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Rain or shine you can rely on Spokane Passenger Service Agent Marsha

When Horizon’s Ground Services crew at Spokane International Airport needs early-morning help because of a storm or employee illness, Marsha Pilimai often assigns herself to arrive at 3:45 A.M. to assist with shoveling snow, de-icing aircraft, loading baggage, marshaling airplanes, and whatever else is needed.

“That way, I don’t have to mandate another employee to come in,” says Pilimai, who is dual-qualified to work in Ground Services and to do her primary job as Passenger Service Team Captain on the Duty Desk, which involves staffing, scheduling and submitting payroll information for employees at the Spokane, Wenatchee, Pasco, Walla Walla and Yakima stations.

Marsha Pilimai

She usually starts her Duty Desk shift around 8:30 A.M. in Spokane, although if Ground Services needs help anytime during the day, or even on her days off, she’ll jump in then, too. “I’ll do whatever needs to be done. They know they can count on me.”

Because she has been with Horizon for more than 26 years, she’s able to answer questions, and she’s been a great mentor. She’s known for her sense of humor and making work fun, but also for insisting on safety, and that policies and procedures are followed.

She provides co-workers with support for personal as well as work issues. “We tell people the Duty Desk here is a safe place. We do vital things like tracking hours to make sure everyone gets paid correctly, but we also provide psychologist- and mom-like caring.”

Pilimai, who worked for three years at a youth center after graduating from high school, joined Horizon after a friend let her know the airline had openings.

It’s been such a good job for me and for my family all these years,” she says. “I had flexibility to attend sports and school events when my two daughters and my son were growing up. Also, I really enjoy my job. I’ve said that I’ll be here until they wheel me out the door in my office chair.”

Questions & Answers

What do you like most about your job? The variety, the flexibility, the friendships, and participating in the Fantasy Flight event Alaska Air Group does each December at the Spokane airport. Underprivileged and at-risk kids board a flight that circles the airport, then lands, and parks at a hangar that represents the North Pole. I help with decorating and with filling gift backpacks for the children. These kids melt your heart with their stories. It gives me so much happiness to do this for them.

What’s important to you in life? I want to live life to the fullest, to do the best job I can each day, to be a good person, to be there for my family and friends. My husband and kids and our grandkids are the most important to me. And I want to be authentic. My mom always said, “Be who you are, and do what makes you happy,” and I live by that. I’m the same person at work and at home.

What do you take with you on a trip? My good walking shoes—I don’t want anything to hold me back.

Where do you like to travel? I love Disneyland. It just makes me happy.

Praise for Marsha

“Recognized as the heartbeat of the Spokane Station, Marsha is a shining example of our core values: own safety, do the right thing, be kindhearted, deliver performance and be remarkable. When the ramp needs help loading bags, Marsha steps in. If help is needed to de-ice a plane, Marsha steps in. If a guest needs assistance, Marsha steps in. She is known for going above and beyond, and being loyal to Horizon and the employees she works with each day. Marsha is also heavily invested in the Spokane Fantasy Flight, joyfully preparing for the many kids taking a trip to ‘the North Pole.’ In addition, her door is always open for anyone needing guidance. She is trusted, highly respected and a wonderful example.”—Matt P., Horizon Vice President of Station and Inflight Operations, Seattle

Horizon Air employees such as Marsha Pilimai are the reason for our excellence. Join us in creating an airline people love. Visit horizonair.jobs.

Wildfire update: Alaska to resume operations in Portland and Spokane this afternoon

Updated Sept. 15 at 1:30 pm PT

Alaska’s operations in Portland and Spokane are scheduled to resume at 3 p.m. Pacific time today. Horizon is also resuming its operations at both airports, but at a reduced capacity.

The 24-hour suspension of flights allowed us time to implement a new safety protocol that directs our employees to work a reduced number of hours outside when there’s poor air quality. Thick smoke is covering the Pacific Northwest due to massive wildfires across Oregon and Washington.

Our employees’ exposure over the course of their shifts will be limited to keep their air intake below unhealthy levels. To help keep them safe, they will have access to personal protective equipment, such as N95 masks.

Operations and safety teams from Alaska and Horizon met with medical professionals from the University of Washington to develop this framework for employee safety. These experts included our medical directors, as well as occupational physicians and pulmonary specialists.

The safety framework will also be used by our employees at any airport where there’s poor air quality due to heavy smoke, which includes Eugene, Medford and Redmond/Bend in Oregon, and Pasco and Walla Walla in Washington.

Posted Sept. 14 at 5 pm PT

Alaska Airlines began the temporary suspension of all flights to and from airports in Portland and Spokane starting at 3 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, Sept. 14, as the Pacific Northwest continues to battle intense wildfires and hazardous air quality. The flight suspensions are expected to last until 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Across the West, fires are creating thick smoke and haze, causing very poor air quality conditions in the Portland and Spokane areas. We made the difficult decision to stop our operation so that our employees and guests can remain safe.

Alaska Airlines, along with its regional carrier Horizon Air, has canceled dozens of flights in Portland and Spokane for that 24-hour period.

Alaska and Horizon have also canceled flights at smaller airports due to fire and smoke including Eugene, Medford and Redmond/Bend in Oregon, and Pasco and Walla Walla in Washington.

Improving weather conditions in the coming days could begin to dissipate smoke in Portland and Spokane. However, other airports in the West could be impacted by drifting smoke.

Flexible travel options

Due to the smoke and unhealthy air quality in the Pacific Northwest region, our guests can change or cancel flights under our  Peace of Mind waiver. Guests can easily manage their reservation online or call reservations at 1-800-252-7522 for assistance.

As always, we advise those traveling to check their flight status before departure.

Sitka employee gives car keys to guest to say goodbye to grandfather 25 years later

Ian McClure from Portland, Ore. had planned his annual fishing trip to Alaska carefully. Not only was he going to fish with his long-time friends, but he was going to see his grandfather’s final resting place.

McClure’s grandfather, Donald Pomeroy Blacketer, was a veteran in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. Blacketer moved to Sitka following the war, and then settled in the Pacific Northwest, where McClure used to visit and go fishing with him when he was a kid. When Blacketer died, the family agreed that he must return to the town that he loved. His ashes were interred at the Sitka National Cemetery.

That was 25 years ago. McClure had never visited his grandfather’s grave to pay his respects.  McClure decided that now was the time. He intended to visit the cemetery at the end of his fishing trip.

Alaska Guest Ian McClure and Lead Customer Service Agent Elaine O’Neill

But, McClure’s best-laid plans soon came undone. He and his friends learned (while out on the water) that their flight had been moved up an hour. Dropping everything, they rushed to the airport in Sitka, hoping to check their bags and still have time to catch an Uber to the cemetery, which was just two miles away.

They approached the Alaska ticket counter to inquire and met Lead Customer Service Agent Elaine O’Neill. O’Neill explained that the flight would be boarding in under an hour and that Sitka, a town of 9,000 people, does not have Uber or Lyft.

“That’s when I resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn’t be able to visit the cemetery,” McClure said.

That is, until O’Neill said, “Do you guys want to borrow my car?” and she handed the complete strangers her keys.

“I haven’t cried tears of gratitude in a long time, but as I drove my friends in a total stranger’s Subaru to the Sitka cemetery, I had a hard time seeing straight,” McClure said.

Not only was he able to kneel at his grandpa’s headstone, he also took photos of headstones that had been requested by other veterans’ families.

McClure kneels at his grandfather’s headstone.

McClure returned O’Neill’s car, which had been sitting on empty, with a full tank of gas.

“I thanked her from the bottom of my heart and told her that I didn’t have the words to adequately express my appreciation,” he said.

Once back home, McClure gathered his thoughts and sent a letter to CEO Brad Tilden to praise our employees. He also posted the story on Facebook (see post below, to which one of his friends wrote, “Ian, what a beautiful story. I admit I may be crying right now. The world could use some more Elaines.”

O’Neill said she was happy to help McClure and his friends.

“He filled my heart with his story,” she says.  “Here at the Sitka station, we are all so happy to help anyone in need.  If anyone is stranded, I never think twice to help. I just say one day someone will help me or my family……just want to pay it forward.”

Ian McClure’s original Facebook post:

Alaska employee Jim’s motto has always been “Everybody, stay safe and compliant”

When Jim Sundstedt runs a meeting, it always starts and ends on the themes of safety and compliance. And it always runs on time. Sundstedt, a 35-year Alaska Airlines employee, is known for hosting the Daily Operational Review at 0800 hours for the airline’s Maintenance and Operations division. He’s insistent on starting promptly, and he closes each meeting with the words, “Everybody, stay safe and compliant.”

“It’s not just a saying—we take it seriously,” Sundstedt explains, noting that this timeliness connects with running an on-time airline. “We do all we can to get passengers where they’re going on time. When planes need maintenance or repair—for example, changing a tire—our focus is to return the aircraft to service safely, efficiently and in compliance with regulations.”

Jim Sundstedt, Legend of Customer Service

Sundstedt is also known as a go-to source for information about airline procedures—he wrote many of them over the years. Today, he is one of six maintenance operations managers tasked with assessing the status of airplanes and providing estimates on repair times so that decisions can be made related to when planes are expected to be back in service.

Sundstedt, who grew up in Kent, south of Seattle, studied business in college but was always drawn to the airline industry. He earned an airframe-and-powerplant license in 1976, allowing him to work on planes as an aircraft technician. He worked at several airlines in Northern California in the late 1970s and early 1980s, before being hired by Alaska and returning to Seattle in 1984. Later, he went back to school and studied avionics. In 1990, he moved to Alaska’s Maintenance Control Group, where he has worked since.

“I feel blessed to have a career with Alaska that has been phenomenal,” Sundstedt says. “I’ve always loved what I do.”

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What do you like most about your job?
Variety is the thing I like most. Something new happens each and every day, and we get to use creative thinking to keep things running as best we can.

What advice do you have for new hires?
Don’t take your job lightly or for granted, whatever it is. And never stop learning, so that you can be better at what you do.

What are your interests outside work?
My hobbies are woodworking and home improvement. At different stages, I’ve worked on everything from building a foundation to the completion of a house. I also like fishing and travel.

What do you take with you on travels?
The first thing I take on a trip is my wife! After that, I pack a tablet with books downloaded from the library.

What’s on your travel to-do list?
When I retire, we’ll do longer trips to see the beautiful parks along the West Coast.

KUDOS FROM JIM’S CO-WORKERS

“What makes Jim a legend is that he’s always completely prepared for anything that comes up at any time. He’s very proactive and strategic.” -Steve L., Director, Maintenance Control, Seattle
“Any time you give Jim a call for a mainte­nance reference or a policy reference, he knows exactly where to find it-often because he most likely wrote it. He knows everything by heart.” -George K., Horizon VP, Maintenance & Engineering, Seattle

“Jim has a great wealth of knowledge. Working with him over the years has been a joy.” -Linda C., Fleet Tech Program Manager, Seattle

“Jim is devoted to our customers and has always considered what the effect of our job is on passengers …. He’s committed to safety and compliance, and he has taken that commitment and made it so that we perform at a very high level.” -Ed 8., Maintenance Operations Manager, Seattle

Help those affected by devastating wildfires

Our thoughts go out to those affected by the wildfires sweeping through the West Coast. You can help support charities involved with relief efforts by donating miles to the Alaska Airlines Disaster Relief Pool.

Flight Attendant Brandy Likes leads with her heart & shows people the way with kindness

Poet Maya Angelou wrote, “People will forget what you said or what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” For Horizon Flight Attendant Brandy Likes, that saying about sums it up.

“I do my best to always live my life making those that I cross paths with feel happy,” she says.

Likes came to Horizon 10 years ago to take her dream job as a flight attendant. After working for Nordstrom for 14 years, she was ready to spread her wings. But while Likes is known for delivering outstanding customer service in the air, she’s also been a pathfinder for Horizon on the ground.

Brandy Likes

Likes is a founding member of QX Factor, a program launched in 2016 by frontline employees to bring new energy to the employee experience at Horizon. Deeply committed to the effort, she helped design the program, worked on course content and even helped facilitate sessions.

It was, as she says, an amazing experience.

“What I came away with was a better appreciation for my coworkers – not just crew members, but coworkers from across all aspects of the company,” Likes says.

Likes is also an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) representative for inflight employees and is heavily involved in the Local Forum and Station Advocate programs. She’s also a facilitator for First Class, the company’s new employee orientation.

“Teaching this class makes my heart smile,” she says. “Being part of an employee’s first experience with the company is something special, and their enthusiasm is always reinvigorating. And then, seeing them later at the airport or on the plane, it’s so fulfilling.”

A self-described ‘people person,’ Likes admits that she must regularly budget extra time getting to her flights as she’s often chatting with others.

“From seeing the crews in the crew room, catching up with ground crew and CSAs and, of course, greeting guests, it’s always an adventure, and every day will be different” Likes says.

That’s what she loves about her job. In fact, she says she couldn’t see herself doing anything else.

Likes and her husband have two children and a dog. They are an adventuring family. In-between school and sports, they are always traveling somewhere—most recently moving across the country.

“Brandy has added so much value to the culture of our company that it is hard to measure,” said Matt Prainito, VP of station and inflight operations. “She has truly been integral leading continuous improvement efforts at Horizon Air, all in the name of making things better for her coworkers.”

From one anxious flyer to another: Here’s how to travel during a pandemic

Let me start by saying, I am terrified of the Coronavirus.

Having a close family member with cancer and personally battling asthma puts me at “high-risk” for getting the virus. So when it came time to decide whether my fiance and I would go through with travel plans we made a year ago, it was a tough call.

We went for it.

Knowing we quarantined well & were symptom-free, we chose to fly Alaska Airlines round trip from Seattle to Boston. I want to share our journey because we love to travel and if people don’t start flying again, we could lose this incredible way to connect with the people & places we love most and the rich experiences that come with flying around the world.

Travel wasn’t as scary as I thought.

Boston Logan International Airport sure knows how to social distance, check out those blocked seats!

Even though I work for an airline, the fear of flying was real. But it was scarier in my head than in real life. I worried people wouldn’t keep their distance or wear masks. I was even concerned about touching bins through security and standing too close to people, but none of that happened. Most airports, TSA and airlines (plus fellow travelers) seemed to be taking serious precautions to ensure everyone’s safety.

It was next-level.

You can tell Alaska Airlines has put a lot of thought & care into every step of its guests and employees’ travel journey. From blocking middle seats to placing plexiglass and social distancing stickers at every touchpoint in the airport—the preparedness shows.

My fiance & I ready to travel! JFYI families or parties that wish to sit together can upon request.

Planes have also never seemed so clean. I’ve always been the type-A traveler who brings wipes onboard to sanitize everything (this trip was no different) but I’ve never heard a flight crew announce to their guests when the aircraft was last cleaned, that was a nice touch.

Alaska also has an effective mandatory mask policy that not only encourages compliance, it empowers their flight attendants to hand out a yellow card to a guest who isn’t wearing a mask, which could put them on a no-fly list if they don’t comply.

It’s nice to know everyone is helping to keep everyone safe. Unless you are a child under the age of two you must wear a mask, bandana or neck gaiter (face shields alone don’t count)—whether we like it or not, they are proving to be effective. Plus, I ran a half marathon while wearing one so I believe in you!

Alaska has you covered.

Currently, Alaska’s food & beverage service is still limited to reduce interaction onboard but they are offering some snacks and drinks—you can check out what they’re serving ahead of time on their website.

Thankfully, if you lose or break your mask during your trip, Alaska has you covered & you can ask for one free of charge. They also offer EO sanitizing wipes with a relaxing natural lavender scent (unscented wipes are also available). And, if you have to use the bathroom, Alaska’s aircraft & lounges have the freshest smelling Antica Farmacista foaming soap, which is so much nicer than generic soap.

Alaska’s inflight entertainment also has new movies and old favorites you can stream (like all the Harry Potters), a free chat feature (so I could text my mom I was OK) and free Headspace listening sessions (which usually cost $$$) so I was feeling namaste the whole way instead of stressing out.

All in all, I felt safe and at ease.

Travel is different, but better.

Day-of travel is much like it used to be. You still get a boarding pass, walk through security and hop on a plane. That being said, the prep work leading up to your travel day and what you do when you get to your destination may be different.

Here’s what I mean:

Airports are judgment-free [fashion] zones.

As you can see, I wore the trendiest eyewear of 2020—I’m sure a pair of regular glasses or sunglasses would have sufficed—because I wanted to feel safe & secure (even if my ego felt the opposite). You can make the jetway your runway, too, by wearing things like a hooded sweatshirt, pants, high socks and closed-toe shoes—whatever helps cover up!

Never have I ever packed this.

We also packed our own snacks and filled our reusable water bottles at touch-free fill stations. #FillBeforeYouFly

Can’t go wrong packing hand sanitizer & gloves (just be careful not to catch your zipper on your gloves). And, yes. That is a fanny pack. Who doesn’t like to have all their essential items easily accessible?

I packed a 3-ounce bottle of disinfectant spray, knowing I would use it on almost anything I would touch that day, especially on my luggage before stepping foot into my in-law’s house. I’ve never sanitized my luggage before but I’m not taking any chances these days.

Packing multiple pairs of hospital-grade gloves was also a first for me. I know some don’t agree with using gloves as a precaution, but they came in handy (see what I did there?!) when I needed to wipe down high-touch areas like airport seating, drinking fountains and bathroom stalls, etc.

I’ve also never had to pack or wear a mask before for a travel experience. We were lucky enough to be gifted N-95 masks, which we wore under a fabric mask. I’ll be honest, it was difficult to breathe, but it made me feel safer. My advice? Try out different masks at home before your flight—there are so many, you just have to find which one is right for you. I firmly believe wearing a mask (of any kind) was the main reason we tested negative for COVID-19 when we returned from our trip.

Keep your mask & air clean.

Don’t forget to turn on your air vent for your own personal air bubble!

Before traveling, I researched how to properly take off & store your mask if you need to eat or drink, which is allowed. According to Duke University of Medicine, you should store your mask inside a bag to keep the inside from touching other surfaces or being exposed to the air. But don’t worry, Alaska’s planes have hospital-grade HEPA filters that clear 99.95% of germs in the air.

Wash up when you get there.

Although unnecessary, we disinfected our bag(s) at our final destination, took showers and washed the clothes we wore while traveling plus shoes before we unpacked. You gotta do what you gotta do to feel more confident about traveling.

Know before you go.

Don’t have the Alaska Airlines app? Download it here.

Download Alaska’s mobile app before you go. It’s easy to use and makes your trip almost entirely touch-free. With the app, you’re able to get your boarding pass right on your device, change seats and prepay for your bags. The app also keeps you up to date on your flight status, gate changes and boarding notifications. Soon, the app will also allow you to print your bag tags without needing to touch the kiosk. Learn more.

It’s also important to note some states have strict quarantine rules & travel restrictions in place due to COVID-19, so check out travel advisories before you go!

Have a great flight!

Leaving your house, let alone stepping foot onto an airplane right now might seem like a challenging task—but I’m here to remind you, it’s possible. If someone as high-risk as myself can do it and come back healthy, we all can. All it takes is doing things a little differently to enjoy the people, places and experiences that we get from travel.

Alaska Airlines solves the missing link to remote learning this school year

As parents and kids prepare for the start of their remote school year, many school districts, like Seattle Public Schools (SPS), are looking for ways to deliver devices to children to assist with learning such as laptops and iPads. Cue, Alaska Airlines.

Alaska employees in Boston (left to right) Joel Contreras, Komla Nubuke, “JJ” Johnathan Joesslin

Today, with the help of Alaska Air Cargo and its network, we moved 12,000+ iPads and cases from Boston to Seattle that will go to SPS students in Kindergarten through second grade.

“This is a great example of our community coming together to problem-solve and to provide solutions that have such a positive impact on so many of our students and families,” said Denise Juneau, superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.

“We are glad to have this opportunity to partner with the Seattle School District to ensure that kids have the tools they need to hit ground running for remote learning. This was a great opportunity to demonstrate our core values of caring and giving back to our communities,” said Torque Zubeck, Managing Director, Alaska Air Cargo. “I’m especially thankful for our employees in Boston. They jumped into action and worked with the school district, Apple and their logistics group to make this happen.”

Closing the gap.

Last year, SPS launched a program to provide a laptop or iPad for each student. They distributed over 25,000 devices to schools beginning with high school and middle school students, students experiencing poverty and or homelessness, and any other students who didn’t have access to a device at home.

Denise Juneau, superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.

Due to the pandemic, they’ve accelerated that program from a three year roll-out to just under three months, so K-2nd graders have the same opportunity—turns out Alaska was the missing link they needed to deliver the goods.

“Beginning a new academic year in the middle of a pandemic is a daunting feat for students, parents, and teachers, especially when not all students have the tools and support to succeed,” said Diana Birkett Rakow, vice president external relations at Alaska Airlines. “We’re honored to support SPS students, teachers, and administrators working hard to enable equity in learning this year. We’re also humbled by how much work there is yet to do to close the digital divide and grateful to all who’re contributing to support these efforts across the entire region.”

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Alaska has supported communities across America through donating travel for first responders, transporting PPE and freight and giving food and grants to food banks and shelters to support people in need. Follow our efforts on the blog.

Reel to (sky) reel: Alaska Airlines offers unique & diverse independent films onboard

Like many events this year, film festivals have been canceled due to COVID-19. But that’s not stopping us from sharing award-winning film makers’ bold, fresh stories onboard Alaska Airlines flights.

Starting Sept. 1, we’re showcasing films on board that celebrate a wide range of diverse stories from leading West Coast and Hawaii film festivals, such as the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, CAAMFest (Center for Asian American Media), Frameline LGBT Film Festival, Maui Film Festival, American Indian Film Festival and the Superfest Disability Film Festival.

“While this year’s festivals—and flying— certainly look different, we’re excited to partner with independent film festivals to amplify more diverse and bold stories,” said Derrick Cunningham, manager of Alaska’s inflight entertainment & connectivity.

The selections include films from emerging and professional filmmakers, including animated shorts, live-action shorts, documentaries, feature-length films.

Here’s a look at some of the titles joining Alaska Beyond Entertainment on Sept. 1:

Were You Gay In High School? (Frameline Film Festival)

Synopsis: “Were You Gay In High School?” is the story of two queer, Asian American women who share their awkward, closeted stories from high school. Hannah and Kelly open up about their uncomfortable, coming-of-age moments as closeted teens and find commonalities in their stories while learning about the people they used to be. They reminisce about the boyfriends they didn’t like kissing and the straight-girls who were definitely flirting with them. Told through live action and animation, the stories shared are both cringeworthy and silly; painful and hilarious.

“As a Seattle native, I couldn’t be more excited to have our film WERE YOU GAY IN HIGH SCHOOL? shared on Alaska Airlines with passengers from all over the world. As a queer, Asian American filmmaker, I am so grateful for this opportunity to share our stories on this platform. I hope viewers will enjoy and maybe even reminisce about their own high school experiences while enjoying Alaska Airlines’ Signature Fruit and Cheese Platter–my personal favorite.” – Niki Ang, co-writer and director  

Credits:
Niki Ang, Co-writer, Director
Karen Du, Co-writer, Cinematographer
Andrew Ahn, Producer

Awards:
Frameline Completion Fund grant winner
Inside Out RE:Focus Fund grant winner

Festival Location:
San Francisco

Flood (Frameline Film Festival)

Synopsis: A queer teenage boy takes his younger sister on an adventure wearing face paint and glitter on her tenth birthday. These colorful bandits move through their environments experiencing small joys while turning a blind eye to reality. It isn’t until their celebration is interrupted that the cost of their freedom is exposed.

“As a filmmaker displaying the beauty and tribulation of queerness colliding with culture, I aim to unapologetically display the human condition. I am proud to have Flood be available on Alaska Airlines to exhibit the intricacies of how queer characters and stories are more than what we have seen in the past. I hope Flood will help create sociopolitical change by presenting audiences with the similarity that constitutes each of us as humans, regardless of race or orientation. At its core, Flood shows the lengths we will go to protect the ones we love most.” – Joseph Amenta, director/writer

Credits:
Joseph Amenta, Director, Writer
Daniel Sedore, Producer
Nikolay Michaylov, Director of Photography
Orlee Buium, Editor

Festival Location:
San Francisco

Your Name Isn’t English (American Indian Film Festival

Synopsis: As ride-share drivers struggle to pronounce her name, a Native American woman gives history lessons from the backseat.

“As an Alaska Airlines frequent flyer, it is a great honor to be a part of the American Indian Film Festival’s Alaska Beyond Inflight entertainment programming which is bringing Indigenous films to flights across the country.” – Tazbah Rose Chavez, director

Credits:
Tazbah Rose Chavez, director (Citizen of the Bishop Paiute Tribe, from the Nüümü, Diné and San Carlos Apache Tribes)

Awards:
Best Live Film, American Indian Film Festival
Best Director, SkinsFest

Festival Location:
San Francisco

Two Brothers (American Indian Film Festival)

Synopsis: As the Seminole Wars comes to an end, a pair of brothers contemplate their next journey as they look over their homeland for the very last time.

Credits:
Montana Cypress, director

Awards:
$10,000 Knight Made in MIA Short Film Award – 2019 Miami International Film Festival.
Best Live Short, American Indian Film Festival 2019
Best Short Film, Sunscreen Film Fest West 2019

Festival Location:
San Francisco

Sweetheart Dancers (American Indian Film Festival)

Synopsis: “Sweetheart Dancers” is about a Two-Spirit couple determined to rewrite the rules, through their participation in a Native American pow wow competition.

“I am forever a strong advocate for the social justice of documentary films. Through the lens of our Indigenous filmmakers our love, culture, and modern-day struggles become a true reflection of American society. My passion for filmmaking is rooted in my early years, growing up with the American Indian Film Festival each fall. It has shaped my perception of the world we live in and inspired me to dream of creating films that I could share with curious audiences from all over the world,” said Ben-Alex Durpis, director. “Films told from the Native perspective can help outsiders unfamiliar with our culture to find parallels in their own lives, and bring us all closer to the circle of humanity. It is an honor to share this groundbreaking story through AIFF’s Alaska Beyond InFlight Entertainment programming. May the tenacious love and resilience of The ‘Sweetheart Dancers’ be an inspiration to you, always.”

Credits:
Ben-Alex Durpis, director

Awards:
“Grand Jury Winner- Best Short Film” Outfest LA 2019
Grand Jury Winner-Best Short Film & Audience Award- “Out On Film”
Atlanta Lgbtq Film 2019
Best Short Film- Lumbee Film Festival 2019
Railroad Pass- Best Nevada Film- Dam Short Film Festival 2019
Golden Space Needle Award- Best Short Film-Runner Up-Seattle International Film Festival 2019
American Indian Film Festival- Nominated- Best Short Documentary 2019
Oregon Documentary Film Festival-Nominated- Best Cinematography 2019

Festival Location:
San Francisco

DIVE BAR (Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival)

Synopsis: Leena, a washed out nightclub singer grieving the death of her husband, visits a dive bar almost daily to relive the memory of how they first met. Meanwhile, Leena’s teenage daughter Simone struggles with the responsibility of having to take care of her neglectful mother, but finds solace in the close relationship she develops with Tasha, the bar owner who acts as her surrogate mother. Trapped in a world of grief over her husband and envy over the relationship between Simone and Tasha, Leena finally receives a special visit by someone she has been longing to see.

“It’s such an honor to have DIVE BAR as part of Alaska’s Inflight Entertainment! As a kid, I always thought it was so cool to be able to watch films on the plane, and to have my own film be accessible for people to enjoy in the air is something I couldn’t have imagined. Thanks for the opportunity to allow independent filmmakers like me to share our stories!” – Dorothy Xiao, writer/director/producer

Credits:
Dorothy Xiao, Writer/Director/Producer
Lailanie Gadia, Producer
Daphne Wu, Director of Photography
Faroukh Virani, Editor

Festival Location:
Los Angeles

Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings (CAAMFest)

Synopsis: Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings is a compelling portrait of an inspiring and inventive musician whose virtuoso skills on the ukulele have transformed all previous notions of the instrument’s potential.

“We are thrilled to partner with Alaska Airlines and have this new, exciting platform for new Asian American cinema. All of these films were hits at our annual festival and so excited for you to watch them.” – Masashi Niwano, Festival Director

Credits:
Tadashi Nakamura, Director

Awards:
Gotham Independent Film Audience Award
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Best Documentary Audience Award & Best Editor
Ashland Independent Film Festival Best Documentary Audience Award
DocuWest Film Festival Best Medium Length Film

Festival Location:
San Francisco

John Van Hamersveld CRAZY WORLD AIN’T IT (Maui Film Festival)

Synopsis: A colorful glimpse into John Van Hamersveld’s seminal art career, viewed through the eyes of many artists and innovators he has influenced.

Credits:
Dave Tourjé, Director/Producer
Chris Sibley, Director/Producer

Awards:
2019 Maui Film Festival Audience Award 

Festival Location:
Maui

The Invalid Corps (Superfest Festival)

Synopsis: Everyone thinks they know the story of the Civil War – Four years of America’s bloodiest history. Over 600,000 men killed and more than 40,000 men with amputated limbs and even more with other injuries and illnesses. What no one ever asked is “What happened to those disabled men afterwards?”

“Disability frequently appears in mainstream films, even increasing the chances that actors involved will win Oscars, but people with disabilities have repeatedly pushed back to explain that these stories don’t actually speak to the real life experiences of disability. Superfest Disability Film Festival provides a breath by showing films made by people with disabilities for people with disabilities. To have Alaska Airlines helping bring these films to their passengers marks the progress being made to provide better representation in film of disability.” – Emily Smith Beitiks, associate director of the Longmore Institute on Disability, and Superfest Coordinator

Credits:
Day Al-Mohamed, Director/Writer
Julia Myers Neill, Producer

Awards:
American Presidents Film and Literary Festival Best Short Film

Festival Location:
San Francisco

Bastion (Superfest Festival)

Synopsis: Just before closing time, a completely bald man walks into a barber shop. Reflections in the window and an irritating fringe have told him that it’s time for a haircut.

Credits:
Ray Jacobs, Director/Producer

Awards:
Superfest Juror’s Choice award
Meeting Rimini Film Festival Best Film
International Breaking Down Barriers Film Festival Best Male Actor (James Doolan)
Oska Bright Film Festival Best Story award
SuperFest Best in the Fest award
Canned Film Festival Grand Prix Du Jury award
Canadian Diversity Film Festival Best UK film award
Handifilm de Rabat Best Screenplay award
CinqueTerre Film Festival Best Narrative Short award

Festival Location:
San Francisco

Help those affected by Hurricane Laura

Our thoughts continue to be with those affected by Hurricane Laura. You can support the relief efforts by donating miles to the Alaska Airlines Disaster Relief Pool and Angel Flight West to help support charities involved with disaster relief efforts. Your miles will be used to transport medical staff and volunteers, and even those needing to be transported for a medical treatment in another city and who otherwise would not be able to afford the cost of getting there. Thank you for your generosity.

Horizon Lead Technician Paul Skahill keeps planes flying on schedule

“Our maintenance guy came on board and did a great job,” said a Horizon Air pilot grateful for a timely, accurate maintenance diagnosis, and expeditious replacement of an aircraft component, announced to his plane full of guests in Seattle. Everyone clapped for Seattle Line Maintenance Lead Technician Paul Skahill, whose good work meant the flight could leave on time.

“I’m eager to get the job done—safely, and as quickly as possible,” says Skahill, who has been with Horizon since 2002. “I’m dedicated, and I’m picky. I want to ensure that everything gets done right.”

As a lead maintenance technician, Skahill oversees a team of six who handle whatever arises each day, as well as scheduled maintenance such as oil and tire changes. He seeks to ensure his team members’ success, including anticipating their needs.

Paul Skahill

“When a call comes in, I strive to determine from the description what the issue might be, and while the technician is assessing the situation at the aircraft, I go ahead and get the likely part delivered from the maintenance warehouse at the airport so that the part is all ready to go if I made a correct determination. I also have the step-by-step task in- formation ready for the technician. This helps get guests safely on their way sooner.”

Despite starting his day at 4 a.m., he often works late and on weekends to ensure optimal operations. He also often volunteers to fly out of town to work on planes, since the Seattle and Portland stations handle most major maintenance needs for Horizon’s E175s and Q400s.

Skahill’s been interested in aviation since he was a child watching from his bedroom window as planes landed in Seattle. After high school, he spent 14 years as an aircraft-parts machinist before getting his airframe-and-powerplant license and then joining Horizon on the advice of an airline employee who frequented the same gym he did.

“Horizon is a great place,” he says. “I like what I do, and I like the people.”

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What do you enjoy about your job?
I like working on the planes, and I like to stay busy. As the lead, you field all the maintenance calls; schedule and delegate the work; and communicate with a lot of people, including at the station and in operations. I like that every day is different.

How do you define job success?
Getting planes out safely and on time, or at the very least, within our estimated time of return to service. Those are the top priorities of everybody on the team. We use a methodical step-by-step approach, per the manual. What we do is important to the safety of all our guests and the flight crews, and it needs to be done 100% correctly. When you get a plane back in service in a timely manner, and safely, it gives you a good feeling.

What do you do outside the job?
Working out is my fun. I go to the gym two or three times a week—it’s keeping your body tuned up, kind of like keeping your car tuned up. I’m also always busy working on our house, doing remodeling.

Where do you like to travel?
We go to Brazil every year to visit my wife’s family. I also like Hawai‘i, Cancún and San Diego for warm weather and the beach. I typically pack too much and then usually just end up wearing shorts the whole time.

PRAISE FOR PAUL

“Paul is a very experienced lead with a passion for ensuring things get done and get done right. His ability to lead and direct his team is top-notch. When there are challenges, Paul will be the first one to roll up his sleeves and go out to work side by side with his team. He will be the first person to help the operation during weather events, and will even pick up a shovel to remove snow to ensure our customers have a safe path leading from the aircraft to the terminal.” — George K., Horizon Vice President of Maintenance & Engineering, Seattle

Precious Cargo: Our aircraft carry the gift of sight

Debby Mulligan loves to dance. The Alaska Airlines airport employee from Portland especially loves ballroom dancing—swirling in step-patterns, moving rhythmically and expressing the music’s characteristics. She’s danced on the ballroom circuit for eight years.

Corneal transplant recipient Debby Mulligan in the cockpit of an SR-71 Blackbird aircraft.

But a rare eye disease that cropped up over her adult years nearly cost Mulligan her dancing—and her livelihood. In her 20’s, due to a failing cornea—the clear front surface of the eye—she had difficulty seeing, even with glasses. In her 30’s she could no longer read the big “E” on the eye chart. She was going blind.

Over the last 20 years, Mulligan has had three different corneal transplants, which have given her the ability to see again. “I am incredibly grateful every day for having my sight back, thanks to the generosity of donors,” she says.

The intricate dance of scheduling the surgery and having donor tissue available to transplant makes timeliness a priority for doctors and their patients in need of crucial transplant surgeries like Mulligan’s.

“Everyone is ready and waiting for the donation to arrive,” Mulligan says.

The journey often involves her very own airline.

Working with Seattle global health organization SightLife, Alaska Air Cargo regularly ships corneas via its GoldStreak Package Express overnight service. The tissue, which comes from donors who made the selfless decision to help others before passing away, goes to labs and eye banks around the U.S., and sometimes overseas. In a year, Alaska will ship more than 5,000 corneas eventually bound for patients waiting for corneal transplants, according to Rick Bendix, the airline’s cargo marketing & business development program manager.

“We’re literally carrying the gift of sight,” says Ravelle Snyder, regional cargo sales manager who works with SightLife on the precious cargo. “Our employees often hand-carry these GoldStreak packages to the aircraft, taking personal responsibility to ensure that the tissue is safe at all times during transit.”

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Seattle, SightLife is the world’s leading and largest nonprofit eye bank dedicated to eliminating corneal blindness worldwide. In 2019, SightLife and its global partners provided a record-breaking 37,456 donor corneas for sight-restoring transplants worldwide.

Recently, when a SightLife courier arrived right at the acceptance cutoff without pre-booking, we quickly made it happen, according to Helene Romero, of Alaska’s airfreight team in Seattle, who knows the importance of timeliness in these shipments. Typically, shorter times between donation and corneal transplant result in better outcomes for patients.

Speed, service and reliability are why shippers love GoldStreak.

“It’s reassuring to work with a partner who values the gift of sight as much as we do,” says SightLife’s COO Jim McCorkle. “When we have a deadline to get tissue to the lab, the Alaska Airlines staff is always willing to help radio a driver to prioritize our shipment since time is of the essence when it comes to sight-restoring, life-transforming corneal transplants.”

Mulligan’s journey recently came full circle. When her father passed, he was too elderly to donate his corneas for sight-restoring transplants, but the family supported the option to donate for research or training.

“From recipients like me, from the families who support donation of their loved ones, every hospital worker, eye bank worker, and transportation worker—thank you to all who are part of the donor network. It’s so incredibly important,” she says.

 

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