Busting the myth of bad airplane food: Alaska Airlines chef uses science to make food fly

A team of experts plate and sample every single dish before it is added to the menu. In this photo, Alaska Airlines onboard food and beverage product manager Kirsten Robinett examines a first class meal in a recent menu quality check. Pictured here: Cucina Fresca penne with herb-roasted chicken breast and broccoli florets. Let’s be…

Alaska Airlines employee drives 5 hours to help customer make it to fishing trip on time

A college student’s Alaska adventure was nearly derailed before it even started – until Alaska Airlines employees went above and beyond to deliver him to his final destination. When Flight 139 from Chicago to Anchorage was diverted to nearby Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson because of unexpected fog May 5, many customers needed help rearranging plans and…

Flying in a time capsule to honor veterans

As much as he appreciates the Bombardier Q400’s sophisticated flight deck technology, Horizon Air Captain Rob Sandberg quite enjoys stepping back in time. He can often be found at the controls of World War II fighter aircraft, flying for a worthy cause close to his heart. For the past seven years, the Seattle-based pilot has…

A reason to ‘like’ Facebook

Though some heroes come brandishing a sword or a super power, one Alaska Airlines customer comes equipped with miles and the power of social media. When Cecily Craighill missed her flight from Atlanta to Eugene, Oregon, on a different airline, James “JJ” Durant, an Alaska Airlines MVP Gold 75K, came to her rescue on Facebook.…

From Seattle to sunshine: 5 things to explore in the Tampa Bay Area

Alaska Airlines began daily service between Seattle and Tampa, Florida, on June 20 – the first nonstop flight to link the cities, which cuts a few hours of flight time for tourists and business travelers. Aboard the 5-hour-40-minute inaugural flight, my wife and I left our kids and escaped for a quick two-night trip. At…

Alaska VP asks senators to support extending NextGen ‘all the way to the runway’

Gary Beck, vice president of flight operations at Alaska Airlines, testified Wednesday in Washington, D.C., before a Senate subcommittee on aviation. In the hearing to examine the Federal Aviation Administration’s progress on NextGen, Chairwoman Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, highlighted the work that Alaska Airlines is already doing. “One of the areas I mentioned is the implementation…

Throwback Thursday: the golden what?

Three-quarters of a century after the cries of “Gold! Gold! In the Klondike!” a quirky little airline with deep roots in the state of Alaska decided to pay its own tribute to the gold rush. Alaska Airlines’ “Golden Nugget Service” era launched in the early 1960s, and passengers would not soon forget it.

Recipe: Alaska Airlines’ first class granola

Roasted sunflower seeds and dried cranberries give this simple granola a special twist. “This granola remains one of our most popular first class offerings, and we are often asked for the recipe,” says Kirsten Robinett, Alaska Airlines’ onboard food and beverage services product manager. Custom-designed by Alaska’s executive chef, this popular granola is served in first class…

Destination New Orleans: jazz music and more

This is the first in a multi-part series about Alaska Airlines’ new service to New Orleans. The last time I was in New Orleans was nearly 20 years ago when I was working as a room steward on the American Queen, a sternwheeler plying the Mississippi River with passengers on a week-long cruise of Mark…

When do I get my MVP first class upgrade?

It’s a feeling every MVP knows all too well – that sudden leap of joy at the pre-flight email saying you’ve been upgraded. “It means a lot,” says Keith Hamilton, an MVP Gold 75k who flies anywhere from 25 to 30 times per year. He estimates that he gets upgraded on about two out of…

How to travel with kids (hint: just do it)

Traveling with children can be a daunting proposition. Strollers, car seats, nap times, milk, diapers, escalators – and, not to mention, the children themselves. Add it all up and it’s a recipe for one big headache. But to raise good travelers, you have to start early, says Salt Lake City-area blogger Allison Czarnecki. How?

Co-workers, travelers reunite pilot with camera lost for a year

When Los Angeles-based Alaska Airlines First Officer Rick Russek saw his point-and-shoot camera fall into Resurrection Bay one summer, he was certain he’d never see it, or the precious family photos that were on the memory card, again. But an unlikely series of events combining the forces of nature, the kindness of strangers and co-workers, and simple…

2014