Alaska Airlines to put limits on ‘smart bags’ starting Jan. 15
Alaska Airlines will put limits on “smart bags” starting early next year. As of Jan. 15, any bag powered with a lithium battery or lithium battery power bank will need to follow these requirements: Smart bags will be allowed as carry-on baggage, if they meet carry-on size limits and if it’s possible to remove the battery…
A winning team: Alaska and Virgin America take home top awards in 2017
Condé Nast Traveler named Virgin America “Best U.S. Airline” in their 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards for the 10th year in a row this morning. Alaska Airlines took the third spot. Virgin America has taken the top spot in the poll every year since the airline began flying. “This is a celebration of the Best in…
The end of an era: Alaska retires unique cargo-passenger ‘combi’ planes
After a weeklong fishing trip in Yakutat, Alaska, retired Captain David Olson found himself on one of the last flights of the 737-400 combis – a plane he piloted for two years straight when he first started flying for Alaska Airlines nearly 36 years ago. The unique cargo-passenger aircraft will officially retire Oct. 18. “It’s…
A decade of aloha: Alaska celebrates 10 years of flying to Hawaii
Ten years ago today, a Boeing 737 landed in Honolulu and flight attendant Joanie Spring opened the cabin door to a new era for Alaska Airlines. Alaska’s inaugural hop across the Pacific to the Hawaiian Islands was a dream come true for longtime employees – and for guests who could use their Mileage Plan miles…
A decade of awesome: 10 ways Alaska and Virgin America continue to shake up the airline industry
Creating an airline people love is a bold goal, but if anyone is up for the challenge, it’s Alaska Airlines and Virgin America. Today, Virgin America was named the “Top Domestic Airline” 2017 in Travel + Leisure “World’s Best Awards” for the 10th year in a row. In May, Alaska Airlines ranked highest in airline…
Alaska Airlines CEO takes pledge to further advance diversity and inclusion
Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden is one of more than 160 U.S. business leaders to sign a “diversity and inclusion pledge” this week, the latest effort by the company to embrace diversity in all its forms. In signing, Tilden is committing Alaska Air Group to “to cultivate a workplace where different points of view are…
Alaska and Virgin America: Creating an airline people love
Imagine arriving at the airport and immediately feeling welcomed to a fresh, modern experience. You know you’ll reach your destination on time with minimal hassle, and the airline you’ve chosen offers consistently low fares and more nonstop flights to more destinations from the West Coast than any other. At your gate, you can’t help Shazaming…
Alaska Airlines to hire for 2,300 frontline jobs in 2017: Why you should apply today
A forecasted more than 2,300 frontline jobs will be up for grabs at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air throughout 2017. The growing airlines are looking for candidates to fill hundreds of flight attendant, pilot, reservations and customer service jobs throughout the airlines’ route network. Jobs will be posted to alaskaair.jobs and horizonair.jobs throughout the year.…
The Wall Street Journal ranks Alaska Airlines No. 1 for fourth year in a row
For the fourth year in a row, The Wall Street Journal ranked Alaska Airlines No. 1 among the nine largest U.S. carriers in its 2016 Airline Scorecard. Aside from taking the overall top spot, Alaska was first in on-time arrivals and had the fewest extreme delays, fewest 2-hour tarmac delays and fewest complaints. Alaska took…
Alaska Mileage Plan enhancements and changes to Delta relationship
Today Alaska Airlines announced a few major changes to its Mileage Plan. First, the Seattle-based airline is upping the loyalty game by making its award-winning Mileage Plan more generous with the announcement of four flier-friendly enhancements. Second, its relationship with Delta Air Lines will end April 30, 2017. So what does all this mean for…
Different works: uniting two airlines to create one great flight experience
4 p.m., Dec. 14, 2016 update: Photos and b-roll of the Dec. 14 press conference in San Francisco are available for download at the bottom of this post. Bacon on a donut. Electricity and guitars. Labradors and poodles. Men in Black’s Agent J and Agent K. Throughout history there have been countless tales of unusual…
When merging cultures, here’s how Alaska Airlines and Virgin America are working to get it right
When Alaska Airlines and Virgin America announced plans to merge earlier this year, one of the biggest questions was how the two airlines would blend their distinct cultures. “Culture has been a real challenge in many mergers, so we’re working to do things differently,” said Ben Minicucci, Alaska President and COO who will also become…