Travel alert: Alaska Airlines prepares for PNW storm

Updated Sunday, Oct. 16, 9:30 a.m.

No additional cancellations are planned for today.

Updated Saturday, Oct. 15, 2:40 p.m.

Alaska’s system operations continues to closely monitor the Pacific Northwest storm and developing weather system.

In severe weather situations like this one, Alaska will only operate flights when it is safe to do so. This afternoon, Alaska will operate a reduced schedule of flights into Seattle and Portland in order to err on the side of caution. The airline has proactively reduced flying into Seattle between 6 and 9 p.m. and have cancelled 53 flights to Seattle and Portland today.

Customers began to receive notifications of cancellations on Friday, and Alaska and Horizon Air have increased staffing as employees work to reaccomodate the 4,200 passengers affected by these cancellations.

As a reminder, there is a flexible travel policy in place to give customers traveling to or through Seattle and Portland today the ability to reschedule their travel. Customers with tickets booked before  Oct. 14, 2016, scheduled for travel between Oct. 14 and Oct. 16, can change their travel plans without incurring a change fee or can request to refund their ticket. Learn more at alaskaair.com.If you are scheduled to fly today to or from Pacific Northwest airports, you are strongly encouraged to check your flight status before going to the airport.


Updated Friday, Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m.

Alaska Airlines has issued a dynamic waiver allowing passengers impacted by the storm to rebook free of charge. This waiver is in effect for passengers current traveling to, from or through Washington, Oregon and British Columbia airports. It applies to tickets booked prior to Oct. 14, 2016, for travel dates between Oct. 14, 2016 and Oct. 16, 2016. Customers can change travel plans online or find out more information regarding waiver options and travel advisories at alaskaair.com.


Updated Friday, Oct. 14, 6:00 p.m.

On the eve of what is expected to be the strongest storm of the year in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska Airlines is closely monitoring weather conditions throughout the weekend. Customers departing from Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Bellingham and Vancouver, British Columbia airports are being encouraged to check their flight status on alaskaair.com or the Alaska Airlines mobile app before heading to the airport.

While Seattle and Portland have experienced moderate rain and wind over the past two days, conditions are expected to intensify starting Friday evening with heavy rain and winds with gusts of up to 45 miles per hour.

A second, stronger storm is expected to arrive Saturday evening, with wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour. Additional flight delays are possible Friday evening and throughout Saturday.

“The winds associated with this storm have the potential to exceed our safe limit landing requirements. The safety of our customers and crew remain our top priority,” said Captain John Ladner, managing director of operations at Alaska Airlines.

Fliers who opt in to mobile alerts will be notified of flight changes via text message.

Storm related updates will be posted here as information is confirmed.

 

Comments

  1. Here we go!! Hopefully this will pass before I get to Seattle on Sunday AM.????????

    On Fri, Oct 14, 2016 at 4:01 PM, Alaska Airlines Blog wrote:

    > Alaska Airlines posted: “Updated Friday, Oct. 14, 6:00 p.m. On the eve of > what is expected to be the strongest storm of the year in the Pacific > Northwest, Alaska Airlines is closely monitoring weather conditions > throughout the weekend. Customers departing from Seattle, Portlan” >

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