How does brioche French toast with rhubarb thyme compote, real maple syrup and scrambled eggs sound for breakfast? Or, if it’s dinner time, perhaps some miso ginger beef with mesclun mix, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes and ginger vinaigrette?
These are just two of the dishes rolling out on our First Class summer menu on Saturday, a selection that focuses on simplicity, fresh ingredients and generous portions.
The meals will be served on any flight with a First Class cabin – Boeing, Airbus and Embraer aircraft – and will change every three months based on the season.
“Our guests have told us they want more fresh food, larger quantities and a wider variety of options,” said Todd Traynor-Corey, director of food & beverage. “With a focus on local and healthy food with complex flavors, as well as our thoughtful beer and wine choices, the menu has a distinctive West Coast vibe.”
Just days away from graduation, hundreds of seniors from Highline Public Schools near Seattle went on a special “field trip” with Alaska’s Chief Football Officer Russell Wilson at the Museum of Flight. Joined by Alaska CEO Brad Tilden and NASA Astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, students were applauded for their academic excellence and encouraged to define their own future.
“If your dreams seem out of this world, that’s OK – sometimes that’s where they’ll lead you,” said Metcalf-Lindenburger, the first alumna of Space Camp to go to space, adding “leading doesn’t just mean that others follow, but that you show others the way.”
You may have a complicated relationship with boarding an aircraft. On the one hand, it means you will soon settle into your seat and you’re almost on your way. On the other hand, it can sometimes be stressful if you’re not sure when it’s your turn to board. At one point or another, you’ve probably seen a big queue of people – let’s be honest, sometimes it’s just a shapeless blob – that forms when people aren’t sure if it’s their time to board.
Starting July 18, Alaska will be launching a new group boarding process that will simplify the process for guests. This identifies which of the five groups – First Class, Group A, Group B, Group C or Group D – you belong to. You’ll simply approach the gate with the rest of your group when your group is announced.
This new boarding process doesn’t change anything about where you sit once you’re inside the plane – Alaska Airlines still has confirmed, assigned seats that you may select in advance. There’s no change to that.
Here’s a quick rundown on what this all means for you the next time you fly Alaska Airlines.
Boarding Pass
For flights on or after July 18, 2018, you will see some changes to the boarding pass design – such as larger fonts and more streamlined information.
Your boarding pass is really a guide for your journey. You want to know, first and foremost, where you need to be (your gate) and when you need to be there (your boarding time).
You’ll notice these two pieces of information are now big and bold. In tests, guests were quickly and easily able to get the information they needed from their boarding passes.
You will find your group letter listed on your boarding pass. If you have multiple flight segments, you’ll see each one on a separate line and an assigned group letter for each. If you’re a Mileage Plan MVP traveling with other people on the same reservation, you will all see the same boarding group noted on your boarding pass.
Alaska Airlines recently partnered with Darling Media to launch the “Go, Be You” video series, which follows eight women as they explore eight Alaska Airlines destinations. Each video is hosted by a traveler who shares the hidden gems that define the personality of each city.
San Francisco with Bethany Menzel
The quirks are the perks. Unconventional museums. Vintage shops. Stylish restaurants. Content Creator Bethany Menzal’s hilly adventure shares the city’s creativity and unique architecture.
Watch more videos in the series
By Jacqueline Drumheller, sustainability manager
These days, most 16-year-olds are focused on getting their driver’s licenses, playing Fortnite or deciding who they want to ask to prom, but Shelby O’Neil isn’t your average teenager. She’s a Girl Scout who created Jr Ocean Guardians for her 2017 Girl Scout USA Gold Award Project to share her passion to save our oceans and marine life for future generations.
Shelby O’Neil reached out to Alaska Airlines last year, asking us to eliminate single-use plastic stir straws to reduce the amount of plastic pollution that is damaging our oceans.
Shelby reached out to Alaska Airlines last year, urging us to eliminate single-use plastic straws to reduce plastic pollution that is damaging our oceans. Little did she know, we were on the cusp of becoming the first U.S. airline to make this change, building on our decades-long commitment to environmental stewardship.
Starting this summer, we’re replacing non-recyclable plastic stir straws and citrus picks – we used 22 million last year – with sustainable, marine-friendly alternatives on all domestic and international flights, as well as in Alaska’s lounges across the country. For people with special needs, we’ll happily provide non-plastic, marine-friendly option, upon request.
We’ve partnered with the Seattle-based nonprofit Lonely Whale, an organization that drives impactful market-based change on behalf of our oceans, to support this initiative.
This week marks the official start of the 2018 Copper River King Salmon season in Cordova, Alaska. For many people, the kick-off of Copper River salmon season means that summer is officially here.
As part of the tradition to celebrate the first catch, Alaska Airlines hosted the 9th annual Copper Chef Cook-off on Friday at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Alaska Airlines recently partnered with Darling Media to launch the “Go, be you” video series, which follows eight women as they explore eight Alaska Airlines destinations. Each video is hosted by a traveler who shares the hidden gems that define the personality of each city.
San Diego with Jeanette Ogden
A breath of perfect air. The ultimate facial. Authentic Japanese Matcha. Campfire-inspired cuisine. Jeanette Ogden (founder of Shut the Kale Up – a wellness, health, and fitness platform) takes in the relaxing and rejuvenating air and aura of San Diego, and its surrounding natural beauty. Ready to fly? Shop now.
Great trips require great planning. Whether you’re traveling for business, or flying some place new with the family, there’s a lot that goes into getting ready for travel.
You’ve scrolled through options for hotels, activities and restaurants, and made your selections. And now on Alaska, if you’ve splurged on a first class seat, or snagged an upgrade with your elite status, you can do the same with your in-flight meal options.
Alone on the airfield, one cart is reserved for heroes.
With blue paint, red carpet and American flag curtains, the customized cart carries the remains of fallen service members along their journey home to their final resting place.
It’s the most visible component of the Alaska Airlines Fallen Soldier Program, which ensures the remains are treated with respect and dignity upon arrival.
In May 2018, Alaska’s ninth cart was delivered to San Francisco International Airport.
Today, Alaska Airlines has dedicated carts in Anchorage, Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Washington, D.C., Dallas and San Francisco. While the carts remain under Alaska’s care at each of these locations, they are available for any airline to use when transporting remains.
Brian Bowden, one of the original creators of the program and line aircraft technician, says the cart program was a way to show support and respect for those who serve, as well as their families.
“We always get asked ‘Why do you do this?’ For us it’s simple: freedom isn’t free. It comes at a price,” said Bowden. “We are just trying to have soldiers’ backs and provide them with this service on their final journey home, so their loved ones know that people cared about what they did. If the family and military escort knows that we cared, then we did our job.”
Alaska Airlines recently partnered with Darling Media to launch the “Go, be you” video series, which follows eight women as they explore eight Alaska Airlines destinations. Each video is hosted by a traveler who shares the hidden gems that define the personality of each city.
“Alaska provides West Coast residents with the most nonstop flights to places where they can truly discover themselves, rejuvenate and create memories,” said Natalie Bowman, Alaska’s managing director of marketing and advertising. “Partnering with Darling has allowed us to highlight these travel opportunities in such an authentic and engaging way.”
