more.

For Impacted Guests:

For guests whose flights have been impacted, we encourage them to visit alaskaair.com for self-service options. We apologize to those who have been inconvenienced as we work to reaccommodate everyone as quickly as possible.

A  flexible travel policy  remains in place systemwide. You may change or cancel your flight. If your flight has been canceled, please follow these rebooking instructions. 

FOR MEDIA:
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Getaway Goals: when the Seattle Kraken score, fans can win a getaway on Alaska Airlines

To celebrate our home team’s run through the playoffs, we’re offering deals, chances to win and priority boarding

This story was updated on May 8, 2023

As the Kraken make hockey history, we couldn’t be prouder to be the team’s official airline. We’re so proud, we’re getting our guests in on all the fun.

Getaway goals

When the Kraken score, you win round trip tickets!

Starting with Round 2 Game 3, the first player to score a goal unlocks the chance to win round trip flights. How many? The number on his jersey! For example, Jordan Eberle (#7) scored the first goal in Game 3, so we gave away 7 round trip tickets to 7 lucky winners.

Who will score first in Game 4? Tell us for a chance to win the next getaway!

Fans can enter by following @alaskaair on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, replying with the player you think will score first and using the hashtag #AlaskaAirGoals. Entry opens 24 hours before and ends at puck drop for each game, and we’ll keep playing as long as the Kraken do.*

$99 flights to away games

We’re slashing ticket prices so hockey fans can cheer on the Kraken when they’re playing in enemy territory. As we’re playing the Dallas Stars in round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, fares between Seattle and Dallas (both DAL and DFW) are only $99. Restrictions apply, see terms and conditions at alaskaair.com/sale.

Score a Deep Discount

We are so proud of everything the Kraken have accomplished so far this season, and now we want to fill the rink in Dallas with as many Kraken fans as we can,” says Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci. 

Priority boarding 

As always during hockey season, guests sporting Kraken gear can board early on all Alaska flights departing from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), following group B.  

American Hockey League fans of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Palm Springs’ (PSP) new professional ice hockey expansion team of the Seattle Kraken, can also board early if they’re wearing Firebird gear. 

*Terms and Conditions apply. Read more here.

Alaska Airlines 

Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. We strive to be the most caring airline with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program. As a member of the oneworld alliance, and with our additional global partners, our guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 25 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group. 

Our operations are back to normal after winter wallops. To our guests: Thank you for your patience

WEATHER UPDATE: In the wake of the winter storms, our operations have returned to normal across our network. We continue to help our guests with travel arrangements for flights that were canceled over the past week and a half, including booking them on other airlines to get them to their destinations. To make traveling less burdensome for those looking to book new flights in the wake of weather disruptions, we have lowered our fares in select cities.

For guests whose travel was affected by winter weather, refunds and reimbursemetns are available. Learn more here.

Updated @ 1:53 AM PT on 12/30

SEA airport 12/23/22
SEA airport 12/23/22
SEA airport 12/23/22
SEA airport 12/23/22

Generally, freezing rain is more challenging than snow and causes airline operations to slow down significantly or even halt completely until weather conditions improve.  Aircraft must be completely clear of ice or snow to maintain the aerodynamic integrity and be safe for flight. It generally takes longer to clear an aircraft of ice than it does to clear it of snow.

While it is never our goal to disrupt someone’s flight, especially around the holidays, the safety of our guests and employees is our highest priority. If you are traveling this week, we encourage you to check the status of your flight before heading to the airport and take advantage of our flexible travel waiver, which has been extended and now includes Portland and Seattle, to rebook your travel.

Here’s what to do if your flight is impacted and a look at our strategy to fly in winter weather:

Should your flight cancel, you can rebook your trip online or on Alaska’s app 

If your flight is impacted for any reason, you should receive a notification from our team and an accommodation on a new flight if flights are available. If you need to make further changes, you can use our app or go online to rebook your travel. 

Should you wish to hold the value of your ticket(s) and decide to move your trip to a future date, you may place the value of your ticket in your Mileage Plan Wallet for future use or request a full refund by viewing our refund options. 

Take advantage of our flexible travel waiver

Sometimes things like winter weather force you to adjust your travel plans. In those instances, we have a flexible travel policy you can use to waive the difference in the price of a new ticket (rules apply) and as always, we don’t charge change fees. Learn more  

Download Alaska’s app  

Our app is the perfect tool to have on hand when you fly with us. You can use it to check in, pay for bags and stay up to date on any changes to your reservation—it’s like having a travel agent at your fingertips.  

Download the Alaska App

Pro-tip: Turn on app notifications to get alerts from us + retrieve your boarding pass in one easy swipe on your home screen. 

Sign up for flight notifications 

Stay in the know by signing up for flight notifications via text or email. Unless otherwise noted, we will use your primary email address linked to your reservation for all communications. 

If you’re using the app, be sure to refresh your reservation frequently and check your messages!

Call us, if you can’t rebook online

While we understand your first reaction might be to call our reservations team when your flight has been canceled, we’ve found you can save time by rebooking your trip online or on our app.

If your flight is impacted, you should receive a priority phone number to call via email if you’d like to discuss alternate options with one of our reservation agents—who are a constant and dependable source of reassurance and help when you need it most. 

For all other reservation questions, guests can call 1 (800) 252-7522. 

Why do the impacts feel worse in Seattle?

Seattle is Alaska’s hometown, and our operations represent the largest percentage (by a wide margin) of departures and arrivals at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) compared to other airlines. Because of this, more of our guests are impacted when something impacts operations at Seattle. If another airline’s main hub got hit with a snowstorm, hurricane or power outage, they would be disproportionately impacted.

For context, SEA has a very small footprint by acreage compared to other metropolitan airports. This constrains our ability to deice our entire schedule of flights in wintry weather. Because the space doesn’t allow for that type of volume, we have to thin out our schedule to keep planes moving.

December 20, 2022; de-icing winter operations in snow at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Why do we cancel flights before snow and ice arrives?

We use numerous tools and resources to help us predict the weather. When our forecasts tell us to expect snow or ice, we know we need to act. Freezing temperatures and precipitation mean that we need to deice our aircraft before they can safely fly (more info on that below). Much like putting chains or studded tires on your car before hitting a snowy road, deicing aircraft slows down our operation. This means we can’t move our normal number of aircraft into and out of the airport. In order to reduce traffic jams, we need to proactively cancel flights from our schedule so we can keep as many aircraft moving as possible.

If we need to cancel flights, we try and let impacted guests know as early as possible. This means it could look clear and beautiful outside, but your flight tomorrow may have been canceled.

Why does an airplane need to be deiced?

Whenever there’s any snowfall or ice on our aircraft, we begin deicing procedures as part of our safety protocol. Aircraft cannot safely operate if there is snow or ice accumulation on the wings or tails, so it’s critical that we remove it before takeoff.

We have a full fleet of trucks, equipment and personnel across our stations ready to do that work, along with a well-stocked amount of deicing solution. They work as quickly as the airport and weather conditions will safely allow. However, deicing aircraft at the gate can lead to longer wait times on the tarmac—but safety comes first.

📹 If interested in deicing b-roll, download it here.

December 20, 2022; SeaTac, WA | Photo by Joe Nicholson

Alaska Air Group reports first quarter 2024 results

Achieved record first quarter operating revenue of $2.2 billion

Ratified new agreement with AMFA-represented employees

SEATTLE — Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK) today reported financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2024, and provided outlook for the second quarter ending June 30, 2024. 

I want to recognize Alaska’s employees for their uncompromising prioritization of safety, for taking great care of our guests, and for delivering strong performance in the first quarter,” said CEO Ben Minicucci. “Despite significant challenges to start the year our results have far exceeded initial expectations. Thanks to thoughtful capacity planning, network optimization, and diligent cost control, we are well positioned to carry our strong performance into the second quarter and beyond.”

Impact of Flight 1282:

Air Group’s first quarter operation and results were significantly impacted by Flight 1282 in January and the Boeing 737-9 MAX grounding which extended into February. The Company has received $162 million in initial cash compensation from Boeing to address the financial damages incurred during the first quarter.

Financial Results:

  • Reported net loss for the first quarter of 2024 under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $132 million, or $1.05 per share, compared to a net loss of $142 million, or $1.11 per share, for the first quarter of 2023.
  • Reported net loss for the first quarter of 2024, excluding special items and mark-to-market fuel hedge accounting adjustments, of $116 million, or $0.92 per share, compared to a net loss of $79 million, or $0.62 per share, for the first quarter of 2023.
  • Repurchased 561,086 shares of common stock for approximately $21 million in the first quarter.
  • Generated $292 million in operating cash flow for the first quarter.
  • Held $2.3 billion in unrestricted cash and marketable securities as of March 31, 2024.
  • Ended the quarter with a debt-to-capitalization ratio of 47%, within the target range of 40% to 50%.

Operational Updates:

  • Agreement to purchase Hawaiian Airlines for $18 per share was approved by Hawaiian shareholders. The proposed combination remains subject to regulatory approval.
  • Ratified a five-year collective bargaining agreement with approximately 1,000 Alaska Airlines employees represented by AMFA.
  • Completed inspections of all 737-9 MAX aircraft and returned the fleet to service in February.
  • Enhanced quality oversight program at the Boeing production facility to validate the work and quality of our aircraft as they progress through the manufacturing process.
  • Received two E175 aircraft during the quarter, bringing the total in the Horizon fleet to 43.

Commercial Updates:

  • Launched partnership with Bilt Rewards, which adds Alaska’s Mileage Plan as a transfer partner and later in 2024 will allow Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® cardholders to earn 3x miles when paying rent via Bilt.
  • Announced growth plans out of Portland to provide guests with more travel options, including 25% increased capacity and a new daily nonstop flight to Atlanta, beginning later this year.
  • Announced new daily nonstop service between Santa Rosa and Las Vegas, which will be Air Group’s seventh destination from Sonoma County.
  • Introduced Alaska Access, a monthly subscription program for price-conscious travelers that offers Wi-Fi vouchers, early access to sales, and a personalized fare page.
View full financial data

Alaska Airlines empowers students in the Pacific Northwest: Flying dozens to college tours 

In partnership with local organizations, Alaska Airlines flew more than 60 BIPOC high school juniors from Seattle and Portland to tour historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) 

Last month, we flew 60 BIPOC students from the Pacific Northwest to tour colleges in Atlanta, Georgia. The Atlanta area is home to many HBCUs, including Morehouse, Spelman, Clark Atlanta, Morris Brown, and Fort Valley State. Some students continued to tour additional schools along the East Coast, including Tuskegee University, Alabama State, Howard, and more. Given the absence of HBCUs in the Northwest, these trips inspire students to experience the cultural richness and opportunities offered by HBCUs. 

While at the schools, students spoke with admissions counselors, current students and administrators about the importance of going to college, the admissions process and financial aid.  

These college tours wouldn’t have been possible without our longstanding partnership with UNCF and Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI). 

“The HBCU tour exposes and highlights the opportunities for our young people to strive for higher education. Seeing a version of themselves on these campuses inspires and excites them. Our students come back more focused and believing that they can achieve anything that they put their energy and effort into. Based on financial limitations, SEI absolutely could not do this tour without the support of Alaska Airlines.” – Anthony Deloney, Director of Development at Self Enhancement, Inc. 

The students flew on Our Commitment aircraft, which supports equity and education in partnership with UNCF and features 14 children, grandchildren and mentees of Alaska Airlines’ employees.

The Alaska airlines sendoff alone was probably the best thing I’ve experienced at SEI, and I’ve been here 27 years.” – Tamra Hickok, Director of Program Innovation at Self Enhancement, Inc. 

Over two decades of collaboration with UNCF 

UNCF’s mission is to build a robust and nationally recognized pipeline of underrepresented students who become highly qualified college graduates. Alaska Airlines has been a proud partner with UNCF for more than 18 years – donating more than 20 million miles to fly students to attend college tours. We invite our guests to donate miles to UNCF through our CARE Miles program to support this effort. 

43 students fly to HBCUs with Alaska Airlines, taking “Our Commitment” to new heights with UNCF

April 25, 2023

This year’s spring break tour followed last year’s inaugural experience with the organization.

“This year’s UNCF HBCU College Tour revealed the continued support and exposure our students need to succeed. From shyness and uncertainty to lifelong relationships, learning about HBCUs, and developing cultural bonds, the impact of this tour truly cannot be expressed in words! Our week wasn’t just about visiting colleges. Students got to learn from our Portfolio Project alumni who attend the Atlanta University Center, facilitate discussions and activities, meet and spend time with local Atlanta professionals, witness historical monuments and most importantly, build confidence in their racial identities. UNCF believes in creating experiences that help students not only get to college but also discover their gifts and interests and develop leadership qualities.””

– Briana Nelson, UNCF Success Facilitator

SEI & Alaska help move Portland forward 

Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI) is a pillar in the North Portland community— providing academic support and services for Black students and their families. SEI’s strength is in its ability to meet the complex needs of the children and families it serves, including helping people to overcome cultural, educational and economic barriers. Alaska has been a steadfast supporter of SEI’s annual fundraiser for over a decade. However, this year marked a significant milestone as it was the first time we extended support to SEI’s annual HBCU tour.

SEI HBCU tour stops included Tuskegee University, Alabama State University, Clark University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Johnson C Smith University, North Carolina A&T University, and Howard University. Hear Janiya’s experience at the tour and how each one impacted her college journey!

Experiencing the eclipse at 35,000 feet: How two Alaska Airlines dispatchers made it happen

Guests aboard Alaska Airlines Flight #322 from San Diego to Dulles were treated to front-row seats for Monday’s total eclipse. Guests donned eclipse glasses and peered through their windows to witness this rare celestial event, which won’t happen again in the United States until 2044.

But the timing was no coincidence. 

“This was the first I had piloted during a solar eclipse, and I actually retire in 2040, so being in the front row was right at the top of the list for some of the best experiences I’ve had in the sky,” said Scott Bunch, Alaska Airlines first officer for Flight #322. “It was great teamwork from everybody involved. We had excellent dispatching that provided a route to keep the aircraft on the path of totality. Not only did we go through the darkness from the moon passing in front of the sun, but we also stayed in it. I was ecstatic.” 

Solar eclipse chasers had long booked their flights along the path of full totality to watch from the ground. Many of Alaska’s flights to Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and Mazatlán, Mexico had sold out in advance. To respond to the increase in demand, we added flights to Texas and Mexico—destinations that were projected to have the longest duration of totality. 

Video by Kane Andrade & Ingrid Barrentine

How we made it happen. 

Unlike in 2017, when Alaska chased the Great American Eclipse with the help of a team of pilots and an astronomer, there was no elaborate flight planned out to give guests a view from the sky. 

When excitement began building ahead of the April 8 event from guests and media, Joe Demory, director of dispatch at Alaska Airlines, started looking into which flights we already had on the schedule that would likely give guests the best seats in the house. 

“We started with basic research by comparing our flight schedule with the eclipse path,” said Demory. “I was able to identify two flights out of San Diego—one to Boston and the other to Dulles—that would give us the best chance of following the eclipse path for the longest period of time.” 

But Demory knew weather, air traffic control (ATC) and other factors out of our control could delay the flights and miss the eclipse altogether. 

Knowing guests would be disappointed if they didn’t get to watch the moon obscuring the view of the sun, Demory asked veteran Alaska chief dispatchers Ed Fischer and Eric Juchartz to help plan the best flight path for the pilots that day. 

Chief Dispatcher Ed Fischer
Chief Dispatcher Eric Juchartz

Planning the path to totality. 

“We had a small window of time to make this all work, especially for full totality that everyone wanted to see—you want to watch the full eclipse, not the partial,” said Juchartz. “I started with Google Earth, which had an eclipse overlay, so that was kind of cool.”  

It took him about an hour to use different technology and software to map out the best route for both flights. It would mean flying farther south than typical flights to Dulles and Boston. 

On the day of the eclipse, Fischer (who used to navigate aircraft for the U.S. Airforce) reviewed Juchartz’s flight paths and made small adjustments back at Dispatch. In his role as dispatcher, Fischer communicated with our pilots the entire flight to make sure they got to their destination safely and didn’t miss the total solar eclipse.  

“We were probably going to intercept it somewhere around Indianapolis is what I guessed, and it was going to be dependent on how strong the winds were and when we actually took off,” said Fischer. “I emailed the crew a list of the eclipse times along their route so they could see about what time they were going to be at different points and then pass it on to our passengers.” 

 Dispatch makes it happen for every flight. 

Alaska Airlines dispatchers played an indispensable role in orchestrating this special flight for our guests while also overseeing the coordination of all our daily flight operations, ensuring unwavering commitment to safety, efficiency, and adherence to regulations for every flight.

“It was right over Missouri, just shy of the border of Illinois, that we actually got the full eclipse, it was awesome,” said Nick Mentzen, captain at Alaska Airlines, who piloted flight 322. “ATC gave us permission to fly at a lower altitude and do a series of ‘s-turns’ to give our guests on both sides of the plane to get a view, first to the right then followed by a turn to the left and that’s when we actually got the full eclipse.” 

It just goes to show the level of expertise and professionalism within our team; whether people realize it or not, every flight is receiving that oversight from our dispatch work group to make sure our guests get from their origin to destination safely and efficiently,” Demory said. “Monday was our opportunity to shine and highlight some of the things that we do behind the scenes on a daily basis.” 

Wearing eclipse glasses gifted by Alaska, guests watched the entire event unfold from their seats above the earth. The level of excitement was electric. 

Your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles go farther with Global Getaways

Snag significant savings redeeming miles to aspirational international travel destinations; we’re making it easier to book redemptions and buy tickets with our partners on alaskaair.com

Eager to get even more bang with your Mileage Plan miles? Alaska Airlines has just the ticket with Global Getaways. Starting today, we’re offering savings of up to 50% on award redemptions to select international destinations with us and our global partners. Mileage Plan members can redeem miles throughout April at alaskaair.com for reduced award travel from September through November to an amazing collection of locations.

Four times a year we’ll mix it up and have a new list of incredible places to visit while using fewer miles to get there. The theme as we kick off Global Getaways: Exotic, sunny beach escapes.

Lounge about in Fiji
Stay in Tahiti
Jump into Bali

These one-way redemptions can be enjoyed later this fall in economy and premium economy cabins with our various partner airlines:

  • Tahiti (French Polynesia): now starting at 20,000 miles instead of 30,000
  • Nadi (Fiji): now starting at 20,000 miles instead of 37,500
  • Nassau (Bahamas): now starting at 15,000 miles instead of 17,500
  • Zanzibar (Tanzania): now starting at 30,000 miles instead of 42,500
  • Malé (Maldives): now starting at 30,000 miles instead of 42,500
  • Bali/Denpasar (Indonesia): now starting at 30,000 miles instead of 42,500

That once-in-a-lifetime trip is even closer with our quarterly Global Getaways promotion for discounted award travel to fabulous, far-flung locales,” said Brett Catlin, vice president of loyalty, alliances and sales at Alaska Airlines. “We’re continuing to invest in making Mileage Plan the most rewarding loyalty program with the industry’s most valuable currency.”

In March, we began rolling out our new award charts to provide improved simplicity, value, and availability for our guests who are looking to use their Mileage Plan miles for travel on our partners.

The streamlined charts give a better idea of how many miles are needed to fly to and within regions of the world:

  • Spend fewer miles: Partner award travel now starts as low as 4,500 miles one-way for short trips, down from 7,500 miles. More than 60% of nonstop economy and business class redemptions start at a lower price.

  • More choice: We’ve unlocked even more award flight availability, including additional options when connecting from an Alaska flight to a partner flight.

  • Move up a cabin: Premium economy seating with our partners now starts at just 30% more than an economy ticket.

  • Explore more: Get two destinations for the price of one by adding an international stopover to most itineraries at no additional cost.

We’re also making it easier for our guests to buy tickets with our domestic and global partners directly at alaskaair.com. 

Thousands of flights can be purchased to more than 500 destinations across 24 oneworld and additional global partner airlines that include Air Tahiti Nui; Finnair; Iberia; Japan Airlines; Qantas; Qatar Airways; STARLUX Airlines and more. Tickets with our partners are available in all classes of service on our website. 

There are key benefits when purchasing tickets with our partner airlines directly at alaskaair.com:

  • When you fly a mile, you earn a mile with our partners and us*
  • You earn at least 100% of the miles flown as elite qualifying miles when flying with our partners and us* (which paves a quicker path to Mileage Plan MVP elite status)
  • All flights purchased with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card at alaskaair.com earn three miles for every dollar spent – and that means partner flights, too.
Explore Global Getaways

*Saver or basic economy tickets are excluded.

The Alaska Airlines credit card is issued and administered by Bank of America. N.A. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A., Inc.

Flying a hero: When “Gramps” needed one final ride, his family reached out to this Alaska Airlines pilot 

Alaska Airlines flies one of the last Pearl Harbor survivors to his final resting place

Richard Clyde Higgins, a chief petty officer in the Navy, was in his bunk at Pearl Harbor in the early morning hours of Dec. 7, 1941, when the first bombs fell. Jumping to grab his pants and looking outside he saw a crater about 7-feet deep that had once been a parked aircraft. He and his buddies worked to move airplanes away from the others that were on fire as the waves of bombing continued.  

 It was to be a day our country would never forget.  

An everyday hero 

Higgins was one of the lucky ones. He often said he wasn’t a hero; the heroes were those who never came home. He went on to have a family, become a grandfather and even a great-grandfather. He was “Gramps,” known for telling a good story and a smile that would light up a room. He even had his own Instagram account “quarantine chats with gramps,” where he told stories about his time in the service and earned a loyal following. 

Higgins passed away on March 19, at the age of 102. He was one of the few surviving service members from the Pearl Harbor attack. Newspapers from New York City to Bend, Oregon where he lived, told his story.  

But what they didn’t share was how Higgins and his family, in his final days, had reached out to an unlikely friend for a favor. The friend was Alaska Airlines Captain Adrienne Grechman. And the favor—Could Gramps hitch a final ride home? 

A chance meeting 

Grechman had met Higgins three years ago, rather serendipitously on a flight from Honolulu. As captain of the flight, she was at the door greeting guests when Higgins, then 100, came onboard. Noting his weathered garrison cap perched proudly on his head and the ready smile, she inquired about his trip. Yep, he was a Pearl Harbor Survivor headed home after being an honored guest at the 80th Anniversary Memorial.  

Capt. Grechman and Naval Chief Petty Officer Higgins in 2021 flying home after being an honored guest at the Pearl Harbor 80th anniversary commemorative ceremony. 

Grechman, whose father served and whose husband (also an Alaska pilot) is a former Navy F-18 pilot, was overcome with emotion. She couldn’t let Higgins’ flight pass without some celebration, so she rallied Alaska Airlines employees in Los Angeles to see that Higgins arrival at LAX was fit for a hero. 

A friendship was born and Grechman kept in touch with Higgins and his family over the years. So, when she got the call to fly him to his final resting place, she didn’t hesitate.  

It’s part of who we are at Alaska Airlines to honor service members like Mr. Higgins,” Grechman said. “On that morning at Pearl Harbor, he was just a 20-year old boy.  He became a man who spent his life reminding us of what it truly means to serve. Today, is truly the honor of a lifetime for me.” 

Despite the sunny day in Portland, the atmosphere was solemn  

Grechman arrived at Portland airport early Saturday morning, accompanying Higgin’s family. After her flight check onboard, she joined the family on the tarmac, alongside Alaska’s special Honoring Those Who Serve aircraft. 

First responders from the Port of Portland Police, Fire and Air National Guard teams lined the tarmac, their emergency vehicle lights flashing in reverence as members of our esteemed Fallen Soldier team began a solemn ceremony. Clad in safety vests, the all-volunteer group, delivered Higgins’ casket to the waiting aircraft via a special cart draped in an American flag and burnished with insignias from five branches of the armed services.  

As the flag-draped casket moved slowly up the belt, there was a moment of silence in Higgins’ honor.  

There was not a dry eye on the runway.  

Honoring those who serve 

Upon the flight’s arrival at Los Angeles, the aircraft was greeted by a water cannon salute from airport firetrucks. Higgins’ casket was carried off the aircraft to a coach parked next to an identical flag-draped cart. Designed and crafted by Alaska maintenance and engineering employees as part of its Fallen Soldier Program, the cart and the solemn ceremony, have set an industry standard for honoring deceased military members. 

Dan Brosch, an Alaska aircraft maintenance technician, who has hosted dozens of such flights of fallen soldiers said that you never get used to it. The emotion is raw every time. 

  “There is no greater thing you can do for a fellow human and their loved ones than provide compassion, honor and dignity at the time of their death,” Brosch said.   

Brosch presented special honor coins to Higgins family members, including four great-grandchildren gathered planeside—a small remembrance from Alaska’s Fallen Soldier team.  

From there, the family traveled to a graveside service where Higgins was laid to rest next to his  wife of 60 years, who had passed before him.  

Higgins’ daughter Vicki, who was in awe of the day, said her dad, who was very humble, would have wondered why we made such a fuss. “But, he would have loved it,” she said. 

Fair winds and following seas Chief Petty Officer Higgins. 

FOR MEDIA:

Download photo, b-roll & interviews here.

MEDIA KIT

Navigating sustainability in aviation – Join Base Chief Pilot JP Wilson for a journey through Alaska Airline’s path to net zero carbon emissions by 2040

Alaska Airlines has always focused on running our business to care for all who depend on us, including our planet. As we head into Earth Month, we reflect on the impact of aviation on our planet and explore sustainable solutions for the future of air travel.  

We’ve set goals to be the #1 most fuel-efficient U.S. airline, saving fuel through innovative technology, fuel-and emissions-saving practices, reliable operations, and more fuel-efficient airplanes. Other goals include reducing waste, replacing single-use plastics where we can, and supporting healthy ecosystems. And our long-term goal is a five-part path to net zero carbon emissions by 2040. We call the work toward these goals our EverGreen journey.  

A key part of that journey is our effort to accelerate the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). SAF is a safe, certified drop-in fuel that is functionally equivalent to conventional jet fuel, meeting all jet fuel standards, while reducing carbon emissions by as much as 80% on a lifecycle basis.  

Learn more about our efforts to mature this market and make SAF more affordable from our Portland Base Chief Pilot, JP Wilson. Watch below 👇 

How are we approaching sustainability in aviation? 
Full transcript

Hello everybody, I’m JP Wilson—Alaska Airlines’ Chief Pilot based in Portland, Oregon. As a pilot, I have a front row seat to how becoming a more sustainable airline can make a positive impact on our communities, our people, and our planet.

That’s why we’ve charted an ambitious path to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. 

Over this video series, we’ll talk about our approach to accomplishing this goal through our “Four F’s” of sustainability: FLIGHTS, FLEET, FUEL and FUTURE.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

First up, we have FLIGHTS. It should come as no surprise that this is the first area where we can make significant progress, right now. By enhancing efficiency at every level, such as crafting smarter flight routes, we can reduce our overall fuel consumption. And less fuel, means fewer emissions. 

We’ve turned to FlyWays, an AI and machine learning program that gives our dispatchers the power to map new, more efficient routes—saving nearly thirteen-thousand metric tons of CO2 each year. 

That’s equivalent to a whopping 1.3 million gallons of fuel!

The second “F” in our approach to sustainability is our FLEET.

We’re investing in the latest, most fuel-efficient aircraft possible with our newest fleet of aircraft that are a staggering 22% more fuel-efficient on a seat-by-seat basis than the aircraft they replace.

The third “F” is Fuel. More specifically, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF. It’s an alternative fuel source made from common waste, forest residue or even recaptured carbon that can cut emissions up to 80%. Eighty percent!

This transformative fuel is where we have the greatest opportunity to make the biggest impact to help reach our 2040 goals. 

Not only are we already flying multiple routes using SAF, but we’re proud to have been the first domestic carrier to do so on a regular basis — starting all the way back in 2011. The faster the aviation industry can adopt and scale SAF, the faster we can lessen the environmental impact of flying.

And lastly, but certainly not least, is our last “F”: investing in our FUTURE.
By partnering with today’s brilliant visionaries and innovators, we’re helping to develop the zero-emissions aircraft of tomorrow.

This includes our partnership with ZeroAvia, who are working on creating a hydrogen-powered aircraft to use for regional flying. 

Once again, I’m JP Wilson. And thank you for joining me to learn more about Alaska Airlines’ approach to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. 

See you next time when we talk more in depth about sustainable aviation fuel.

Welcome to Alaska Airlines.

What exactly is SAF & how is it made? 
How can SAF scale and impact future sustainability? 
Full transcript

In our last video we discussed Alaska Airlines’ “Four F’s” approach to sustainability. FLIGHTS, FLEET, FUEL, and FUTURE.

In this video, we’re going to dig deeper into our third “F”—FUEL. More specifically, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF. 

For those just jumping in, I’m JP Wilson—Alaska Airlines’ Chief Pilot based in Portland, Oregon. 

And I’m here to proudly share Alaska’s journey to becoming a greener, more sustainable airline for all.

When we think about sustainability as an airline, Sustainable Aviation Fuel rises to the top as our greatest opportunity in the near and medium-term to reach our ambitious goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. 

So what makes SAF special compared to regular fuel?

Where traditional jetfuel is created from oil that puts new carbon into the atmosphere, SAF comes from recycled carbon. This means it takes existing trash and byproducts, even directly recaptured carbon, and gives them a second life—reducing lifecycle carbon emissions of fuel by up to 80%.

Simply put: Waste materials can be reused to help make air travel more sustainable. Crazy, I know!

Let’s talk about how Sustainable Aviation Fuel is made. It all starts with existing trash and waste materials known as “feedstocks”. These feedstocks include materials such as sugarcane crops, used cooking oil, forest residue, and recaptured carbon.

These feedstocks are collected, treated, and taken to a refinery where they are converted into fuel.

From there, this fuel can be mixed directly with traditional jet fuel in a plane. Best of all, it doesn’t require any change in existing aircraft infrastructure to use it. That’s why we call it “drop in fuel.” Because we can just drop it right in and mix it with traditional jet fuel. 

The concept of drop in fuel is huge because we can start using it immediately without having to overhaul a system that could take years to put in place.

And did you know the way it reduces carbon isn’t from how the fuel is burned? It’s actually rooted in material that the fuel is made from, the production process, and how it is delivered to airplanes. That’s why we use the term “lifecycle” carbon emissions.

SAF offers a huge opportunity, but it doesn’t come without challenges as we try to scale. 

In our next video, we’ll talk a bit more about the barriers to making SAF mainstream, and our plan to overcome those challenges. We’ll also address our broader focus on innovation and approach to navigating the future of sustainability as more innovations come to life. 

Full transcript

Making air travel more sustainable isn’t something we can solve overnight.

The actions we take today across our operation will set us up for a more sustainable future that benefits not only our employees and guests, and the communities where we live and travel, but also the planet.

So as we continue to explore our “Four F’s” of sustainability: FLIGHTS, FLEET, FUEL, and FUTURE…

Let’s take a closer look at the future of aviation sustainability.

And a quick introduction for those new to the series, I’m JP Wilson—Alaska Airlines’ Chief Pilot based in Portland, Oregon. 

To meet our ambitious goals and drive lasting change we’re focused on working with forward thinking partners, making investments in new technologies, driving supply chain innovations, and advocating for effective public policy. 

We’re partnering with e-fuel startups, tech leaders, universities and scientists to develop additional paths to Sustainable Aviation Fuel while working to increase its availability on the West Coast.

For now, SAF remains the most promising path to meaningful change. That’s why we’re focusing on advancing the marketplace. 

Our challenge today is that there is not enough SAF at a volume or price that can support the industry’s operational needs.

This has resulted in SAF accounting for less than 1% of the total aviation fuel supply.

The biggest opportunity for growing that number is growing awareness and investment. Through the help of government incentives and policy changes, SAF can become more available and less expensive, making it a mainstream solution.

We want guests to join our journey in creating collective awareness for SAF. With public support, we can move SAF from an emerging technology to another tool in our sustainability toolkit.

We’re also giving guests the option to help pay for SAF, you’ll find this option available when booking upcoming Alaska flights. It’s just another way to kickstart this important technology for our future.

Thanks for joining me on this journey as we flew through Alaska Airlines’ path to sustainability. Through our ambitious approach, we’re working tirelessly to become the first airline to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. 

Our path to net-zero is clear, but we will continue evolving and innovating with our partners as we implement and discover exciting solutions.

Take care, and for everyone at Alaska Airlines, we hope to see you soon. 

Learn more

Alaska Airlines welcomes STARLUX Airlines to Seattle, our hometown airport 

Seattle becomes STARLUX’s third nonstop U.S. destination from Taipei with its world-class service and amenities; premier carrier is one of our newest global airline partners 

One of Alaska Airlines’ newest global partners, STARLUX Airlines, announced today it will begin new nonstop service this summer between our hometown airport in Seattle and Taipei. STARLUX’s inaugural flight from Seattle is scheduled for Aug. 16. The airline will initially offer three flights weekly with connections to destinations across Asia. As an added convenience for our guests, STARLUX flights from the West Coast to Taipei can now be purchased directly at alaskaair.com, including the new Seattle flight. 

STARLUX launched its inaugural transpacific service between Taipei and Los Angeles in April 2023. Then in December, STARLUX began service between Taipei and San Francisco. Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle are gateway airports for Alaska, allowing our guests to have convenient connectivity with STARLUX flights. Another big bonus: Our Mileage Plan members can earn and redeem miles on STARLUX. 

We’re proud to be STARLUX’s first airline partner and excited about the possibilities for our guests with this premier international airline beginning service at our main hub in Seattle,” said Brett Catlin, vice president of loyalty, alliances and sales at Alaska Airlines. “STARLUX delivers an exceptional experience in all classes of service, but if you’re fortunate enough to fly in first or business class, prepare to be pampered.” 

STARLUX provides an international gateway through its main hub in Taipei with connections to more than 20 destinations across Asia, including Bangkok, Thailand; Hanoi, Vietnam; Penang, Malaysia; Cebu, Philippines; Singapore; Macau and more than nine destinations in Japan.

“STARLUX’s broadened transpacific routes reaffirm our dedication to expanding our U.S. network and to elevating the travel experience for our fast-growing customer base,” said Glenn Chai, STARLUX CEO. “As a key economic and technological hub, Seattle is also steeped in diverse cultural influences and home to a thriving Asian community. Moreover, we have finally arrived at the hub of our partner Alaska Airlines. We believe STARLUX and Alaska Airlines will provide seamless service to travelers seeking to reach Asia. STARLUX looks forward to strengthening our connections between these major West Coast cities with Taipei and larger Asia, and to building bridges between these dynamic and vibrant regions.” 

STARLUX will operate the transpacific route with its new-generation Airbus A350-900 aircraft configured in a four-class layout: First, business, premium economy and economy. Travelers in first and business classes enjoy a private space with a sliding door and seats with full-flat and Zero G mode for full relaxation. The extra-legroom premium economy section features a 40-inch Recaro seat with a leg rest and footrest bar. Economy class seats are equipped with leather headrests and a wide seat pitch.   

Business Class on Starlux Airlines

Inflight service on STARLUX includes Taiwanese signature dishes and amenities prepared for passengers in all classes. STARLUX will be offering first and business guests a selection of the best top chef’s creations and local Taiwanese delicacies. The popular STARLUX signature dish yakiniku donburi is served on board. And to bring greater individuality to their air travel experience, all passengers can pre-order meals online so they can enjoy the meal they want. 

Alaska is a member of the oneworld global alliance. With oneworld and our additional airline partners, our guests can earn and redeem miles all over the world through our highly acclaimed Mileage Plan program. Elite status on Alaska automatically matches tier status in oneworld so members can enjoy all the benefits that come with it right away. 

Alaska Airlines brings West Coast flair to premium food and beverage menu this spring 

We’re springing into the season with a fresh and chef-curated inflight menu carefully crafted to join our premium food and beverage line-up—launching this month! As the premier West Coast airline, we’re giving our dishes a West Coast flair with strong influences from Asian and Latin American cuisines. 

As always, the inspiration for creating our menu is based on our guests’ feedback and that’s exactly what we did when developing our spring offerings,” said Todd Traynor-Corey, managing director of guest products at Alaska Airlines. “This is a just a precursor to an exciting year ahead. We can’t wait to share what’s to come on our a premium food and beverage line-up.” 

In First Class, we’re offering meals inspired by dishes from around the world, while adding a West Coast flair, including Birria Beef and Ube Island Pancakes. In Premium Class and Main Cabin, we’re serving fresh salads including the Caul Me Maybe, which is a Mediterranean inspired Salad created in partnership with Seattle-based Evergreens.

Our newest menu is available now, complimentary in First Class on most flights 670 miles and above, and for purchase in Main Cabin on most flights 775 miles or more. 

Check out some of our newest dishes that are inspired by the West Coast:

First Class:  

BBQ Beef & Kimchi Rice  

Smoked BBQ beef burnt ends, served on a kimchi fried rice and topped with fresh green onions. 

Birria Beef  

Tender braised, boneless beef in consommé, marinated black beans and long grain rice, rich in cumin, tomato, and lime flavors. Topped with a fresh pico de gallo salsa.   

Thai Curry
(Vegan/Gluten Free)   

Authentic Thai green curry with coconut milk, ginger, garlic, lemongrass and kaffir lime; with coconut shoots, green papaya, Thai basil, and red chili with vegan meatballs made from heart of palm.  Served over steamed Jasmine rice.  

Tortellini
(to Hawaii only)   

Four-cheese tortellini pasta enrobed in a tangy miso sauce, served with roasted butternut squash, edamame, and fresh arugula.

Banana Bread French Toast    

French-toast style thick banana bread with a tamarind caramel sauce.  Served with creamy scrambled eggs, and pecan candied pork bacon.   

Island Pancakes
(to Hawaii only)    

Ube (purple sweet potato) pancakes with toasted shaved coconut, roasted pineapple, and grilled pork Portuguese sausage. Topped with guava & mint syrup.     

Premium Class & Main Cabin: 

Evergreens™ Caul Me Maybe Salad  

Mediterranean-Inspired Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing 
Roasted Cauliflower, Roasted Sweet Potato, Feta, Romaine, Spinach, Garbanzo Beans, Golden Raisins, Sunflower Seeds, Cilantro, Chermoula Sauce   

Evergreens™ Change of Greenery Salad   

A Spring Herby Salad with Green Goddess Dressing Chicken, Feta, Watermelon Radish, Jalapeno, Romaine, Mixed Greens, Cucumber, Pickled Red Onion, Sunflower Seeds  

Don’t forget we also just added our first exclusively brewed craft beer in a unique can. The ‘Cloud Cruiser’ is our newest IPA, which is brewed by Seattle-based Fremont Brewing® and made with the very best local ingredients. If you’re looking to celebrate happy hour without the  alcohol, check out our non-alcoholic beer made by Best Day Brewing®. 

Remember to use the pre-order option to choose your meal and have it conveniently delivered to your seat on your next flight. Pre-orders are available through the Alaska mobile app or through alaskaair.com from two weeks to 20 hours prior to your flight.  Learn more

Alaska Airlines deepens commitment to Bay Area with new nonstop service between Santa Rosa/Sonoma County and Las Vegas

As the largest carrier at Sonoma County Airport since 2007, we’re now offering service to seven nonstop destinations

Alaska Airlines is deepening its commitment to the San Francisco Bay Area with convenient, nonstop service between California’s wine country and Las Vegas beginning this fall. The daily, year-round flight, which starts Oct. 1, is now the seventh nonstop destination from Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport.

By this fall, Alaska will operate 13 peak day departures, including nonstop service to Los Angeles, Burbank, Orange County, Seattle, Portland, San Diego and now Las Vegas. Tickets for all routes are now available for purchase at alaskaair.com.

We feel a deep connection with Santa Rosa—Alaska became the first carrier to bring commercial service to Sonoma County Airport nearly two decades ago—and we’ve remained the largest airline at STS serving nearly 2 million guests since then,” said Kirsten Amrine, vice president of network planning and revenue management at Alaska Airlines. “As the only airline serving all four Bay Area airports, including Santa Rosa, San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland, we can’t wait to connect guests between Santa Rosa and Las Vegas and have them experience our premium, award-winning service.”

“We are thrilled with the addition of service from Alaska Airlines to Las Vegas – this route signifies not only our commitment to providing convenient travel options, but also Alaska’s dedication to enhancing connectivity within our community,” said Jon Stout, airport manager at Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport. “With the expansion of Alaska’s options, we are not just opening up routes, we’re opening doors to new opportunities and experiences for our passengers.  We look forward to the success of this venture and the continued growth of our partnership with Alaska Airlines.”

“Las Vegas offers visitors a wide variety of unparalleled experiences and attractions, from world-class restaurants, A-list headliners and a full calendar of sporting events, there is always something new and exciting for travelers from the Northern California’s Wine Country to discover in Las Vegas,” said H. Fletch Brunelle, vice president of marketing for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “We are excited to welcome Alaska Airlines’ newest nonstop service from Sonoma County to Las Vegas this fall.” 

When heading to Sonoma, Alaska’s guests can take advantage of its Wine Flies Free program, which debuted in 2007 to make it easier for travelers to bring home their favorite bottles of wine from Santa Rosa/Sonoma County.

Oftentimes, wineries are unable to ship cases directly or consumers are faced with costly shipping fees to transport wine. Alaska’s Wine Flies Free solves those challenges by offering each Mileage Plan member the ability to check an entire case – up to 12 bottles of wine – for free.

The new route between Santa Rosa/Sonoma and Las Vegas will be served by the Embraer 175 jet, an aircraft with window and aisle seating; there are no middle seats. Guests will enjoy award-winning service in a three-class cabin that includes First Class and Premium Class; hundreds of free movies and TV shows available for viewing on personal devices; free texting on most flights; and Wi-Fi connectivity for purchase.  

Book now

Introducing Alaska Access: A new subscription service by Alaska Airlines to save on travel planning and costs 

Discover a bundle of exclusive deals with Alaska Access, our newest subscription program that includes discounted Wi-Fi plus more cost-saving tools 

Alaska Airlines is launching a new subscription program for savvy, price-conscious guests that will save them time and money throughout the year. Starting today, travelers can sign up for Alaska Access at just $5 per month to take advantage of exclusive savings.  

Immediately after sign-up, subscribers will receive their first monthly single-use voucher to Alaska’s inflight streaming-fast satellite Wi-Fi. Benefits also include advanced alerts to some of our biggest fare sales of the year. Subscribers will be notified the night before a sale is announced to take advantage of huge savings and seat selection. Alaska Access also offers a calendar view of the lowest fares that are tailored to your favorite destinations, so you never miss out on the best deals.  

We know time is valuable for our guests who are busy balancing a lot in their lives and we kept that in mind when we developed Alaska Access,” said Shane Jones, vice president of business development at Alaska Airlines, “Alaska Access is part of our commitment to make travel more affordable and convenient for everyone – whether planning for your dream vacation or returning home from college. Our new subscription service allows you to discover some of our best deals of the year right at your fingertips, in just minutes.” 

Alaska was the first U.S. airline to introduce a subscription service to travelers in 2022 when it launched Flight Pass. Responding to the continued shift in consumer demand for personalized and tailored experiences, Alaska is yet again leading the industry with this new and unique subscription program that brings value and convenience to travelers.

Alaska Access is rolling out just in time for spring and summer travel planning. This year, Alaska is seeing robust demand from passengers planning their trips and booking their flights months in advance. 

Alaska Access Exclusive Benefits:  

Early Sale Access:

With Alaska Access you’ll be the first to know about some of our biggest sales. Look out for in-app notifications alerting you to the upcoming sale the night before the rest of the world finds out (with the ability to book at sale prices immediately). This means you can book your favorite route times and seats before they’re gone! 

Personalized Fare Page:

We want you to spend less time planning your trip and more time enjoying it! You’ll be able to personalize a fare page through Alaska Access to view some of our lowest fares by money and miles to more than 500 global destinations. It takes the guesswork and time out of finding the best-valued flights on Alaska. 

Single-use Monthly Wi-Fi Voucher:

When you fly with Alaska, staying connected is easy. Each month starting at sign up, you’ll receive a one-time use voucher discount code that allows you to stream, browse and chat on-board using our satellite Wi-Fi.  

Here’s how to sign up: 

Guests can save time and money searching for the best deals to their next vacation spot with Alaska Access at just $5 per month while enjoying Alaska’s premium products and services, including the most legroom in First* and Premium Class and the most generous loyalty program with the fastest path to elite status. It’s easy to sign up for Alaska Access – click here for more details, including Terms and Conditions. Alaska Access is powered by Recurly, a leading subscription management and billing platform. 

Sign Up

*Out of any U.S. Airline excluding lie-flat equipped aircraft 

FOR MEDIA:

Download high res photos from our media kit here.

Renters rejoice! Turn rent payments into Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles with Bilt Rewards 

Bilt Rewards members can now transfer points to Mileage Plan miles. Plus, starting later this year, earn 3x miles when you pay rent via Bilt with your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card.

Your monthly rent is probably your biggest expense, especially if you live in a major city. What if we told you that you could earn airline miles for those hefty rent payments? With Bilt Rewards, every dollar you spend on rent could earn you points that can lead to a free flight with Alaska Airlines or one of our global partners. It’s an easy way to turn your everyday spending into exciting travel opportunities! 

Starting today, Alaska is partnering with Bilt Rewards—the loyalty program that rewards you for paying rent – to give our Mileage Plan members more ways to rack up potentially thousands of miles every month.   

This innovative new partnership with Bilt will enable our guests who rent to get even more value from their Alaska Visa Signature card and builds upon our industry-leading loyalty offering,” said Brett Catlin, vice president of loyalty, alliances and sales at Alaska Airlines. “Our guests can use their miles for travel on Alaska and our oneworld and additional global partners to 1,000+ destinations across the world.”  

How it works:  

When you join Bilt Rewards, you earn points for every dollar you pay in rent. You can now convert those points to Mileage Plan miles at a 1-to-1 ratio: Every 1,000 Bilt Rewards points equals 1,000 Mileage Plan miles.  

Special offer for Alaska Visa Signature cardholders – coming soon! 

Later this year, when using an Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card to pay rent through Bilt, cardholders will be eligible to earn triple Alaska miles – 3 miles for every dollar spent on rent up to $50,000 annually. This innovative offering will reward Alaska’s loyal cardholders on their largest monthly expenditure. Terms, conditions, and fees apply.

“From the Northwestern tip of Alaska to the most southeastern point of Florida, at Bilt we want to continuously reward our members no matter where they live in the United States,” said Bilt Rewards CEO, Ankur Jain. “As one of the most loved brands in aviation, this first-of-its-kind partnership with Alaska Airlines not only broadens Bilt’s members’ ability to travel everywhere Alaska and its partners fly but also exemplifies our commitment to providing Americans with more valuable ways to earn and redeem rewards on their largest monthly expense, rent, and within their local neighborhood.” 

Learn more about BILT x Alaska Airlines
Learn more about Alaska’s Mileage Plan

About Bilt Rewards 

Bilt Rewards is the first program for consumers to earn rewards on rent and daily neighborhood spend while creating a path to homeownership.    

Through a partnership with the country’s largest owners including Greystar, Asset Living, AvalonBay, Equity Residential, Related Companies, GID, Starwood, Cushman & Wakefield, Bozzuto, Camden, Brookfield, Berkshire Residential, ZRS, Highmark, Beztak, Trammell Crow, PGIM and more. Bilt Rewards enables renters in more than three million units across the country to earn Bilt Points just by paying rent, while these owners benefit from resident loyalty, cost savings and a share of revenue. 

Bilt Rewards boasts one of the highest value rewards programs on the market today, including one-to-one point transfers to 12 loyalty programs allowing members to travel across over 100 major airlines and hotel partners. Members can also book travel through the Bilt Travel Portal powered by Expedia; book fitness classes at the country’s top boutique studios including SoulCycle, Solidcore, Rumble and Y7; shop limited-edition and exclusive collections of art and home decor through the Bilt Collection; shop on Amazon.com; or redeem Bilt Points for credits towards rent or even towards a down payment on a future home. 

The Alaska Airlines credit card program is issued and administered by Bank of America, N.A. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. 

•••

It’s official: Alaska Airlines technicians vote YES on new contract 

Alaska Airlines’ aircraft maintenance technicians, maintenance controllers and other employees who support aircraft maintenance and are represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) have ratified a new five-year contract.

The agreement, which was negotiated in 12 months, includes significant improvements such as increased pay, retirement contribution increases, and quality of life improvements. With this recently closed deal, Alaska Airlines has ratified seven contracts across six represented groups since 2022.  

“The expertise, professionalism and dedication of our aircraft technicians is unmatched,” said CEO Ben Minicucci. “I’m proud to have them working under a new contract just four months after their previous contract was amendable. This contract reflects the critical contributions of our technicians, improves their quality of life, and reinforces Alaska’s foundation for long-term success.”  

“This agreement not only includes justifiable increases in pay, benefits, and quality of life, it gives our members a framework for fulfilling their careers with Alaska Airlines,” said Bret Oestreich, AMFA National President.

“Thanks to our negotiating committee, we were able to secure protections in headcount and work rules, as well as job security for work performed by our members for decades. AMFA prioritized the interests of all its members in various classifications when bargaining the deal, and this agreement shows the importance of our members remaining unified and AMFA’s strength at the bargaining table,” Oestreich continued. “Our focus now shifts to working with Alaska Airlines to attract and retain qualified, skilled professionals, and this industry-leading contract will make that job much easier.” 

Effective as of the previous contract’s amendable date (October 17, 2023), the new contract contains: 

  • Wage increases including a top-of-scale rate of $65.85 for technician classifications. 
  • Quality of life improvements to schedules to reduce life disruptions, and incorporates seniority for shift times to recognize length of service.  
  • Retirement contribution increases and caps to health care costs. 
  • Language changes that allow for increased productivity. 

The previous contract with AMFA became amendable in October 2023. Contracts in the airline industry do not expire. Once they become amendable, the current contract remains in effect until a new agreement is ratified. 

••••
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